Tyson to retire from Columbus City Council
Columbus City Councilwoman Priscilla Tyson, whose name is already on the November ballot to seek another four-year term, announced Friday that she is withdrawing from the race.
“I will not be seeking another term on Columbus City Council and retiring from office on December 31, 2021,” Tyson said in a written statement released by the council.
Her departure will mark the end of a 14-year council presence, making her the longest-serving woman ever on the Columbus City Council.
Tyson has been a strong advocate for the city’s girls and young women, pushing for the establishment of the Commission on Black Girls, which studies and assesses the quality of life of Black girls in Columbus and central Ohio.
Tyson also pointed to her support for maximizing job creation, economic development, safety, and a high quality of life for all Columbus residents.
“As a lifelong resident of Columbus, I was honored to join Columbus City Council in January of 2007,” Tyson said in the statement.
“When joining the body, my goals were to expand my commitment to public service, continue to be a role model for girls and young women, and increase the access and opportunities for every citizen to live their best lives.”
“Council member Tyson has helped transform the lives of residents with an unrelenting focus on ensuring that everyone has access to the opportunities that help them realize their greatest self,” Council President Shannon Hardin said in a written statement.
The Democrat’s departure sets up a situation where by law she will be replaced on the ballot by a five-person
nominating committee that she listed when she filed seeking reelection to council with the Franklin County Board of Elections.
The five are: Larry Price; Keisha Hunley Jenkins; Francine Ryan; Gretchen James; and Christian Hardin. The five are also the same nominating committee for Shannon Hardin and Council member Mitchell Brown, who ran on a slate with Tyson.
Tyson did not return a telephone call from The Dispatch about her announcement.
Tyson grew up on the East Side, where she still lives. After her father died when she was 6 months old, Tyson, her three sisters and a brother were raised by a mother and stepfather who stressed education and hard work, according to a profile The Dispatch did on her in 2012.
“Mom used to tell my sisters and me, ‘Don’t marry a doctor, be a doctor,’ ” Tyson said, noting she was the first in her family to get a college degree, later followed by her sisters, the profile said.
Before joining council Tyson served as a vice president at National City Bank from 1977 to 1993, overseeing community development and employee relations.
She left the bank to become vice president of community relations at Ohio Health Systems and stayed four years before starting City Year Columbus,
a nonprofit group that sends out volunteers ages 17 to 24 to serve in the community.
Tyson was appointed to the council in January 2007 to fill the seat of Mary Jo Hudson, who left to become director of the Ohio Department of Insurance.
In 2012, Tyson lost the Democratic primary for the new, heavily gerrymandered 3rd Congressional District to a former state representative, Joyce Beatty.
Throughout her time on the council, Tyson, who has also dabbled in art sales, has been a strong supporter of the Columbus arts community.
Tyson “has been a tireless advocate for the arts and artists for her entire career,” Tom Katzenmeyer, president and CEO of the Greater Columbus Arts
Council, said in a written statement.
The “Yes We Can” coalition of Columbus Democrats issued a statement Friday saying they are concerned about the process that will be used by the controlling Democrats to fill Tyson’s place on the November ballot.
“Through a combination of appointments, dark money, and huge campaign contributions from developers and council’s corporate funders, it is functionally impossible for a competitive election to take place in this city under these conditions,” Will Klatt, Yes We Can/columbus Working Families spokesman, said in a written statement. wbush@gannett.com @Reporterbush