Jim Tarbell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

James "Jim" Tarbell is an American politician of the Charter Party, who currently serves as a member of the city council of Cincinnati, Ohio. By mayoral proclamation, Jim Tarbell hold the title "Mr. Cincinnati" for life.

[edit] Background

The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia.
Specific concerns may be found on the talk page. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions.(December 2007)

A descendant of writer-reformer Ida Tarbell, he graduated from St. Xavier High School. As a young man, he was an independent and altruistic community activist, especially in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Later he played a more controversial role as a landlord and developer in the same neighborhood, which involved him in noteworthy disputes with homeless advocate Buddy Gray. Tarbell is the former owner of the much-loved Cincinnati restaurant Arnold's Bar and Grill and Grammer's. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Mr. Tarbell was also the proprietor of the Ludlow Garage, a popular destinations for such up-and-coming bands as The Allman Brothers Band, NRBQ and Santana. During this time Tarbell was also instrumental in starting the Hyde Park/Mount Lookout Teen Center, converting an old church in the Hyde Park neighborhood to an all-ages club with huge main stage and "underground". Tarbell enlisted the help of Hyde Park's teenagers to help convert the church.

Until the mid-1980s, Tarbell was noted for his rabelaisian-red head and beard. Alopecia universalis resulted in the loss of all facial hair, including his eyebrows. Unabashed, he has since carried off a 'Daddy Warbucks' look with laudatory panache.

[edit] Political career

The restaurateur was first elected to the council in 1998 to replace the retiring Bobbie L. Sterne and was re-elected in 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2005. Until 2003, when Christopher Smitherman won a seat on the council, Tarbell was the sole Charterite on the council. In 2005, Tarbell was appointed Vice Mayor by Mark Mallory, the newly-elected Mayor of Cincinnati. Because of term limits, Tarbell may not run for reelection in the November 2007 election. In 1997, Tarbell became known for campaigning in a top hat and tails.