Shayla Favor has served on Columbus City Council since 2019 when she was first appointed to fill a vacancy. She was re-elected in 2023. Favor is intentional that everything she legislates and advocates for is filtered through an equity lens in order to address disparities and combat racism through policy. During her tenure, Favor has created the Columbus Youth Council, spearheaded the effort to amplify and fund Deliver Black Dreams and expanded the City’s effort to protect immigrant and refugee families through the Columbus Families Together Fund. As the chair of the Housing Committee, Favor has lead the Housing for All legislative package to strengthen homeownership, protect renters, and expand affordable housing options.
In March 2023, Council announced an 18-month plan to take on 12 housing initiatives to foster equitable and sustainable solutions to the current housing crisis. In 2023, City Council invested $21.5 million towards affordable housing and distributed $93 million in emergency rental assistance. Looking ahead to this year, Favor hopes to further initiatives to address the root causes of the housing crisis. She will chair the Housing, Homelessness, and Building committee and vice-chair both the Public Safety & Criminal Justice and Health, Human Services, and Equity committees.
In addition to serving on Council, Favor serves on the Executive Board of the John Mercer Langston Bar Association, whose purpose is to be a facilitator of excellence within the legal profession while encouraging community service for those in need. Favor also serves on the Executive Board for the annual design conference, Creative Control Fest. Prior to joining Council, Favor served as an Assistant City Attorney in Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein’s office. Favor lives on the Near-Eastside of Columbus with her husband Corey and their pups, Hudson and Arizona.