Mike Turner - Mayor of Dayton

Mayor of Dayton

Turner was elected Mayor of Dayton, Ohio in 1993, narrowly defeating incumbent Mayor Richard Clay Dixon. Prior to Mayor-Elect Turner taking office, the city suffered a number of economic setbacks. Upon taking office, Turner focused on attracting business to the city and on redeveloping vacant and underutilized real estate packages known as brownfields.

During Turner’s time as mayor of Dayton, the city reached an agreement to construct a baseball stadium for a class A minor league team affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds, known as the Dayton Dragons. Since its construction, Fifth Third Field stadium has been a linchpin of economic development in Downtown Dayton and has provided millions in revenue for the area.

The Schuster Center is a performing arts center located at the corner of Second and Main Streets in downtown Dayton, Ohio. The Center has served as a forum for the Victoria Theatre’s Broadway Series, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Dayton Ballet and also as a speaking location for visiting political leaders like former New York Governor Mario Cuomo. Turner was the mayor of Dayton, during the planning and construction of the center and facilitated discussions with key leaders from the project’s conception to its completion.

Turner also started a program called “Rehabarama” that attracted professionals to historic properties inside the city. Mayor Turner also welcomed diplomats and leaders from all over the world to the region as part of the Dayton Peace Accords. He was reelected in 1997 over Democratic City Commissioner Tony Capizzi and continued efforts to develop the economy of both the city and the surrounding region. Turner was narrowly defeated in 2001 by then-State Senator Rhine McLin.