The objective of CTM is to build a Board of Trustees that represents the diversity of Clifton including ethnic, racial, gender, sexual orientation, religious, profession (salaried/hourly), community of origin (lifelong Cliftonites/new to Cincinnati and/or Clifton), etc. so we ensure our decisions are informed by diverse perspectives. We thank our current group of nominees for stepping up to serve their community, and we hope that more of you will consider joining the board in the future.
Below are the bios for candidates running for CTM Trustee at the upcoming elections on Elections will be held on Monday, November 18 from 6:00 – 7:00pm at the Clifton Recreation Center at 320 McAlpin Avenue.
All voting will be in person. There will be no online voting option.
You can pay your membership current by clicking here prior to voting in advance or at the night of elections.
There are 5 three-year term and 4 two-year term positions to be filled by the nine candidates. Candidates receiving the most votes will win the longer length terms.
Jan Brown Checco
I present my candidacy for one more term as a CTM trustee because, reflecting on the work that needs to be shouldered in coming months, I believe it’s the right thing to do. I wish to continue to support the evolving Clifton Chronicle as committee chair and advertising manager, mindful of the responsibilities we have to our advertisers and readers. I wish to continue curatorial duties as an administrator of the Clifton Chronicle Daily online Facebook page. I wish to continue my support of our local businesses through ongoing service as a CTM liaison to Clifton Business Association meetings. And with the projected 2025 rebirth of CliftonFest, I wish to provide service to event planning as well as communications liaison between CTM and Clifton Cultural Arts Center for this important arts and culture event. I have served CTM as a trustee since 2020, in the role of Secretary, participating on the Events and Beautification committees as well as being Clifton Chronicle editor and ad sales manager since 2021. As a devotee to community building and preservation of our shared quality of life, I hope that CTM’s voting membership will choose to reappoint me as a trustee.
Patrick Etter
My name is Patrick Etter, I am a resident of Clifton, and I am interested in serving as a CTM trustee. I am interested in it because I love living in this neighborhood, and I would like to be more involved with others who feel the same way about our community. I value the walkability of the neighborhood, and by extension the varied storefronts on Ludlow that having a pedestrian-friendly street allows. It makes Clifton feel like a special place within Cincinnati, like a smaller village within a larger city. I would like to help to keep Clifton a pleasant neighborhood by focusing on matters like green spaces, pedestrian safety, and walkability.
Steve Goodin
Steve Goodin is a current member of CTM and has lived in either the Clifton or Northside neighborhoods for a combined 20 years. He is a former member of Cincinnati City Council and former outside litigation counsel for several city departments. He currently serves as the city’s representative on the Hamilton County Planning Commission and is a past trustee of the Southern Ohio Regional Transportation Authority (SORTA) which oversees the Metro bus system. He also serves on the USO Ohio board and the executive board of the Charter Committee of Greater Cincinnati. He is a partner at the Porter Wright law firm and lives on Clifton Avenue with his son, the Internet-famous Hugh Goodin.
Kevin Leahy
I’m Kevin Leahy, and have lived in Clifton since 1998. I’m an Indiana farm boy and lived in Boston, St. Paul MN, Honduras, Albania, and France. I retired from Duke Energy in 2018, having worked in our International and renewable energy business, and later, 14 years in environmental policy (traveling frequently to DC as a pseudo economist). I’ve an engineering degree from Purdue, an MBA in finance, and a Masters in Public Administration. My wife and I raised our two daughters here and enjoyed good schools, the great library, the many other families with kids, and Clifton Meadows. I joined CTM when Connected Communities became an issue and was pushed through with little analysis regarding the implications for a neighborhood like ours. I would like to focus on mitigating the negative impacts this new policy will have on our very special part of Cincinnati, and am also interested in improving the infrastructure that serves our community.
Kevin Mohan
I have lived in Clifton for over 45 years. I have always loved the scenic beauty, architecture, and diversity of Clifton. I am interested in a strong and safe business community on Ludlow, fostering artistic initiatives, addressing issues caused by aggressive panhandling and drug addiction/dealing, and striking sensible balances between motorists/pedestrians/bicycles.
Ben Pantoja
I’m Ben Pantoja. I’ve lived in Clifton for 40 years. I am currently a member of the CTM Board of Trustees, acting as the chair of Governance and the chair of Communications, and I’m enjoying the challenges and learning opportunities of these committees. I was also on the Board of CTM between 2010 and 2016, including 2 years as Vice President and 2 years as President.
Brendan Pulte
After growing up in Mt. Lookout, attending Walnut Hills and then UC, I first moved to Clifton-proper this March. my familiarity with the neighborhood began much earlier, having lived in Clifton Heights for the past four years, several of them I lived very close to the neighborhood boundary and spent more time on Ludlow Avenue than not. I’ve always been drawn to the neighborhood: the historic architecture, small businesses, greenspace, and its connectivity to the rest of the city. But what I love most is the true and tangible sense of community which all these help to create. I have never lived in a place with such identity and pride. Clifton is very dear to me, and not the least because of my wonderful neighbors whom I have gotten to know so well these past months. Buildings and streets may be the bones, but people are the soul of a city, and I’ve found Clifton to have some of the best!
I’m excited to get started and help represent our great neighborhood!
Mindi Rich
My family returned to Clifton in the summer of 2022. My husband, three daughters and I are thrilled to be back in this wonderful gem of a neighborhood! I have always enjoyed keeping busy by volunteering within the community in one way or another. For several years I assisted in coordinating the Clifton Child Study Group – something I am still very active in today. I have also assisted in organizing CliftonFest in past years – creating a space to raise funds for the Clifton Area Neighborhood School and The Amazing Race. In 2017, I worked with the City of Cincinnati and DOTE to have a crosswalk installed at the intersection of Glenmary and Brookline. In 2022, I once again reached out to the community to request its support in having a 3 Way Stop installed within that very same intersection. Thanks to the support of CTM and the Transportation/Public Safety Committee and to the efforts of DOTE – the 3 Way Stop has been installed – enabling pedestrians and motorists alike to have a safer experience while traveling through this intersection. In the Winter of 2024, I was appointed as a CTM Trustee. Since being on the board, I have served as the Vice President of the Executive Board and the Chairperson of both the Welcome & Connect Committee and the Clifton Soccer Committee. I enjoy working with others and helping create a community and neighborhood that is welcoming, inclusive and safe for all. I would truly appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve as a Clifton Town Meeting Trustee.
Owen Waller
I am Owen Waller, a UC graduate and an electronics engineer. I have been living in Clifton for just over a year. After getting settled in, I began attending CTM meetings and have gained an appreciation for the work that goes into maintaining and cultivating a community like Clifton. I would like to be a trustee to engage with my community and serve wherever needed.
