COLUMBUS, Ohio – Michael B. Coleman is celebrating the beginning of his 15th year as mayor of Columbus, making him the longest serving mayor in the city’s history.
“Serving as mayor of Columbus has been the honor and the joy of my life. I’m as excited about meeting the challenges of our city today as I was 14 years ago,” Coleman said.
Coleman surpasses M.E. Sensenbrenner, who served a total of 14 years (1954-59, 1964-71). Sensenbrenner’s tenure was interrupted by the term of Ralston Westlake.
Coleman is the first African-American mayor in Columbus history and the longest serving African-American mayor in the United States.
In 2012, Coleman surpassed James J. Thomas as the Columbus mayor to serve the most consecutive years.
Mayor Coleman was elected in 1999 and reelected in 2003, 2007 and 2011.