BIOGRAPHY | ADVISORIES | RELEASES | INITIATIVES | MEDIA

Andrew J. Ginther joined Columbus City Council in January 2007, and as chair of the Public Safety Committee, his first priority is to ensure that Columbus Police and Fire forces have the resources they need to serve and protect our city. Ginther believes the best measure of our quality of life in Columbus is the safety of our residents. That is why more than 70 percent of the city’s annual budget is devoted to police, fire, and support agencies, and why Ginther will continue to fight to adequately fund our safety forces.

Immediately upon joining Columbus City Council, Ginther delivered on his pledge to protect Columbus families and businesses, championing budget amendments exceeding $500,000 to preserve and expand critical crime prevention strategies, including Community Crime Patrol (CCP), antiviolence programs, and Central Ohio Crime Stoppers. Ginther has since sponsored legislation which provided funding for bulletproof vests, police vehicles and laptop computers that will be used as part of the expanded Columbus Police Summer Strike Force initiative, which will proactively address crime in Columbus neighborhoods. Ginther also sponsored legislation to provide the Columbus Division of Fire with additional life-saving tools, including turnout gear and a state-of-the-art robot for the Division’s Bomb Squad. He is also working to support the building of new fire stations to meet the demands of our growing city, including the new Fire Station 10 now under construction.

Because of his leadership of the Public Safety Committee, Ginther was also appointed chair of the Public Utilities Committee, and is working to ensure essential city services are being delivered effectively and efficiently. Additionally, Ginther serves on the Judiciary, Recreation and Parks, and Zoning Committees.

Andrew Ginther has a long history of community service, believing it the key to stronger neighborhoods. Prior to joining Columbus City Council, Ginther was elected to the Columbus Board of Education in 2001 and re-elected in 2005. He is an honorary Board member of Kids Voting, and has been actively involved with the American Cancer Society’s Grassroots Mobilization Team and the central Ohio chapter of the NAACP. He is a former member of the city of Columbus’ Department of Public Safety Advisory Board and the Ohio Tech Corps Steering Committee.

Ginther studied peace and conflict resolution at the University of Ulster and Queen’s College in Northern Ireland while teaching at public schools in Belfast and Derry. He served in consecutive internships at the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, Georgia, where he taught non-violence and dispute resolution to school children in the most violent parts of the city.

Ginther is the Coordinator of Community Relations for Triumph Communications, Inc. and previously served as a Legislative Aide in the Ohio Senate and as Coordinator of Violence Prevention for Strategies Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE).

A proud graduate of Columbus Public Schools, Ginther holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He is a native of Columbus, and resides with his wife, Shannon, in Clintonville.

High Resolution Image (pdf)