Since its creation as a town in the 18th century, the Politics of Dayton, Ohio have adapted to and reflected the changing needs of the community, from the Miami and Erie Canal through the World War II "Dayton Project" to the present day.

City Commissioners The city government of Dayton, Ohio, is governed by a city commission comprising five commissioners, one of whom is the mayor. The commissioners serve staggered, four-year terms. Commissioners are elected two at a time in open, at-large, nonpartisan elections. The four top vote-getters in the primary election go on to compete in the general election, regardless of party membership. The top two vote-getters in the general election are elected. As of November 1969, the mayor is elected in a separate election. Although the elections are nominally nonpartisan, the Democratic and Republican parties nominate candidates.

Commission Seats 1 and 2

Year Winning candidates Losing candidates2015Chris Shaw (D) Matt Joseph (D)Scott Sliver (I) Darryl Fairchild (D)

Hazel Roundtree (D) 2011 Matt Joseph (D): 17,711Dean A. Lovelace (D): 17,874 Mark Manovich: 7,270William Pace: 5,525 2007 Matt Joseph (D): ?Dean A. Lovelace (D): ? unopposed 2003 Matt Joseph (D): 15,666Dean A. Lovelace (D): 13,974 Idotha Bootsie Neal (D): 8,748Lorana M. Kelly (D): 8,145 1999 Dean A. Lovelace (D): 12,164 Idotha Bootsie Neal (D):10,212 David Esrati (ind.): 6,093John C. Drake (disqualified) 1995 Dean A. Lovelace (D): 18,286Idotha Bootsie Neal (D): 16,721 Pam Miller Howard (R): 10,285Jeff Baugham (R): 8,351 1993s Dean A. Lovelace (D): 15,432 Judy Orick (R): 12,291Mary Sue Kessler (D): 10,516David Esrati (ind.): 1,466Louis D. Butler: 612Derek Folley: 593 1991 R. Mark Henry (D): 18,043Idotha Bootsie Neal (D): 12,179 Charles McCracken (ind.): 9,312Darren Cooper (R): 6,306 1987 R. Mark Henry (D)Abner J. Orick (R)   1985s Abner J. Orick (R)   1983 Patricia M. Roach (D)R. Mark Henry (D) Abner J. Orick (R) 1979 Patricia M. Roach (D)Abner J. Orick (R)   1979s Abner J. Orick (R)   1975 Patricia M. Roach (D)Michael L. Schierloh (D)   1975s Michael L. Schierloh (D)   1973s Gail Levin   1971 John C. SmithPaul B. Roderer  

Commission Seats 3 and 4

Year Winning candidates Losing candidates 2013 Joey D. Williams (D): 10,333

Jeffrey J. Mims, Jr. (D): 8,698 David K. Greer: 4,687

David Esrati (D): 4,394 2009 Joey D. Williams (D): 16,937

Nan Whaley (D): 17,066 David Esrati (D): 9,197 2005 Joey D. Williams (D): 21,149

Nan Whaley (D): 16,874 Lorana M. Kelly (D): 10,326 2001 Joey D. Williams (D): 19,933

Richard A. Zimmer (D): 19,151 Mike P. Osgood (R): 14,921

Abner J. Orick (R): 9,038 2001s Edythe Lewis (D): 4,842 Abner J. Orick (R): 2,524 1997 Mary L. Wiseman (D): 19,641Lloyd E. Lewis Jr. (D): 17,493 Abner J. Orick (R): 15,340Mike P. Osgood (R): 13,633 1996s Abner J. Orick (R): 6,902 Bill Evans (D): 4,517Mark P. Donelson II (D): 2,824Mike P. Osgood (R): 2,301 1993 Anthony Capizzi (D): 27,169Richard A. Zimmer (D): 26,277 William Augman: 10,767Mark P. Donelson II (D): 8,693 1989 Anthony Capizzi (D)Richard A. Zimmer (D)   1987s Richard A. Zimmer (D)   1985 Richard Clay Dixon (D)Anthony Capizzi (D)   1981 Richard Clay Dixon (D)Richard A. Zimmer (D)   1979s Richard Clay Dixon (D)   1977 Charles J. Curran (D)Richard A. Zimmer (D)   1973 Charles J. Curran (D)Fred E. Weber (D)   1970s Charles J. Curran (D)   1969 James H. McGee (D)Thomas B. Andrews  

1820 to 1828 From 1820 to 1828, Dayton was governed by a seven-member city council headed by a council president.

Date Council president 1820 H. G. Phillips 1821 M. Patton 1822 (no record) 1823 J. H. Conover 1824 J. Compert

Date Council president 1825 S. Broadwell 1826 E. Brabham 1827Dr. J. Steele 1828

1829 to 1913

From 1829 to 1913, Dayton was governed by a seven-member city council headed by a mayor.

