CINCINNATI — Cincinnati's two mayoral candidates, incumbent Aftab Pureval and challenger Cory Bowman, participated in a debate at Xavier University Thursday.
Pureval has been Cincinnati's mayor since 2021, when he defeated former city council member and two-time mayor David Mann with nearly 66% of the vote. He was the first Asian American to be elected as the city's mayor.
Pureval said back in May that he hopes to continue to work on housing and live entertainment for the city, but his top initiative is public safety. The issue of public safety became a talking point over the summer, following a viral downtown brawl that left some people injured and resulted in multiple arrests.
Bowman is the founder of The River Church in the West End and co-owner of Kings Arms Coffee. He told us watching the inauguration of his half-brother, Vice President JD Vance, inspired him to get involved in politics.
The 36-year-old is focusing his campaign on infrastructure, money management and public safety. According to the Hamilton County Republican Party, Bowman is the first Republican to run for Cincinnati mayor since 2009; Cincinnati's mayoral race is, however, nonpartisan.
The candidates talked about the top issues facing Cincinnatians ahead of the November election that will decide the city's next mayor. Topics included public safety, affordable housing, income tax increase and more.
WATCH: We talk through the main topics and biggest takeaways from the debate
They were also asked about national issues, like how they plan to work with the Trump administration if elected.
Each candidate was given two minutes to answer each question, with rebuttals up to one minute permitted for further clarification. The debate was moderated by the Cincinnati Enquirer, in coordination with the Ohio Debate Commission.
To start the debate, the candidates were asked if they think Cincinnati is safe in light of the recent violent crime in the city.
Pureval said he believes in prioritizing public safety and has heard from residents who say that they don't feel safe.
"It doesn't really matter frankly, from my perspective, what the data says; it matters what's in the hearts and minds of Cincinnatians, and too many of them don't feel safe," Pureval said.
Bowman said he has seen violence first-hand as a business owner in the West End and watched it spread throughout other neighborhoods. He said the police department needs to be supported more than it has been, and the city should be proactive rather than reactive.
Bowman also criticized the Emergency Communications Center.
"When people call 911, they get call takers that are disinterested, they get dispatchers that only dispatch in worst-case scenarios," Bowman said. "We have to let the police do their jobs."
Pureval was asked how he plans to get police officers on his side after the Cincinnati Police Union did not endorse him. He said he will continue to work collaboratively with police officers and the FOP to "hit the complement that we need."
Bowman's next question revolved around his lack of political background. When asked what makes him qualified to be the mayor of Cincinnati, Bowman responded with, "That I don't have any political experience."
The candidates were also asked how they feel about immigrants in Cincinnati who have been picked up by the federal government recently.
Bowman said focus should be on Cincinnati citizens first, and a line should be drawn between Cincinnati as a sanctuary city and how law enforcement interacts with federal agents. He said we can't lose humanity, but if there are criminals, they will be deported.
Pureval criticized Bowman's response, saying he took a question about federal agents kidnapping people from the streets and turned it into a question about sanctuary cities. Pureval went on to say the previous administration labeled Cincinnati a sanctuary city, and he has not changed that.
The mayor said CPD will come after anyone who commits a violent crime, regardless of their status, and will deport them when necessary. He said otherwise, there is no role for local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration law.
The panel went on to ask each candidate to describe their relationship with the Trump administration.
Pureval said he is interested in working with everyone for the benefit of Cincinnati, despite his "strong disagreements" with the president.
Bowman said that he is focused on running this race for the city of Cincinnati. He said if elected, he would be working on relationships with people on both sides of the aisle within his first 100 days.
The debate then shifted to the topic of affordable housing in Cincinnati. Panelists brought up specific examples, including the rezoning of Hyde Park Square.
Pureval spoke about the city council's zoning code reform and said his administration has a plan to build 40,000 units over the next 10 years, working to finance and legalize the projects while keeping a strong relationship with state and federal governments.
Bowman talked about complaints he has heard from people at his church who live in affordable housing, and said that he'll ensure funds go towards the proper places so tenants are taken care of.
Pureval went on to define affordable housing as 30% to 60% area median housing.
The debate once again turned back to public safety when the candidates were asked whether they would like to see more speed humps throughout Cincinnati.
Pureval said he wants as many as necessary to "prevent preventable deaths" of people killed by distracted drivers and would prioritize a walkable community.
Bowman said speed humps are a "Band-Aid" for proper law enforcement. He said police officers are taunted by speeding drivers who "know there's no consequences for their actions" due to non-pursuit laws.
The debate ended with a rapid-fire round, where candidates had 30 seconds to answer questions involving the intended length of their terms, the idea of a new arena in Cincinnati, an increase on income tax and more.
Pureval said he would not rule out an increase on income tax, while Bowman said he would "never push on any tax increase."
Both candidates delivered two-and-a-half-minute closing statements on the focuses of their campaigns and priorities if elected mayor.
Watch the full debate in the player below:
