Mark Mallory (born April 2, 1962) is an American politician who served as the 68th Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first two-term Mayor under the City's new Stronger-Mayor system, the first directly elected African-American mayor, the third African-American mayor, and the first mayor in more than 70 years who did not come from City Council.[2]

Mark Mallory
68th Mayor of Cincinnati
In office
December 1, 2005 – December 1, 2013[1]
Preceded byCharlie Luken
Succeeded byJohn Cranley
Member of the Ohio Senate
from the 9th district
In office
January 5, 1999 – December 1, 2005
Preceded byJanet C. Howard
Succeeded byEric Kearney
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 31st district
In office
January 3, 1995 – December 31, 1998
Preceded byWilliam L. Mallory, Sr.
Succeeded byCatherine L. Barrett
Personal details
Born (1962-04-02) April 2, 1962 (age 62)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
RelationsWilliam L. Mallory Sr. (father)
Dale Mallory (brother)
Alma materUniversity of Cincinnati (BS)

Mallory works for FC Cincinnati as the Director of Community Development.[3]

Early life and education

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Mallory was born and raised in West End, Cincinnati. He graduated from the Cincinnati Academy of Math and Science and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administrative Management from the University of Cincinnati.[4] Mayor Mallory began his career in public service as a book shelver at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. He worked there 14 years at a variety of positions, rising to Manager of Graphic Production and Assistant to the head of public relations.

Career

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Prior to his election in 2005, he served as assistant Minority Leader in the Ohio Senate. He won a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives in 1994, replacing his father who retired after serving the district for nearly 30 years. He served in the Ohio House from 1995 to 1998, when he was elected to the Senate.

In November 1998, Mark Mallory was elected to represent the 9th Senate District in the Ohio General Assembly, and in 2002 was elected to his second four-year term. He was the Assistant Minority Leader for the Senate Democratic Caucus during his seven years in the General Assembly. In 2003, Senator Mallory passed a resolution in the General Assembly ratifying the 14th Amendment, 135 years after it was amended to the US Constitution.

Mallory resigned his senate seat in 2005 to run for Mayor of Cincinnati. He defeated fellow Democrat David Pepper to win the election. Mallory was elected to a second term as Mayor in 2009.

Opening day pitch debacle

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On April 2, 2007, Mallory was scheduled to throw the ceremonial first pitch for the Cincinnati Reds' game on Opening Day. Despite claims that he had trained with the University of Cincinnati baseball team, his pitch flew thirty feet to the first base side of home plate, missing the intended target, Eric Davis. The ball hit the foot of umpire Sam Holbrook, who ejected Mallory before the contest even began. The pitch received national media attention, including appearances on Good Morning America and Cold Pizza,[5] and Mallory was given a second chance on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!, but again failed to come anywhere close to the target with his throw. He was given a "second, second-chance" and finally completed a toss to actor Kurt Russell.[6][7] Mallory took the incident as an opportunity to advertise the city of Cincinnati.[8]

Personal life

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Mallory's brother William L. Mallory Jr. is a Municipal Court judge, his brother Dwane Mallory is a Municipal Court Judge, his brother Dale Mallory was the State Representative in the Ohio House District once held by the Mayor and his father, and his brother Joe Mallory is the President of the Cincinnati chapter of NAACP. He is the son of former Ohio House of Representatives Majority Leader William L. Mallory Sr.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Mayoral & Council Inaugural Session". City of Cincinnati. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  2. ^ Felix Winternitz & Sacha DeVroomen Bellman (2007). Insiders' Guide to Cincinnati. Globe Pequot. p. 13. ISBN 9780762741809. Retrieved 2013-05-08.
  3. ^ "Foundation Board Members". FC Cincinnati. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  4. ^ "Mallory running for re-election". Cincinnati: WXIX-TV. March 11, 2009. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  5. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2007-07-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ Cincinnati Mayor Takes Ribbing For Bad Pitch – Sports News Story – WEWS Cleveland Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Mayor Mallory on Jimmy Kimmel Live!".[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ Mayor Turns Bad Pitch Into Good Pitch – Cincinnati breaking news, weather radar, traffic from 9News | Channel 9 WCPO.com Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ William L. Mallory, Sr. Guide to 20th Century African American Resources at the Cincinnati History Library and Archives
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Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio
2005–2013
Succeeded by