Dates Mayor1829 J. Folkerth1830J. W. VanCleve183118321833 Dr. Job Haines1834 H. Stoddard1835 J. Anderson1836D. W. Weelock183718381839W. J. McKinney18401841W. J. McKinneyMorris Seely1842 G. C. Davis1843 (data needed)1844 (data needed)1845 W. J. McKinney1846 J. H. Achey1847 G. W. Bambarger1848 J. Howard1849 (data needed)

Dates Mayor1850 A. Decker1851J. Howard185218531854George M. Young18551856D. W. Iddings185718581859 George M. Young1860 W. H. Gillespie1861 D. W. Iddings1862W. H. Gillespie18631864 E. C. Ellis1865 W. H. Gillespie1866 J. Kenney1867 E. C. Ellis1868 C. L. Baumann1869 J. Kenney1870 C. L. Baumann1871J. D. Morrison18721873W. H. Sigman1874

Date Mayor1875 L. Butz1876W. H. Rouzer18771878L. Butz18791880F. M. Hosier18811882J. H. Miller18831884J. Bettelon18851886Ira Crawford1887188818891890J. E. D. Ward18911892C. G. McMillen18931894189518961897J. Linxweiler1898

Dates Mayor1899J. R. Lindemuth1900190119021903C. A. Snyder190419051906C. A. SnyderC. D. Wright1907 C. D. Wright1908E. E. Burkhart1909191019111912Edward Phillips1913

1914 to 1969

Starting in 1914, Dayton's government was changed to the "weak mayor" manager-council form. In this system, the five-member commission selects the city manager, who holds administrative authority over the municipal government. The mayor is simply one of the five members of the city commission. The mayor's only power over the other commissioners is as chairperson of the commission.

Bold type indicates mayor.

