Democrat Stephanie Summerow Dumas was sworn-in Tuesday as the third member of the Hamilton County Board of Commission. She is believed to be the first African-American woman to serve as a county commissioner in Ohio.It was a day of firsts. Summerow Dumas is the first African-American to serve on the Hamilton County commission, and Denise Driehaus is now the first woman to serve the board as president.
Summerow Dumas said the day wasn't about her. "It's about speaking for those who feel they have no voice; who feel they have no hope; who feel they are invisible; who feel they don't; and they feel they are not included."
She says she's coming to the board with a vision that everyone in the county feels that opportunities are available to them. She's focused on transportation and better accessibility along with the budget.
Despite admonitions that politicians shouldn't make promises, Summerow Dumas says she's making some anyway.
"I promise you'll never have to wonder about my integrity," she told an overflowing crowd of friends, family, supporters and county officials in the commission chambers. "You will never have to wonder about my honesty, and you will never have to wonder about my fairness."
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