Nan Whaley

Nan Whaley
Born	Nannette L. Whaley 23 1, 1976
Birthplace	Mooresville, Indiana, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	56th Mayor of Dayton, Ohio; 2022 Ohio gubernatorial candidate
Education	University of Dayton (BA) Wright State University (MPA)
Spouse(s)	Sam Braun

Nannette L. "Nan" Whaley (born January 23, 1976) is an American politician who served as the 56th Mayor of Dayton, Ohio, from 2014 to 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, Whaley first entered Dayton politics as a city commissioner, serving two terms before winning the mayoral election in November 2013. Born in Mooresville, Indiana, and educated at the University of Dayton and Wright State University, Whaley became a prominent voice in urban governance during her tenure, ultimately serving as president of the United States Conference of Mayors from 2021 to 2022. Her mayoral administration focused on economic development, neighborhood revitalization, and addressing the challenges facing mid-sized American cities in the post-industrial era. In 2022, Whaley ran as the Democratic nominee in the Ohio gubernatorial election, challenging incumbent Republican Governor Mike DeWine, but was unsuccessful in her bid. Her political career reflected a sustained engagement with issues of urban renewal and economic opportunity in the Dayton metropolitan area.

Early Life

Nan Whaley was born Nannette L. Whaley on January 23, 1976, in Mooresville, Indiana, a small town located southwest of Indianapolis. She grew up in Indiana before relocating to Ohio to pursue her higher education. Whaley moved to Dayton to attend the University of Dayton, and the city would become her permanent home and the foundation of her political career. Her roots in a small Midwestern community informed her perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing mid-sized American cities, a theme that would recur throughout her years in public office.

After settling in Dayton, Whaley became involved in community affairs and local governance, developing an interest in the policy challenges confronting cities that had experienced significant economic transitions following the decline of traditional manufacturing industries. Dayton, once a hub of innovation and industry—home to the Wright Brothers and a major center for automotive and aerospace manufacturing—had faced decades of population loss and economic restructuring by the time Whaley entered public life. These circumstances shaped her approach to governance and her emphasis on economic development and neighborhood revitalization.

Education

Whaley earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Dayton, a private Catholic university in Dayton, Ohio. She subsequently pursued graduate studies at Wright State University, also located in the Dayton metropolitan area, where she obtained a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. Her graduate education in public administration provided a formal grounding in the principles of government management, public policy, and urban governance that would underpin her subsequent career in municipal politics. Both institutions are major educational anchors in the Dayton community, and Whaley's decision to remain in Dayton after her studies reflected a commitment to the city that would define her professional life.

Career

Dayton City Commission

Before becoming mayor, Whaley served two terms as a member of the Dayton City Commission, the legislative body of city government. Her time on the commission allowed her to gain experience in municipal governance and to develop positions on key issues facing the city, including economic development, public safety, and neighborhood investment. As a commissioner, Whaley built relationships with community stakeholders, business leaders, and fellow elected officials that would support her subsequent mayoral campaign. The commission form of government in Dayton involves a city manager who handles day-to-day administrative operations, with the commission and mayor providing policy direction and oversight, a structure that shaped Whaley's approach to executive leadership.

Mayor of Dayton

Whaley was elected mayor of Dayton in November 2013, defeating her opponents in a competitive race. She took office on January 4, 2014, succeeding Mayor Gary Leitzell. Whaley was the first woman to serve as mayor of Dayton, a milestone in the city's political history. She would go on to serve two full terms, remaining in office until January 4, 2022, when she was succeeded by Jeff Mims.

Economic Development

A central focus of Whaley's administration was economic development and the revitalization of Dayton's urban core. During her tenure, the city pursued a range of strategies to attract new businesses, support entrepreneurs, and reinvest in its downtown district. In 2015, Dayton was ranked second in the country for economic development efforts, a recognition that reflected the city's active approach to attracting investment and fostering growth.

The Whaley administration worked to encourage small business development and entrepreneurship in the downtown area. In 2015, several new businesses opened in downtown Dayton, including startup ventures, retail establishments, and service-oriented enterprises, reflecting a growing interest in the city's urban center as a location for commercial activity. These developments were part of a broader effort by city leadership to position downtown Dayton as an attractive and viable area for new ventures and investment.

The aviation and aerospace sector, historically significant to Dayton's economy, also received attention during Whaley's time in office. The city sought to grow its electrical power and related technology business, leveraging Dayton's proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and its long-standing connections to the aviation industry.

Urban Revitalization and Vacant Properties

Addressing vacant and abandoned properties was another significant challenge during Whaley's administration. Like many post-industrial Midwestern cities, Dayton had accumulated a substantial inventory of vacant buildings and lots as a result of population decline and economic restructuring. City leaders under Whaley's mayoralty pursued strategies to breathe new life into these properties, including redevelopment initiatives and partnerships with organizations such as the Montgomery County Land Bank.

