Charles John Luken was born on July 18,1951 and is an American politician of the Democratic party who was mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, and served in the Ohio's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.
17 Facts About Charlie Luken
2.
When Charlie Luken left office at the end of 2005, he was the longest serving mayor in Cincinnati's history with 12 years and one month of service in that role.
3.
Charlie Luken graduated from Purcell High School in Cincinnati, then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1973.
4.
Charlie Luken then entered law school at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, earning his degree in 1976, after which he started practicing law.
5.
Charlie Luken served on the Cincinnati city council from 1981 to 1984, before becoming mayor.
6.
Charlie Luken served as mayor of Cincinnati from 1984 to 1990.
7.
In 1985 Charlie Luken sponsored an amendment to the City's charter that made the leading vote-getter in the council race the City's mayor.
8.
Under that system Charlie Luken was elected mayor in 1985,1987 and 1989.
9.
Charlie Luken then ran for a seat in Ohio's District 1 in the United States House of Representatives to replace his father.
10.
Charlie Luken began serving in the US House in 1991.
11.
One of Charlie Luken's colleagues was future political opponent Courtis Fuller.
12.
In 2001, Charlie Luken won a second term against his former co-anchor Fuller.
13.
Charlie Luken's margin was slightly over 10 percent, meaning an 18 point primary defeat was reversed into a 10 percent victory for Charlie Luken in just eight weeks.
14.
The voting followed race lines, with Fuller receiving 78 percent of the vote in predominantly black voting wards, while Charlie Luken received approximately 80 percent of the votes in predominantly white wards.
15.
Charlie Luken reactivated his dormant law license but ultimately decided not to run.
16.
In 2004 Charlie Luken founded the nonprofit development corporation known as The Center City development Corporation, and that organization is widely credited with bringing a resurgence to Cincinnati's urban core.
17.
Also in 2004, Charlie Luken made repeal of Article 12 a central part of the City's agenda in his State of the City speech.