More Potential 2016 Convention Host Cities Make Their Case to the RNC ...3 / 4 >


March 21, 2014 - Members of the Cincinnati team arrive bearing Graeter's ice cream and gelato, Skyline chili, Montgomery Inn barbeque, and chocolate bars.

The bid document.



March 21, 2014 - Members of the Cincinnati team leave the National Republican Club after their presentation.

John Barrett, president and CEO of Western & Southern Financial Group.


Jeffrey Blackwell, chief of police; Alex Triantfilou, chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party; John Barrett; Amy Murray, member of the City Council; and  Greg Hartmann, Hamilton County Commissioner.


Police chief Blackwell.


Cincinnati's bid is being supported by the tri-state area of Southeast Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.  One of the points John Barrett, president and CEO of Western & Southern Financial Group, emphasized is the city's walkability.  "We have the most walkable city," Barrett said.  (Transportation problems and stories of delegates and reporters stuck on buses for hours is something the RNC experienced in 2012 and wants to avoid this time).  Barrett also noted Cincinnati is home to nine Fortune 500 companies.  As for the raising necessary funds, the Cincinnati-area 45243 zip code is among the top in contributing to Republicans.  "The entire city will be about that convention," one of the Cincinnati team stated, perhaps drawing an implicit contrast with Las Vegas.  (A reporter covering these briefings at the RNC mentioned that for Las Vegas the Republican convention would be "like a medium-size show").


After speaking with reporters, the entire group headed out to the front of the RNC for a live shot with WCPO TV Channel 9 reporter Tom McKee and cameraman Matt Anzur..


Time for few selfies before the live shot.


[Left to Right] 
Row 1:
Ray Harris
Greg Shumate
John Barrett, president and CEO of Western & Southern Financial Group
Ann Murray, City Council Member
Alex Triantafilou, chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party

Row 2:
Mary Beth Baluta, regional director of sales, Washington, DC office of Cincinnati USA Convention and Visitors Bureau
Dan Lincoln, CEO of Cincinnati USA Convention and Visitors Bureau
Ed Babbitt, vice president and senior counsel at Western & Southern Financial Group
Lindsay Reynolds, project manager for the Cincinnati Host Committee
Greg Hartmann, Hamilton County Commissioner

others participating were
Jeffrey Blackwell, chief of police of Cincinnati

Main  |  Las Vegas  |  Cincinnati  |  Dallas  ||  March 3



[additional details on the Cincinnati bid]



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