President Shannon G. 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. After being appointed to Council to fill a vacancy in 2014, he won election in 2015, and re-election in 2017, 2021 and 2023. As Council President, Hardin is focused on preparing the Columbus region for the growth of nearly one million new neighbors over the next 25 years with targeted strategies across housing, transit, workforce, safety, and other issues.  

Over his time on Council, Hardin has championed many initiatives. He is helping lead the LinkUs plan to transform public transit in Columbus, which would build out 5 bus rapid-transit routes and invest in 500+ miles of greenways, sidewalks, and protected bike lanes. He also championed the Columbus Promise, which allows Columbus City Schools graduates to attend Columbus State Community College for free, in partnership with I Know I Can.

Hardin also helped craft the “Reimagine Safety” legislative package that established independent Inspector General-driven investigations into police uses of force, reformed other police practices, and made critical investments into the root causes of crime, like an expansion of funding for summer youth programming. He has also overseen investments in alternative safety response, which would provide clinical and non-uniformed responders to mental health, substance abuse, homelessness-related, and other crises that do not require or benefit from a police response; a doubling of funding to Columbus arts organizations; the decriminalization of marijuana; and various initiatives to support small and minority-owned businesses.

Across 2024-2025, President Hardin will chair the Rules & Policy Committee and vice-chair both the Zoning and Workforce, Education, & Labor Committees. In addition to Council, Hardin currently serves on the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and the National League of Cities Board of Directors. He is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and attends 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 Far East Side.