COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus City Councilmember Shayla Favor on Thursday announced that she is running for Franklin County prosecutor.
Favor is hoping to replace current Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack, who will retire when his term ends in January 2025.
“I am running for Franklin County prosecutor because I want to support our community in becoming a model county that prioritizes public safety while being responsive to a system long considered to be unjust and inequitable,” Favor said.
The councilwoman joins two other Democrats who are running to become the next Franklin County prosecutor: Natalia Harris and Anthony Pierson. John Rutan is currently the only Republican candidate to announce a run for county prosecutor.
Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin and Former Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman expressed their support for Favor’s campaign.
“Councilmember Favor is unapologetic in her commitment to people,” Hardin said. “She is a fighter and a servant leader who acts with conviction and compassion. Now more than ever, Favor is what our community needs and deserves.”
Favor was reelected to continue serving on Columbus City Council on Nov. 7.
In 2019, Favor was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Jaiza Page who was elected to serve as a judge in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.
During her tenure, Favor focused her initiatives on addressing disparities in health care, affordable housing and the racial wealth gap.
The councilwoman introduced legislation in December 2022 to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products in the city, citing that tobacco companies were targeting minorities and children. City council unanimously passed the measure.
Before joining the city council, Favor served as an assistant city attorney for Columbus. During that time, she helped implement initiatives to address abandoned and vacant properties in the city and put them back into the housing market.
As a Zone Attorney, Favor worked alongside city and community leaders to provide essential city services, improve Columbus’ neighborhoods and facilitate conversations to address criminal activity, vacancies, abandonment, and blight, according to her campaign.
“Whether she was serving on Columbus City Council, serving in the Columbus City Attorney’s office, or litigating high profile environmental lawsuits that addressed public safety in our community, Favor has always put the needs of our community front and center,” said former Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman. “We can be sure of this one thing: from day one, she will roll up her sleeves and get to work.”
Tyack is Franklin County’s 51st prosecuting attorney. He served as a judge on the 10th District Court of Appeals for 24 years.
He also served on the Worthington School Board and was a visiting judge on the Ohio Supreme Court.