Year 1 2 3 4 5 1914 J. M. Switzer J. R. Flotron J. A. McGee A. I. Mendenhall G. W. Shroyer 1915 J. M. Switzer J. R. Flotron J. A. McGee A. I. Mendenhall G. W. Shroyer 1916 J. M. Switzer J. R. Flotron Henry Hiddesen A. I. Mendenhall G. W. Shroyer 1917 J. M. Switzer J. R. Flotron Henry Hiddesen A. I. Mendenhall G. W. Shroyer 1918 J. M. Switzer J. R. Flotron Henry Hiddesen A. I. Mendenhall G. W. Shroyer 1919 J. M. Switzer J. R. Flotron Henry Hiddesen A. I. Mendenhall G. W. Shroyer 1920 J. M. Switzer L. Wright Henry Hiddesen A. I. Mendenhall G. W. Shroyer 1921 J. M. Switzer L. Wright Henry Hiddesen O. B. Kneisly David L. Stanze 1922 F. B. Hale L. Wright Henry Hiddesen O. B. Kneisly David L. Stanze 1923 F. B. Hale L. Wright Henry Hiddesen O. B. Kneisly David L. Stanze 1924 F. B. Hale L. Wright Henry Hiddesen O. B. Kneisly David L. Stanze 1925 F. B. Hale L. Wright Henry Hiddesen O. B. Kneisly David L. Stanze 1926 Allen C. McDonald L. Wright Henry Hiddesen George W. Bish C. H. Paul 1927 Allen C. McDonald L. Wright Henry Hiddesen George W. Bish C. H. Paul 1928 Allen C. McDonald H. N. Ballman Henry Hiddesen George W. Bish C. H. Paul 1929 Allen C. McDonald H. N. Ballman Henry Hiddesen(died 1 January 1929Karl F. Kroemer(24 April 1929) George W. Bish C. H. Paul 1930 Allen C. McDonald H. N. Ballman Karl F. Kroemer George W. Bish David L. Stanze 1931 Allen C. McDonald H. N. Ballman Karl F. Kroemer George W. Bish David L. Stanze 1932 Allen C. McDonald John E. Breidenbach Charles A. Bracher George W. Bish David L. Stanze 1933 Allen C. McDonald John E. Breidenbach Charles A. Bracher George W. Bish David L. Stanze 1934 Frank M. Krebs John E. Breidenbach Charles A. Bracher Frank H. Irelan Charles J. Brennan 1935 Frank M. Krebs John E. Breidenbach Charles A. Bracher Frank H. Irelan Charles J. Brennan 1936 Frank M. Krebs John E. Breidenbach Arthur C. Stock Frank H. Irelan Charles J. Brennan 1937 Frank M. Krebs John E. Breidenbach Arthur C. Stock Frank H. Irelan Charles J. Brennan 1938 Frank M. Krebs John E. Breidenbach Arthur C. Stock John F. Ahlers Charles J. Brennan 1939 Frank M. Krebs John E. Breidenbach Arthur C. Stock John F. Ahlers Charles J. Brennan 1940 Frank M. Krebs Harry J. Munger Fred A. Speice John F. Ahlers Charles J. Brennan 1941 Frank M. Krebs Harry J. Munger Fred A. Speice John F. Ahlers Charles J. Brennan 1942 Frank M. Krebs Harry J. Munger Fred A. Speice John F. Ahlers Kurt Roehll 1943 Frank M. Krebs Harry J. Munger Fred A. Speice John F. Ahlers Kurt Roehll 1944 Frank M. Krebs Harry J. Munger(resigned 6 December 1944) Fred A. Speice John F. Ahlers Kurt Roehll 1945 Frank M. Krebs Charles E. Smith(1 January 1945) Fred A. Speice John F. Ahlers Kurt Roehll 1946 Louis W. Lohrey Charles E. Smith Fred A. Speice Herbert L. Neth Edward G. Breen (D) 1947 Louis W. Lohrey Charles E. Smith Fred A. Speice Herbert L. Neth Edward G. Breen (D) 1948 Louis W. LohreyMayor as of 15 April 1948 Charles E. Smith Fred A. Speice Herbert L. Neth Edward G. Breen (D)(resigned 15 April 1948)Merle P. Smith14 April 1948 1949 Louis W. Lohrey Charles E. Smith(died 19 March 1949)John C. Csipkar6 April 1949 Fred A. Speice Herbert L. Neth Merle P. Smith 1950 Louis W. Lohrey John C. Csipkar Fred A. Speice Jack D. Reeder Merle P. Smith 1951 Louis W. Lohrey John C. Csipkar Fred A. Speice Jack D. Reeder Merle P. Smith 1952 Louis W. Lohrey John C. Csipkar Howard R. Malone Jack D. Reeder Merle P. Smith 1953 Louis W. Lohrey John C. Csipkar Howard R. Malone Jack D. Reeder(resigned 10 June 1953Henry S. Stout(17 June 1953) Merle P. Smith 1954 R. William Patterson (D) John C. Csipkar Howard R. Malone Henry S. Stout Edward V. Stoecklein 1955 R. William Patterson (D) John C. Csipkar Howard R. Malone Henry S. Stout Edward V. Stoecklein 1956 R. William Patterson (D) Robert L. Schell Howard R. Malone Henry S. Stout Edward V. Stoecklein(died 1 July 1956)Herbert K. Raney(rescinded)Earl D. Mueller(21 November 1956) 1957 R. William Patterson (D) Robert L. Schell Howard R. Malone Henry S. Stout Earl D. Mueller 1958 R. William Patterson (D) Robert L. Schell Howard R. Malone Frank R. Somers John Pottinger(died 5 December 1958) 1959 R. William Patterson (D) Robert L. Schell Howard R. Malone Frank R. Somers Roger R. Bussdicker(21 January 1959) 1960 R. William Patterson (D) Robert L. Schell Howard R. Malone Frank R. Somers Roger R. Bussdicker 1961 R. William Patterson (D) Robert L. Schell Howard R. Malone Frank R. Somers Roger R. Bussdicker 1962 David Forbes Pottinger(missing 1 August 1962)Dave Hall (R)28 November 1962 Robert L. Schell Howard R. Malone Frank R. Somers Don L. Crawford (D) 1963 Dave Hall (R) Robert L. Schell Howard R. Malone Frank R. Somers Don L. Crawford (D) 1964 Dave Hall (R) Robert L. Schell Roscoe L. Snyder Frank R. Somers Don L. Crawford (D) 1965 Dave Hall (R) Robert L. Schell Roscoe L. Snyder Frank R. Somers Don L. Crawford (D) 1966 Dave Hall (R) Robert L. Schell Roscoe L. Snyder Joseph D. Wine Don L. Crawford (D) 1967 Dave Hall (R) Robert L. Schell Roscoe L. Snyder Joseph D. Wine Don L. Crawford (D)(resigned 15 February 1967)James H. McGee (D) 1968 Dave Hall (R) Mike M. Liskany Roy R. Paulson Joseph D. Wine(resigned 26 April 1968Thomas B. Andrews(22 May 1968) James H. McGee (D) 1969 Dave Hall (R) Mike M. Liskany Roy R. Paulson Thomas B. Andrews James H. McGee (D)

1970 to present

As of November 1969, the mayor is elected separately from the other four commissioners.