Elisabeth P. "Beth" Fennell began serving as a commissioner in August 1992 and was Vice Mayor from 1996 to 1998.
Education
She is a State Certified Real Estate Appraiser holding a BA in Communication from Purdue University.
Other Involvements
Beth has been a member of the OKI Board of Directors since 1992 and the Executive Committee since 1998. All Federal transportation dollars flow through OKI and then to the individual municipalities granted funding. Through this partnership, Newport has received millions of dollars in transportation improvement funds.
Beth is a former Director of the Greater Cincinnati Boys and Girls Club Board and a graduate of Leadership Northern Kentucky. Beth was recognized as an Outstanding Woman in Northern Kentucky and co-authored “Newport, A Bicentennial History" while serving on the Newport Bicentennial History Committee.
Family
A Newport resident for over three decades, Beth has owned her home in the Clifton neighborhood for 35 years. Her father’s family came to Newport in the 1840s. Beth’s mother grew up in Clifton/South Newport. In 1895, Beth’s great-grandfather started the George H. Fennell Company in Newport. First located at Fifth and Monmouth, it morphed from residential stoves and boilers to residential/commercial heating and air conditioning to mechanical contracting and has been located at 7 E 4th Street since the early 1900s.
Quote
Commissioner Fennell states:
Exciting changes have occurred in Newport during my tenure from transformation of the Riverfront, development of numerous large-scale projects in all parts of town, and increased city-wide residential opportunities. Simultaneously city staff, in partnership with the Board, residents, businesses, and neighborhood groups, has improved infrastructure, parks, streetscape aesthetics, and neighborhoods. Due to this combined effort, Newport is enjoying its most exciting growth and popularity period since its inception in 1795.