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Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley Delivers Final State Of The City Address

Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley gave her eighth and final State of the City Address in a pre-recorded video released on Wednesday morning.
Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley gave her eighth and final State of the City Address in a pre-recorded video released on Wednesday morning.

Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley gave her eighth and final State of the City Address in a pre-recorded video released on Wednesday morning. In her speech, Whaley focused on racial justice and COVID-19.

Whaley spoke of the police reform working groups created this summer, made up of law enforcement, community members, politicians and others. She commended the groups for their efforts in making the police in Dayton more transparent and equitable.

“These working groups have spent hours and hours looking under the hood of the Dayton Police Department and are deeply examining existing policy and practice.”

And on the response to the pandemic, Whaley said she was proud of Dayton employees' hard work.

“Even as the world shut down around us, our staff contributed to serve the neighborhoods by picking up the trash, providing emergency services and much more.”

Whaley announced last month that she will not be running for re-election. She was first elected as Dayton’s mayor in 2013. During Wednesday's address, she again voiced her support for Dayton’s mayoral role to be changed from a part-time position to a full-time one.

“The role of mayor deserves someone who can put the time into it that it requires in our current moment. It also cannot be left to people who are independently wealthy, who are in retirement, or like me choose not to have children. We need to make sure the best person for the job are able to step up.”

Dayton’s Charter Review Committee is currently reviewing a proposal to make the role of Mayor a full-time position in the city. Dayton voters may have the opportunity to vote for or against the change this spring.