Mark Mallory is an American politician who served as the 68th Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first two-term Mayor under the City's new Stronger-Mayor system, the first directly elected African-American mayor, and the first mayor in more than 70 years who did not come from City Council. Mallory works for FC Cincinnati as the Director of Community Development.
Prior to his election in 2005, he served as assistant Minority Leader in the Ohio Senate. He won a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives in 1994, replacing his father who retired after serving the district for nearly 30 years. He served in the Ohio House from 1995 to 1998, when he was elected to the Senate. In November 1998, Mark Mallory was elected to represent the 9th Senate District in the Ohio General Assembly, and in 2002 was elected to his second four-year term. He was the Assistant Minority Leader for the Senate Democratic Caucus during his seven years in the General Assembly. In 2003, Senator Mallory passed a resolution in the General Assembly ratifying the 14th Amendment, 135 years after it was amended to the US Constitution. Mallory resigned his senate seat in 2005 to run for Mayor of Cincinnati. He defeated fellow Democrat David Pepper to win the election. Mallory was elected to a second term as Mayor on November 3, 2009.
On April 2, 2007, Mallory was scheduled to throw the ceremonial first pitch for the Cincinnati Reds' game on Opening Day. Despite claims that he had trained with the University of Cincinnati baseball team, his pitch flew thirty feet to the first base side of home plate, missing the intended target, Eric Davis. The ball hit the foot of umpire Sam Holbrook, who ejected Mallory before the contest even began. The pitch received national media attention, including appearances on Good Morning America and Cold Pizza, and Mallory was given a second chance on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!, but again failed to come anywhere close to the target with his throw. He was given a "second, second-chance" and finally completed a toss to actor Kurt Russell. Mallory took the incident as an opportunity to advertise the city of Cincinnati.
Personal life
Mallory's brother William L. Mallory Jr. is a Municipal Court judge, his brother Dwane Mallory is a Municipal Court Judge, his brother Dale Mallory was the State Representative in the Ohio House District once held by the Mayor and his father, and his brother Joe Mallory is the former Vice Mayor of Forest Park. He is the son of former Ohio House of Representatives Majority Leader William L. Mallory Sr.