The Montgomery County Land Bank served as an important tool in the effort to address blighted and vacant properties, working to acquire, manage, and return problem properties to productive use. Collaboration between the city government and the land bank was part of a multi-faceted approach to neighborhood stabilization that aimed to reduce blight, improve quality of life for residents, and create conditions for reinvestment in affected areas.

Transportation and Infrastructure

The Whaley administration also supported investments in alternative transportation infrastructure. Dayton launched a bike-share program during her tenure, which had a successful start and provided residents and visitors with an additional transportation option for navigating the city. The bike-share initiative was part of a broader trend in American cities toward providing multi-modal transportation options and promoting sustainable urban mobility.

President of the United States Conference of Mayors

In recognition of her leadership among American municipal executives, Whaley served as the 79th president of the United States Conference of Mayors from 2021 to 2022. The Conference of Mayors is a nonpartisan organization representing cities with populations of 30,000 or more, and its presidency is a prominent national position among local government leaders. In this role, Whaley succeeded Louisville, Kentucky, Mayor Greg Fischer and was succeeded by Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. The position gave Whaley a platform to advocate on behalf of American cities on issues including federal investment, infrastructure, and urban policy at the national level.

2017 Gubernatorial Exploration

In May 2017, Whaley announced her candidacy for governor of Ohio, entering the race for the 2018 election. At the time, she was among the first Democrats to formally enter the race, positioning herself as a candidate who could draw on her experience leading a major Ohio city. However, during the course of the primary campaign, the Democratic field shifted, and Whaley ultimately did not secure the 2018 nomination.

2022 Ohio Gubernatorial Election

Whaley became the Democratic Party's nominee for governor of Ohio in the 2022 election cycle. She ran against the Republican incumbent, Governor Mike DeWine, in the general election. Her campaign emphasized themes drawn from her experience as mayor of Dayton, including economic opportunity, community investment, and support for working families. However, Whaley was defeated by DeWine in the November 2022 general election. The loss brought a close to her tenure in elected office, as she had already completed her service as mayor of Dayton earlier that year.

Her gubernatorial candidacy was notable as she was one of relatively few women to receive a major party nomination for governor in Ohio's history. The campaign drew attention to the perspectives and priorities that leaders of mid-sized cities bring to statewide governance conversations.

Personal Life

Nan Whaley is married to Sam Braun. The couple resides in Dayton, Ohio, the city where Whaley has spent the majority of her adult life since arriving as a college student at the University of Dayton. Her long residency in Dayton and her personal investment in the community have been consistent elements of her public identity throughout her political career. Whaley has been recognized as a prominent figure among Dayton's business and civic community, including being noted by the Dayton Business Journal as part of its coverage of local leaders and businesswomen.

Recognition

Whaley received a number of forms of recognition during her time in public office. Her election as the 79th president of the United States Conference of Mayors in 2021 was among the most prominent acknowledgments of her standing among American municipal leaders. The position placed her at the forefront of national discussions about the role of cities in American governance and policy.

During her tenure as mayor, Dayton's economic development efforts received national attention, including the city's ranking as second in the country for economic development in 2015. While such rankings reflect the work of many stakeholders across the community, they occurred during Whaley's administration and were part of the broader narrative of Dayton's revitalization efforts.

Whaley's profile as a female mayor of a major Ohio city and her subsequent gubernatorial candidacy also drew coverage from regional and national media outlets, contributing to her recognition as a political figure in the state of Ohio. Her role in Ohio politics, particularly as a representative of the urban Democratic perspective in a state that had trended increasingly Republican in statewide elections, made her a frequently cited voice in discussions about Ohio's political landscape.

Legacy

Nan Whaley's eight years as mayor of Dayton encompassed a period of significant challenge and incremental progress for the city. She led Dayton during a time when many mid-sized American cities were grappling with the consequences of deindustrialization, population loss, and the opioid crisis, all of which affected the Dayton metropolitan area. Her administration's focus on economic development, downtown revitalization, addressing vacant properties, and expanding transportation options reflected a comprehensive approach to urban governance that sought to reposition Dayton for the 21st century economy.

Her tenure also coincided with national conversations about the role of cities as laboratories for policy innovation and as engines of economic activity. By serving as president of the United States Conference of Mayors, Whaley contributed to these discussions at the national level, representing the interests and perspectives of smaller and mid-sized cities alongside larger metropolitan areas.

As the first woman to serve as mayor of Dayton, Whaley's election represented a milestone in the city's political history. Her subsequent nomination as the Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio further extended her role as a figure in statewide politics, even though she did not prevail in the general election.

The initiatives launched and sustained during her mayoral administration—including downtown business development, the bike-share program, collaboration with the Montgomery County Land Bank on vacant properties, and efforts to grow Dayton's aviation and technology sectors—formed part of the city's ongoing evolution as a community working to build on its industrial heritage while adapting to new economic realities.