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City manager and council honor Assistant City Manager Virginia Tallent as she departs for judgeship
Summary
City Manager Cheryl Long and numerous council members paid tribute to Assistant City Manager Virginia Tallent at the meeting, praising her work on affordable housing, code enforcement, public-safety initiatives and community partnerships; Tallent said she is leaving city hall to serve on the bench.
Cincinnati City Manager Cheryl Long and several council members used the council meeting’s announcements to formally thank Assistant City Manager Virginia Tallent as she departs city hall to assume a judicial position.
Long summarized Tallent’s tenure: joining the city in code and quality-of-life roles, establishing regular meetings with the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, leading code-enforcement and litigation efforts to preserve affordable housing in neighborhoods including Walnut Hills and Avondale, and later serving as assistant city manager overseeing human services initiatives. "She is everything you could wish for in a public servant," Long said, adding Tallent’s work led to measurable reductions in code violations and neighborhood problem-solving.
Council members echoed those remarks. Council Member Jeffries recalled Tallent’s leadership on gun-violence reduction and city engagement after mass shootings; Council Member Albee recounted Tallent’s prompt problem-solving in Roll Hill; Council Member Owens highlighted Tallent’s systems-level thinking and work with the Children's & Families Cabinet. Council members said Tallent combined compassion with operational expertise and noted the assistant city manager had mentored staff and left organizational systems and projects — including Achieving Change Together (ACT) and other initiatives — in strong positions.
Tallent, visibly emotional, thanked the city’s executive team, department directors and community partners and said she would carry lessons about collaboration and community partnerships into her new role on the bench. "Serving the people of Cincinnati has been the greatest honor of my professional life," she said.
Council and city staff said they will continue the programs Tallent helped build; Chief Administrative staff and department leaders in the chamber praised her mentorship and named colleagues who will carry forward the work. No formal council action was associated with the farewell; it was presented as an announcement and recognition of public service.
