P.G. Sittenfeld

P.G. Sittenfeld has been called a “rising star” by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch, and NBC political analyst Chuck Todd. During his tenure on the Cincinnati City Council, his innovative ideas and cutting-edge programs have been lauded by numerous sources at the state and national levels. In 2013, P.G. was elected to his second term on the City Council — finishing first in the citywide election and winning by the largest percentage and margin of victory in modern Cincinnati history.

A native Ohioan, P.G.’s hands-on approach to delivering results for his city earned him the national “New Ideas Challenge” award in 2014 for “Making Government Work Better.” The award recognized his work to reimagine and repurpose neighborhood schools as after-hours “Town-Square Schools.”

P.G.’s leadership is grounded in his commitment to connecting with the people he serves. His annual visits to all 52 of the city’s neighborhoods ensures he hears firsthand the challenges and concerns of Cincinnati families so he can develop the most effective solutions. He has led major efforts to improve the lives of Cincinnati residents, working to attract new companies, create jobs, and invest in neighborhood development — including a successful push to put 80 police officers back on the streets.

P.G. has taken a fresh approach to the issues, finding smart solutions that leverage new technologies, such as Cincinnati’s first-ever City Hall smartphone app for constituent services. P.G. also helped bridge the digital divide by facilitating universal wireless internet for one of the city’s poorest communities, and he spearheaded an Open Data policy for the city to harness the creativity of Cincinnati’s entrepreneurs. His program for stabilizing foreclosed properties has helped residents stay in their homes and saved millions of dollars in property values. And he has stood steadfast in the fight for greater equality, by supporting LGBT rights and pushing back against voter suppression.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, P.G. is a graduate of Princeton University and was awarded a Marshall Scholarship to attend graduate school at Oxford University. Following his studies and after completing a fellowship at Google, P.G. turned down an offer to continue working at the technology company to return to his hometown to serve as the Assistant Director of the Community Learning Center Institute, where he helped guide a $1 billion school facilities master plan. In this role, he helped transform the Cincinnati Public School District and neighborhoods across the city by taking underused schools and rebuilding them into hubs of opportunity for mentoring, learning, and health care accessible to the entire community. These efforts have led to improved academic outcomes in Cincinnati – and inspired similar programs across Ohio and in New York City.

Shaped by parents who made the most of the opportunity Ohio gave them, and raised alongside three strong-willed and quick-witted older sisters, P.G.’s driving belief is that everyone should have a chance at the American Dream, no matter who they are or where they live.