About Council President Hardin
Born and raised on the south side
of Columbus, Council President Shannon Hardin is committed to building an
equitable future that works for every resident in our city. As Columbus grows, Council
President Hardin is focused on fostering an inclusive economy by partnering to
build mass transit and affordable housing, empowering small and minority
businesses, and providing youth with pathways to the middle class. Regardless
of the issue, Council President Hardin views public policy through the saying,
“If it’s not for all, then it’s not for us.”
Based on
his own experience going to Columbus City Schools and graduating college with
six-figures of student debt, Council President Hardin developed the Columbus Promise - an initiative to allow
Columbus City School graduates to attend Columbus State Community College for
free with special coaching and support. For Columbus to be the best place in
America to learn, earn, and find your career, we need to make bold investments
in education. That’s why Council President Hardin worked with Columbus State,
Columbus City Schools, and I Know I Can to create a free, guaranteed pathway
for students to get a credential or degree. Talent is distributed evenly, but
opportunity isn’t. Council President Hardin started the Columbus Promise
because Columbus can’t wait.
Council
President Hardin believes that investing in transportation and infrastructure
connects residents to jobs, education, and healthcare. As Co-Chair of the Insight2050 Corridor
Concepts Initiative, Council President Hardin led a collaborative effort to analyze
what focusing new housing and business growth along high-capacity transit
corridors could mean for our region’s economy, health, and environment. This study has
gained traction as the vision for Columbus’ future, and has evolved into LinkUS Columbus,
a collaborative initiative to develop advanced rapid transit and transportation
options near housing and jobs. With a million people expected to move to
Columbus before 2050, Council President Hardin will continue to push for a
transportation system that works for all of us
Understanding
the racial inequities that impact communities of color every day, Council
President Hardin worked with former Mayor Coleman to create Columbus’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative. My Brother’s Keeper aims
to reduce opportunity gaps for young men of color through city-wide goals,
service provider coordination, and collective action. Council President Hardin
examined how past marijuana laws primarily burden black men, particularly young
black men. Through the leadership of Council President Hardin and Councilmember
Shayla Favor, Council passed a two-part marijuana
justice package: decreasing penalties for low-level marijuana possession and supporting
record sealing services to get formerly incarcerated residents back into safe
housing and good-paying jobs. As a result of state and city action, City
Attorney Zach Klein will no longer
prosecute low-level marijuana offenses.
Over the
years, Council President Hardin has stepped up to lead big projects for the
Columbus community. President Hardin led the charge to restructure Council.
Council placed a bundle of
reforms recommended by a citizen-led
commission to improve accountability and neighborhood representation
on the ballot. These changes overwhelmingly passed in May of 2018. Similarly,
Council President Hardin drove the effort to nearly double
public support for arts. The more than $6 million increase will
improve family access to Columbus’ cultural gems while stabilizing civic
treasures such as the Lincoln Theater, the King Arts Complex, and other
historic arts establishments.
Council
President Hardin serves on the Mid-Ohio
Regional Planning Commission and the National League of Cities Board of Directors. He was
appointed to Council in 2014, subsequently won election in 2015, 2017, and
2021. Council President Hardin earned his bachelor’s degree from Morehouse
College and is a proud member of the Mount Olivet Baptist Church. Council
President Hardin is married to Ben Zachrich and, together, they are raising
their son Noah Hardin-Zachrich on the Near East Side.