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By Laure Quinlivan, laurequinlivan@gmail.com

A standing room only crowd gathered at the Contemporary Arts Center on January 10 to celebrate the Investiture of Connie Pillich, the first woman ever elected Hamilton County Prosecutor. Cincinnati’s Mayor, faith and community leaders spoke at the ceremony.

Pillich also is the first Democrat to hold the office in 92 years and won despite a $2 million-dollar barrage of negative ads placed by her Republican opponent.  Hamilton County Democratic Party Executive Director Gwen McFarlin said Pillich’s victory came as no surprise to her.

“Connie is a great servant leader who is firm and fair,” says McFarlin.  “I felt in my heart that her message about time to clean house and change the good old boys club would resonate with the people, and it did.”

Pillich’s record of public service includes six years as a Representative in the Ohio legislature, where she was Vice Chair of the House Committee on Criminal Justice. There, she supported a bill that ultimately permitted DNA evidence to exonerate individuals wrongly convicted of violent offenses. 

Pillich told the crowd her 8-year military career as Captain in the U.S. Air Force was excellent preparation for leading with integrity.  She was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal three times.

“My commanders in the military gave me challenging assignments, encouraged me to excel and commended me when I did,” said Pillich.

Pillich told attendees she felt a duty to seek the office to give Hamilton County citizens a prosecutor who prioritizes public service over politics.  “Justice is about treating people fairly,” said Pillich.  “My vision is to empower my lawyers to do great work and deliver justice with integrity.”

Prosecutor Pillich is interviewing lawyers to fill open assistant prosecutor positions.  Most of the current assistant prosecutors have reapplied to stay in their jobs under her regime.

Pillich says she will focus on staff training, including ethics training, and ensure the Prosecutor’s Office work is audited.  She plans to modernize the office with updated technology and equipment. Pillich’s goals include working to get illegal guns and fentanyl off the streets, cracking down on domestic abusers, and implementing data-driven approaches to tackle the opioid crisis.

Bishop Sonny James, of Keep it Real Worldwide Ministries, offered prayers led the crowd in a blessing for Prosecutor Pillich.  “Sister Connie Pillich you are called to such a time as this,” said Bishop James. “Think of this day when times seem rough, when people don’t show you respect or appreciation, and stay patient and confident in who God has made you and called you to be.”

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval was the emcee and admitted that early in his political career he was advised to model the Connie Pillich work ethic.

“She will do what needs to be done to get the job accomplished. And that is exactly the kind of change-maker leader we need in this moment, more than ever. Welcome to this historic swearing in,” said Mayor Pureval.

First District Court of Appeals Judge Marilyn Zayas administered the oath to Pillich, whom she bonded with 30 years ago as a fellow UC College of Law School student.

“We were in a very small group of two, we were young mothers in law school,” said Judge Zayas.

Connie Pillich is a graduate of the UC College of Law. She is married to Paul Forshey, a retired Procter & Gamble principal scientist, and they have two grown children. Forshey said the world travel plans he made for him and his wife will now have to wait. “She worked so hard making calls in our back room six hours a day and then going out at night to campaign events.  I’m not even sure she wanted this, but she felt it was her duty,” he said.