Dohoney now a credentialed city manager

Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. has received a credential from the International City Managers Association, making him one of about 1,000 managers in the country to have displayed the acumen to get the organization's nod.

Dohoney's lack of credential was cited over the summer by council member Jim Tarbell as a reason he should not be considered for the Cincinnati job, when there was quite a battle between Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, who wanted to hire him, and four council members who said the mayor was in violation of the city charter by not bringing forward at least two managers for council to interview and consider for the job.

The council members voiced quite a bit of concern over Dohoney's qualifications for the job at that time.

Dohoney was eventually confirmed for the job by a 6-3 vote, with Tarbell, Chris Bortz and Leslie Ghiz giving him a thumb's down. Council member Jeff Berding also expressed concerns over Dohoney's hiring, but eventually voted to confirm him.

Since that debate, all council members have said Dohoney is doing a good job, particularly when he put together the city's budget. There was quite a fight over the budget, but that squabble had nothing to do with Dohoney's vision for the city.

Here's the press release, put out Tuesday by Mallory's office, annoucing the credential:


Cincinnati - City of Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. recently received the Credentialed Manager designation from the International City Managers Association (ICMA), the premier local government leadership and management organization. Dohoney is one of 953 local government management professionals currently credentialed through the ICMA Voluntary Credentialing Program. Currently, there are approximately 8,000 ICMA members.

“We are lucky to have him,” Mayor Mark Mallory said. “In his first 6 months, Milton has brought professional management to City Hall. I am confident that he is making the tough changes that we need to bring excellence to the operations of city government.”

Milton Dohoney becomes the first Cincinnati City Manager to be credentialed while serving as Cincinnati’s City Manager. Two former Cincinnati City Managers, Gerald Newfarmer and John Shirey, are credentialed managers. However, they both received their credentials after their service to the City of Cincinnati.

To receive the prestigious ICMA credential, a member must have significant experience as a senior management executive in local government, have earned a degree, and demonstrated a commitment to high standards of integrity and to lifelong learning and professional development.

Dohoney has 25 years of experience in local government, and has worked for five Mayors. Among his other accomplishments, Dohoney is recognized as the founder of the Regional Neighborhood Network, an organization comprised of 18 cities in five states which partner community-based organizations with local government to improve conditions in neighborhoods. He was also a three-term president of an international organization called Neighborhoods USA, serving on its board for nine years.

He assumed his duties as Cincinnati’s Chief Executive Officer in August 2006.