When residents think about city leadership, the Mayor and City Council are often the most visible faces of local government. But what happens after policies are adopted, priorities are established, and decisions are made? Who is responsible for turning those decisions into action—and who is accountable when it comes to the day-to-day operation of the city?

Join the Woman’s City Club and community partners for City Management: Who Really Runs the City?, an in-person public forum exploring Cincinnati’s city management structure and the roles and responsibilities of the people and institutions that make city government work.

Laure Quinlivan, Filmmaker and former Council Member and Channel 9 Investigative Reporter, will serve as moderator. Panelists confirmed to date are Jeff Cramerding, City Council Member and labor lawyer; Karl Kadon, former Cincinnati Deputy Solicitor and most recently Deputy Inspector General for Investigations at the Federal Housing Finance Agency; and Mike Morgan, an attorney who served as co-chair of a Charter Review Task Force mandated by City Council in 2013.

This informative conversation will take a closer look at where authority and accountability reside, how responsibilities are divided among the Mayor, City Council, City Manager and city administration, and how public policy moves from an idea or legislative action to implementation. The program will also help attendees better understand why Cincinnati’s management structure matters and how it affects the services, programs and decisions that touch residents and neighborhoods every day.

Whether you follow City Hall closely or simply want a better understanding of how Cincinnati government works, this forum is designed to provide useful context and encourage informed civic engagement.

The program is presented by the Woman’s City Club with the support of Greater Cincinnati Voter Collaborative, Charter Committee of Greater Cincinnati, Invest in Neighborhoods, Fortify Democracy, and the Cincinnatus Association.

The event is open to the public. Registration is encouraged.