CINCINNATI—Before he became a well-known TV show host, Jerry Springer made a name for himself as a political figure and TV news anchor in Ohio. According to a family spokesperson, Springer died after a brief illness. He was 79.
What You Need To Know
- Springer died on Thursday at the age of 79
- The TV host got his start in Cincinnati
- Springer was a Cincinnati City Council member before he became mayor
- He then transitioned to TV news as an anchor for Cincinnati’s WLWT
It’s a part of Springer’s life many might not know about. The guy known for always cracking a joke got his start in politics in Cincinnati in the early 70s, serving as both a city council member and mayor. David Mann, a former mayor and city council member himself, remembers meeting Springer in the 60s.
“We both were young, getting involved in politics,” Mann said. “And I was kind of feeling good about my prospects, and then there was this kid named Jerry Springer who has it, you know?”
David Mann said Springer supported him through all of his political endeavors. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)
Mann shared that Springer was a true man of the people.
“He made everybody believe that he cared about them, which he did as a public servant,” Mann said. “And that’s what public service is all about.”
Among several initiatives, Springer helped lower the Ohio voting age from 21 to 18, and even lent his expertise to budding politicians, like current Hamilton County Commission President Alicia Reece.
Alicia Reece says she knew Springer since she was a young girl. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)
“Thank you Jerry Springer for being a family friend and taking a risk on a young girl that nobody said could win,” Reece said.
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval shared that, “Like so many Cincinnatians, I’m extremely grateful for Mayor Springer’s public service on behalf of our residents. I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to his friends and family.”
Springer’s family shared what an immense loss this is for those that loved him saying, “He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart, and humor will live on.”
After Springer’s political career ended, he joined the WLWT news team in Cincinnati. His former colleagues say he left a lasting impression.
“Some people may not be familiar with that part of his life and the impact that he had and he did. Cincinnati is better for it,” Tom Loebig, a WLWT producer from 1983-1985, said. “I know I am better for it for the time that I spent with him, and he’s definitely someone I will miss quite a bit.”
