Commissioner Alicia Reece

The Honorable Alicia Reece, your new Hamilton County Commissioner, made history as the first woman and African American to win city, state, and county races in Hamilton County.

She is an experienced 20 year public servant who has held many roles on behalf of the citizens in the State of Ohio. She has won seven elections at the local and state levels and was the youngest woman to ever win a seat in Cincinnati City Council’s history.

Ms. Reece is an entrepreneur and serves as an Advertising, Marketing, and Political Consultant as well as speaks nationally. Ms. Reece is the Host of the popular Alicia Reece Soulfood, which is a national radio show and podcast that airs weekly.

The Beginning

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and raised in the Westwood community, Ms. Reece has always had a passion for public service and giving back to others. As the daughter of Dr. Steven and Barbara Reece, both successful entrepreneurs, Ms. Reece was raised with a strong awareness of public service having been exposed to the dynamics of Cincinnati City Hall when her Father was Chief of Staff for the first African American mayor of the City of Cincinnati, the Honorable Theodore M. Berry. Later, Ms. Reece went on to major in International Studies at Withrow High School in Madisonville. She was elected Senior Class President and also was the Captain of the Withrow Girls City Championship Basketball Team during her tenure. After receiving the opportunity to attend Brown University, Ms. Reece turned down the Ivy League invitation to attend Grambling State University, a historically Black college in Louisiana, where she majored in Communications and minored in Spanish.

Pursuing Passions

While attending Grambling State University, Ms. Reece made significant contributions inside and outside of the classroom. She played on the Grambling State University SWAC Championship Basketball team. Ms. Reece was also awarded the title of Miss. Grambling State University and served her college community with tremendous passion and commitment during her reign. Moreover, she was a strong advocate for voting rights. Ms. Reece led a voter registration and mobilization campaign that activated thousands of college students. Her efforts received national media attention since it contributed to the defeat of former KKK leader, David Duke, and his run for Louisiana Governor.

Returning Home to Cincinnati after college

With these remarkable achievements in college, Ms. Reece returned home to Cincinnati with the passion to make a positive difference in her community. As the youngest woman ever voted on the Cincinnati City Council, Ms. Reece was a pioneer in so many areas as well championed small businesses, health, public safety, economic issues and more throughout her tenure. During the riots of 2001, as Vice-Mayor of the City of Cincinnati, Ms. Reece was a part of the leadership for the creation of the City’s historic Collaborative Agreement that continues to serve as a national model for positive policing and improving public safety in communities of color.

Taking Action

Ms. Reece next returned to elected office and served four terms as an Ohio State Representative in Columbus, Ohio. During her time, she led numerous bi-partisan legislation and projects as well as served as the Co-Founder of the Governor’s Community Police Relations Taskforce. Ms. Reece also championed the Executive Order creating the State’s first Community Police Relations Collaborative Commission resulting in a statewide use of standards in community partnerships.

During her tenure in Columbus, Ms. Reece was also elected President of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus. In that role, Ms. Reece launched the State of Black Ohio Action Agenda that led to the largest minority business spend of $300 million dollars in Ohio’s history. She also championed the increased funding for Central State University, secured hundreds of thousands in funding for job training partnerships with Urban Leagues and Community Action Agencies across the State as well as hosted an historic Power of the Black Vote convention in Cincinnati that featured Vernon Jordan and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas.

Ms. Reece is most proud of the new Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. state highway interchange that she championed. This $100 million dollar project connects hospitals, technology, and jobs in the heart of Cincinnati. Additionally, it is the only new highway interchange currently in the State of Ohio.

Effecting Change

Ms. Reece's passion for a permanent solution to voter disenfranchisement, suppression, and intimidation led her to create and lead the historic Voter Bill of Rights Constitutional Amendment in Ohio in 2014, and in other states across the country. The Voter Bill of Rights is a nonpartisan, grassroots effort to protect voting rights in Ohio by putting a state constitutional amendment on the ballot before Ohioans. The movement collected over 100,000 paper signatures statewide. Ms. Reece unveiled the plan at the 50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s March on Washington on August 24, where she served as one of the featured speakers.

As a result of her success and experience as a public servant, in 2016, Ms. Reece served as Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Convention and also worked on the DNC Platform Drafting Committee. In this role, she helped author the voting rights and criminal justice reform sections of the DNC Platform. In 2020, the DNC appointed Ms. Reece to the Credentials Committee for its national convention.

Alicia Today

Ms. Reece is the Host of the popular Alicia Reece Soulfood, which is a national radio show and podcast that airs every Friday at Noon and Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. on Cincinnati’s WGRI/103.1 FM. The podcast is available on Apple and Google Play platforms. Ms. Reece has also been featured in numerous local and national media outlets including MSNBC, CNN, Roll Call, Root.com, Madamenoire.com, American Urban Radio Network, TVOne, and BET, to name a few.

Ms. Reece has a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Grambling State University and has received numerous awards and honors during her career. She is also a successful entrepreneur and serves as an Advertising, Marketing, and Political Consultant as well as speaks nationally.

Currently, Ms. Reece is an active member of New Friendship Baptist Church in Cincinnati. She is also a current member of the Order of Eastern Stars, NAACP, and is a Founding Member of the National Urban League of Young Professionals in Cincinnati. Ms. Reece serves as a Board Member for Rev. Al. Sharpton's National Action Network and is a former Board Member of the Cincinnati United Way, Cincinnati Health Collaborative, and the Greater Cincinnati Health Foundation.

Ms. Reece is the doting older sister to two siblings as well as the proud aunt of six nieces and nephews.

To Contact Commissioner Reece, click here.