CINCINNATI – John Curp doesn’t yet know if he plans to apply to be Cincinnati’s permanent city manager. For now, he said he just feels honored to help lead the city through its period of transition.
What You Need To Know
- John Curp was sworn in as interim city manager for the city of Cincinnati on Jan. 19
- A former city solicitor, Curp said he understands how City Hall works
- Prior to being appointed, he was working for a private law firm, where he said he learned much of his leadership style
- Curp wouldn’t say if he’s intereested in the job
The city’s former solicitor, Curp was sworn in as Cincinnati’s interim city manager on Jan. 19 following the resignation of former City Manager Paula Boggs Muething.
“I’m very proud to hold this position. It’s an amazing, amazing vote of confidence from this City Council and Mayor (Aftab Pureval) to have brought me here,” said Curp, who worked for the city for six years before leaving for a career in private practice. “I’m excited to work with a bunch of truly brilliant people who occupy City Hall and all of our offices across the entire city.”
Curp benefits from not having as steep of a learning curve as newcomers may. He worked for the city from 2008 to 2014, so he generally knows how municipal government operates, although many of the faces have changed in the past eight years.
“City Hall workers still have the same strong work ethic,” Curp said. “I still see the same passion for the city, and I’m excited to be back on the team.”
The announcement of Curp as interim city manager happened quickly. Mayor Pureval announced Boggs Muething’s decision to resign in the morning hours of Dec. 27 while he was still mayor-elect. About five hours later, Curp had been named Pureval’s pick for the position.
“I think that unique knowledge of having worked here at City Hall, yet not having been part of the last administration, kind of uniquely positioned me to be a contributor for a new mayor and the council,” Curp said.
It’s the city manager’s job to oversee the day-to-day operations of the city, hire leadership for various departments and draft the city’s proposed budget every year. The position is also charged with implementing any policies enacted by the mayor and City Council.
Pureval called Curp a “smart, effective, and proven government executive.” He cited Curp’s history of helping to get major projects “across the finish line,” including development of The Banks riverfront district, redesigning Washington Park and renovating historic Music Hall, as well other “transformational projects.”
As city solicitor, Curp supervised the city’s law department, which had more than 50 employees and an annual budget of more than $6 million at the time. He also got invaluable experience working closely with the city’s various departments.
“I know the budget process. I was a part of it for all the years I was with the city,” Curp said. “I credit the city manager at the time (Milton Dohoney Jr.), who really delegated responsibility to his directors and gave us the opportunity to lead and grow as executives.”
Curp’s private sector experience includes a stint as partner with the prestigious Taft Stettinius & Hollister law firm, specializing in real estate and economic development. He most recently was a partner at the Blank Rome law firm, serving clients on business, litigation and environmental matters before all levels of government.
Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, also appointed Curp to the Ohio Public Defender Commission in September 2016. He remained a member until January 2021.
Curp began his career in public service in 1991, when he worked for about a year as an intern in the Department of Economic Development and Planning for Montgomery County while still an undergraduate student at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He received his legal training at Indiana University.
“You know, my style of leading the law department was kind of the style I learned in private enterprise, which was being proactive – getting to understand your clients, being active, engaged in their business plans and how to make the most effective decisions,” he said.
Curp said Cincinnati has “real promise” but also significant challenges ahead. Some of those include the continued battle against COVID-19, economic recovery from the pandemic and an uptick in shootings. The city of Cincinnati recently declared shootings a public health crisis.
The city also is in the process of looking for a new police chief. Chief Eliot Isaac’s final day in office is Friday. While an interim chief has been named, the city plans to conduct a national search for a police chief. Curp will be part of that selection panel.
“My goal is to empower those department directors and leadership to make well-informed decisions on how to address each and every one of them,” he said, adding that many cities across the country are facing the same issues as Cincinnati. Curp feels the city is in a position to be a “leader” on these fronts.
Explaining his approach to the city manager’s job, Curp added, “We’re going to go out and look at what’s best-in-class in our country and frankly, around the world and bring those practices to Cincinnati and make them truly Cincinnati solutions to issues that everyone across the country is facing right now.”
Even before he was sworn in, Pureval made it known he wanted to conduct a nationwide search for a city manager. The city is working on a request for proposals to find a third-party search firm. It’s not yet clear how long the process will take.
Curp said he understands the process and wants to be part of it. “This is a big job and one that deserves a thorough vetting,” he said.
Under Cincinnati’s form of government, the mayor will make the recommendation and then the City Council will vote whether to approve it.
“I’m sitting in an office that’s been home to a dozen city managers before me,” Curp said. “This office belongs to the city of Cincinnati and frankly, to good government advocates in Cincinnati. So, the next person is the full-time occupier. This seat is going to be one that I think is fully vetted and the community is behind as a leader.”
When asked if he wanted to be in the running as the next city manager, Curp didn’t answer directly. He said he’ll make a decision about applying for the job after reviewing community feedback and looking at the qualifications that are settled upon.
“If I feel I meet those qualifications, then I’ll apply,” he added.
Curp’s contract calls for him to be paid about $265,000 annually. If he’s terminated before a permanent city manager is selected, Curp will receive six months of severance, plus accrued sick time.
If he takes another management job within the city, he’ll have to be paid at least 75% of the city manager’s pay in his new senior level management role. His salary must be guaranteed for at least two and half years assuming he’s not fired for cause.
Curp is married and a father of “five wonderful children who live, work and play in this city.”
“Cincinnati is unique in that we have a quality of life here that I think exists nowhere else in the country,” he said. “I’ve watched my children be able to grow up with access to arts and culture and some of the best schools in our country. I’m excited to be a part of that and to lead his community in that direction.”
Regardless of what his next permanent position is, Curp is optimistic about Cincinnati.
“I think we’re headed toward excellence as a community,” he said. “It’s collaboration. It’s innovation. It’s bringing growth and development for all of our neighborhoods in a way that’s balanced and equitable so that everyone here has the same opportunities to succeed.”
