Jim Luken

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Jim Luken (December 31, 1921 – July 12, 1979) was an American politician and labor leader from Cincinnati, Ohio. A Democrat, he served as mayor of Cincinnati from December 1976 to 1977. He previously served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1973 to 1975 and then joined Cincinnati City Council.

After leaving high school at Norwood, Luken began a milk delivery route in 1941. At 26, he was elected president of the Milk and Ice Cream Drivers and Dairy Workers Local 98, a union affiliated with the Teamsters, and led the union for the rest of his life. He was one of the few Teamsters who opposed corrupt Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa, withdrew dairy workers from the union, and testified against Hoffa before the U.S. Senate.

Luken came from a large family—one of eight children. His brother Tom Luken and his nephew Charlie Luken also served as U.S. representatives and mayors of Cincinnati. He was married to Ida Smith. Jim Luken died in 1979 and is buried at New St. Joseph Cemetery.