Rendering of the Todd B. Portune Center for County Government. Provided by Hamilton County
By Dan Yount
The Cincinnati Herald
The Hamilton County commissioners are renaming the county administration building in downtown Cincinnati the Todd B. Portune Center for County Government.
The honor was bestowed during a recent Hamilton County Commission meeting. Portune, who retired December 31 after 25 years in local government service was scheduled to attend the session, but was unable to because of his health.
In addition, Cincinnati City Councilman David Mann announced at a recent County Commission meeting a portion of the Court Street would have a secondary name of “Todd Portune Way.”
Portune announced in an emotional press conference in September that he would not be seeking re-election in 2020 because of his declining health.
During a retirement party for Portune in December at Memorial Hall, a number of speakers described him as a model public servant.
Portune, 61, was first elected a county commissioner in November 2000. At that time he was the first Democrat elected to the board in nearly four decades. Prior to being a Hamilton County commissioner, Portune served seven years as a Cincinnati City Council member, having been appointed to a seat in 1993.
Mann said. “Todd began his career at City Hall. He was appointed to fill my (City Council) seat when I was elected to Congress and never lost an election since then. That speaks for itself. The electorate picked up on his energy and commitment to them. We’re so blessed to have had his service all these years.”
“Todd Portune’s commitment to public service has left an indelible mark on Hamilton County. It is only fitting that the building in which he worked for the last 20 years bear his name.,’’ said Commissioner Denise Driehaus.
Also, the exhibition hall in the Sharonville Convention Center also be renamed Todd Portune Hall once the center is expanded. Construction on the $17 million expansion is expected to begin next year following a recent vote to move forward by Hamilton County Commissioners. The expansion will reportedly double the center’s exhibition space from 20,000 square feet to 40,000. Portune has been at the forefront of efforts to expand the convention center, whose last expansion occurred in 2012.
