A Dayton native, Rhine McLin has kept Dayton at the center of her life and is focused on its growth and development.  Throughout her two terms as Mayor, Rhine has had to balance fiscal responsibility with making investments in neighborhoods and providing services to citizens.  In her next term as Mayor, Rhine will focus on using connections with State and national politicians to bring the most money possible to Dayton to fund its pressing needs and to stimulate the growth that has already begun.

Rhine McLin is an educator, community activist, elected leader and personal advocate for Dayton and its residents.  From her early professional days as a teacher and funeral director, Rhine has been focused on helping people and looking to a better future.  As a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1988 to 1994 and the Ohio Senate from 1995 to 2000, she has focused on the needs of Dayton and the Greater Dayton area.  Elected as Dayton’s 67th Mayor and first female Mayor in 2000, Rhine has led the City through challenging financial times. Her connections with elected officials in State and Federal government as well as elected local officials around the country have helped Dayton forge new partnerships for providing services, explore new service delivery methods and expand housing and economic development efforts.

Rhine McLin is proud to be the “Mayor for all Daytonians” and hosts Mayor’s Walks in neighborhoods, Mayor’s Days for citizen meetings and attends a broad range of neighborhood, religious and community events.  At these events, she listens to constituents, becomes personally involved in resolving citizen issues and ensures responses are provided to requests for information.  She is a leading advocate for Dayton to be the regional technology, business and arts hub and has worked to strengthen relationships between the City and partners including the Dayton Public School, the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce and Montgomery County.

Rhine McLin has been awarded a BA from Parsons College and a Masters in Education degree from Xavier University.  She has been recognized with the Paul Harris and Gabriel Louis Mann Fellowships and the Myrl H. Shoemaker Award.  Rhine was the first African American woman to serve in the Ohio Senate and the first to serve as Senate Minority Whip and as the Senate Minority Leader.  Rhine is the Secretary of the National Conference of Democratic Mayors and has served in numerous positions in the local State and national Democratic parties. Rhine McLin currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party.  Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, Rhine McLin is focused on Dayton, the city of her birth, the city she loves, the city she is working for every day.