Mayor, majority of Cincinnati council backs Hampton hiring after past job problems emerge

Cincinnati City Council members are mostly unconcerned that the city's new assistant city manager came to Cincinnati having been fired from her last public sector job and after leaving the job before that with a settlement.

They told The Enquirer the choice was City Manager Sheryl Long's and they are confident Long chose the best person for the job. Mayor Aftab Pureval said Cincinnati said he believes Hampton will help "build lasting positive change."

Cincinnati City Councilman Reggie Harris publicly said at a committee meeting last week he was "excited to have" Natasha Hampton join the city manager's office as its third assistant city manager.

Councilwoman Liz Keating, city council's lone Republican, agreed the choice was Long's alone, but said the revelations revealed by The Enquirer were disheartening.

"The city is now battling public distrust and yet another avoidable distraction when we need to be focused on public safety, housing and a looming budget crisis," Keating told The Enquirer.

Five of nine council members respond

The Enquirer polled the mayor and all nine council members.

The mayor and five council members responded: Keating, Harris, Jeff Cramerding, Meeka Owens and Seth Walsh. Not responding: Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, Victoria Parks, Mark Jeffreys and Scotty Johnson.

City Manager Sheryl Long had sole discretion in hiring Hampton. Council is barred by the city charter from intervening in hiring or firing of employees, but they can, and often do, voice an opinion about city operations. Hampton's salary is $189,000 a year, more than the city's two other assistant city managers, payroll records show.

The Enquirer reported on Hampton's past job history Tuesday and reached out to council members for their reactions. Though council members don't have a say in who Long hires, they did hire Long on a recommendation from Mayor Aftab Pureval.

Council also has an interest in the work that the manager's office does. Assistant city managers help oversee the city's 17 departments and 6,000 employees. They also help Long craft the budget − this year's operating budget is $523 million − and prepare reports on upcoming issues when council members seek more information.

Hampton's hire comes a little more than a month before council members will be on the ballot for re-election.

What The Enquirer found

Hampton, The Enquirer found, worked for the city of Miramar, Florida, from 1997 to 2018.

A Google search, a review of Hampton's resume and a follow-up review of available public records showed Hampton was fired as city manager of College Park, Maryland. Before that, she left her job with the city of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, with a $65,000 settlement "to settle fully any and all claims, which could be the subject of any litigation or disagreement between them," according to the agreement.

Prior to the first Enquirer report, Long told The Enquirer, via email: "Natasha's 26 years of experience speaks for itself, and the conversations I've had with her references have been incredible. In introducing her to key city staff, I can see that she'll hit the ground running. I can't speak to any of the details regarding Natasha's previous employment − I'm focused on her time as assistant city manager here in Cincinnati. I place my full confidence and trust in her abilities and desire to serve the citizens of Cincinnati."

Cramerding noted Long started as manager in September 2022 and her review by Cincinnati City Council is coming up. He and Keating are heading up the process.

"That will be the critical time for council to weigh in on how (Long) is doing," Cramerding said.

Each council member will have one-on-one time with Long, with a written performance review at the end. Cramerding said he is working with the mayor's office on the exact details of the process and hopes the review could be complete by the Nov. 7 election.

What the mayor and council members said:

Mayor Aftab Pureval

“I absolutely support City Manager Long’s decision. This is a critical moment in time, and we need the best team possible to build lasting positive change. Assistant City Manager Hampton has already hit the ground running, and we’re thrilled to have her experience and leadership skills in City Hall.”

Councilmember Liz Keating

“Councilmembers are barred by the Charter from interfering with the hiring or firing of a city employee. However, I do wish there was more transparency from the beginning. The city is now battling public distrust and yet another avoidable distraction when we need to be focused on public safety, housing and a looming budget crisis.”

Councilmember Reggie Harris

"I continue to remain confident in City Manager Long’s personnel decisions, and I am confident that the city’s HR department handles all applicants carefully and thoroughly. I’m excited to welcome ACM Hampton and eager to work with her."

Councilmember Meeka Owens

"Per our charter; personnel decisions are completely in the hands of the city manager. I'm confident that in the process of recruiting and hiring careful consideration was made to attract the best candidate for this position."

Councilmember Seth Walsh

"Hiring decisions are made by the city manager and I remain confident in City Manager Long’s hiring decisions and our city’s HR process. Discussions regarding Assistant City Manager Hampton’s past should be, and I am confident were, addressed during the hiring process. I expect her to live up to the great expectations and trust placed on her in this new role."

Councilmember Jeff Cramerding

"I trust (Long's) personnel decisions ... She is the CEO and that is the only way to make this work."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Natasha Hampton: Cincinnati council, mayor react to Enquirer report