LUKEN SELECTS LONGTIME CITY DAVID RAGER TO SERVE AS INTERIM CITY MANAGER

LUKEN SELECTS LONGTIME CITY LEADER DAVID RAGER TO SERVE AS INTERIM CITY MANAGER

Cincinnati, Ohio— Mayor Charlie Luken today announced that he will ask City Council to confirm David E. Rager as Interim City Manager. Mr. Rager is currently the head of Cincinnati Water Works and has worked for Cincinnati City Government for almost 30 years.

“Dave Rager is one of the most qualified public servants I have ever worked with,” said Mayor Charlie Luken today. “He has experience in all facets of government, including time as Safety Director. His experience working with the Police and Fire Departments is invaluable to our City when crime is such an important issue.”

Mr. Rager’s appointment ordinance will be in front of City Council at Council’s regular meeting on August 3, 2005. His compensation package will be similar to Ms. Lemmie’s and it will clearly specify that this appointment is temporary until the new Mayor selects a permanent City Manager. It is anticipated that Mr. Rager will return to Water Works at the end of his temporary appointment. “I’m excited to serve Cincinnati in this important role,” said Rager.

“I’m looking forward to working to implement the vision of the Mayor and Council, and to continue to build on Valerie’s achievements.” Mr. Rager’s appointment will begin on September 11, 2005. “Dave and I spoke at length about my priorities for the next few months,” added Luken. “He will be a strong leader who can help us finalize the Banks Development project, begin to review and implement the Linder Crime Report, and keep important projects like Fountain Square and the Convention Center on track. Dave is a guy who understands the mechanics of government, and Cincinnati will be better off because he has accepted this assignment.” Mr. Rager’s biography is attached.

Biographical Background David E. Rager Director, Greater Cincinnati Water Works Cincinnati, Ohio Professional Experience March 1993 to Present:Mr. Rager serves as chief executive officer of the Greater Cincinnati Water Works, a metropolitan water utility serving approximately 1,000,000 people over a 400 square mile area in southwestern Ohio.

In 2003 the Greater Cincinnati Water Works expanded its service area into Northern Kentucky as well. During his tenure at the Water Works, Mr. Rager has worked to institute many private business practices within the utility. Examples include development of a strategic business plan, utilization of employee work teams, regular customer surveys and customer focus groups to provide insight into service delivery, expansion into new services and new service areas, as well as aggressive use of technology to manage costs and activity-based resource management.

Using a combination of strategies, the Greater Cincinnati Water Works has been able to hold operating expense growth to 1.5 percent on average over the past six years, and achieved a Standard and Poors bond rating of AA+ and a Moody’s bond rating of Aa2. March 1992 to March 1993:While serving as Assistant City Manager for the City of Cincinnati, Mr. Rager led a task force to introduce total quality management concepts within various City operations.

During this period he also served as the City of Cincinnati’s representative for the construction of a new county jail and the construction of a region-wide mobile data terminal system serving 54 independent government agencies. Mr. Rager continued to serve as Chairman of the Regional Computer Center Board and as a member of the County Enforcement Applied Regionally (CLEAR) Board. July 1983 to March 1992:Serving first as Assistant Director and then Director of the City of Cincinnati’s Safety Department, Mr. Rager was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the City’s police, fire, and emergency communications.

Overseeing a department of 2,300 employees, he was charged with carrying out the full range of management responsibilities including working with a variety of employee organizations and unions, addressing the concerns of citizen groups as well as elected officials, and representing the City in media interviews. During his tenure in this position, Mr. Rager was responsible for the complete reorganization of the City’s emergency medical services system, resulting in $1.2 million in revenues, and restructuring of the City’s emergency calling and dispatch center in order to incorporate full automation, 911 calling services, and emergency medical pre-arrival instructions.

He also coordinated all City services for the many events including the City’s Bicentennial Celebration, World Figure Skating Championships, 1988 Governors’ Conference, 1988 All-Star Baseball Game, 1985 and 1991 World Series Baseball and Division playoff games, and visits from U.S. Presidents and Presidential candidates and other national and international dignitaries.

June 1975 to March 1990:Mr. Rager, while completing his studies at the University of Cincinnati, began his employment with the City of Cincinnati in June of 1975 as a student intern in the City Planning Department. In 1978, after completion of his college work, he was promoted to the position of Management Analyst in the City’s Office of Research, Evaluation and Budget.

Mr. Rager accepted a promotion in 1981 to Manager of Administrative Services in the City of Cincinnati/Hamilton County Regional Computer Center. He served in that position until 1983, then was promoted to Assistant Director of Safety. Additional Accomplishments Nationally, Mr. Rager serves on the Board of Trustees for the American Water Works Research Foundation, the American Water Works Association Manufacturers/Associates Council as a liaison for the AWWARF Board of Trustees, the Water Utility Council, and the Board of Directors for the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, which he serves as President.

Through his many professional assignments, Mr. Rager has served on a number of task forces and boards, including the Cincinnati Minority Business Enterprise Contract Compliance Board, the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce Leadership Cincinnati Alumni Board, the Hamilton County and Greater Cincinnati 911 Policy Boards, the Cincinnati/Hamilton County Warrant Identification Policy Board, the Criminal Law Enforcement Applied Regionally (CLEAR) Board of Advisors, the Cincinnati/Hamilton County Regional Computer Center Board, and the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments’ Groundwater Committee.

In March of 1997, Mr. Rager was appointed by the City Manager to coordinate and direct the City’s relief and cleanup efforts for all communities affected by the severe flood. This involved the start up of the City’s Emergency Operations Center and organizing the activities required from each City department.

Education

• Bachelor of Urban Planning and Design; emphasis on Public Administration, University of Cincinnati, 1978

• Master of Business Administration, Xavier University, 1985 Other Interests and Activities

• Served on the Board of Directors of Joy Outdoor Education Center

• Served on the U.C. College of Design, Art, Architecture & Planning Alumni Board

• City of Cincinnati Campaign Coordinator: o 1995 & 1996: United Way o 1999 & 2000: Fine Arts Fund o 2002: United Negro College Fund