• Anita Scott Jones is the city’s first African-American woman elected as an at-large member of Middletown City Council.
• Leslie Ford becomes the first African-American woman elected to serve as ward council member. She was elected to complete the final two years of William “Kip” Moore.
• Lalisa Lawrence becomes the first African-American woman appointed to council.
2005
Voters approve charter change for the direct election of mayor.
2004
The Rev. Greg Tyus, an African-American minister, is appointed to complete the final year of Robert “Sonny” Hill Jr.’s term after he dies in office.
2001
Robert “Sonny” Hill Jr., the city’s 2nd Ward councilman, is selected by his peers to serve as mayor. He becomes Middletown’s first African-American mayor.
2000
Voters approve charter amendment renaming the Middletown City Commission to Middletown City Council.
1994
Charter change expands Middletown City Commission to seven members as four new ward members are seated.
1992
City redistricts the ward boundaries to ensure they were equally populated with about 11,500 residents each. The new boundaries were also drawn on purpose to concentrate the African-American population in order not to dilute their voting powers as well as to withstand any potential court challenges. U.S. Census Tracts from 1990, existing voting ward alignment, 1980 neighborhood strategy areas and the 1990 black population by census tracts were used as tools by the Ward Alignment Committee. This committee also used the city’s total population, the black population, the total population 18 years and older and the black population 18 years and older.
1990
Voters approve charter change, by a vote of 4,892 for to 4,699 against, to establish wards as political subdivisions for the city
1969
James “Choppy” Saunders becomes the first African-American elected at-large to the Middletown City Commission.
1963
Mary C. Lord becomes the first woman elected at-large to the Middletown City Commission.
1949
Lloyd Miller, 25, becomes the youngest person elected at-large to the Middletown City Commission.
1948
Charter amended to establish a full-time city manager. The size of the City Commission remained at five members to be elected at-large.
1913
Middletown voters approve its City Charter and the establishment of “home rule” powers. This vote also eliminates the city’s ward system and re-establishes the at-large system of electing City Commission members. The commission size was reduced to five members. Wards were utilized by the city for administrative purposes only.
1912
The Ohio Constitution is amended to permit municipalities to establish city charters and “home rule powers.”
1893
City’s wards were redistricted because of annexations which increased its population.
1888
First election by wards. Two representatives are elected from each of the city’s four wards. The ward elections become very political with major and minor political parties holding conventions in each ward to nominate candidates.
1886
Middletown votes to change its status from a village to a city.
1880s
Residents begin to debate the need to divide the city into wards for better representation. City’s population is about 7,000.
1837
Middletown incorporated and selects its first village council on April 18, 1837.
1833
The Ohio General Assembly approves “An Act to Incorporate the Town of Middletown in the County of Butler.” It provided for a vote to elect a mayor, recorder, and five trustees to constitute a town council for one-year terms.
Sources: Middletown Journal, “Middletown Diary” written by historian George Crout; City of Middletown Clerk of Council’s Office; Middletown Journal archives; and the Butler County Board of Elections
Compiled by Staff Writer Ed Richter