CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley announced in a press release on Friday that he has COVID-19.

Cranley said he was tested after he came into contact with someone who had COVID-19 earlier in the week.

"I am fully vaccinated, boosted, and experiencing mild symptoms," Cranley said in the statement. "Thankfully, my wife and son have tested negative. I have reached out to everyone I came into contact with this week encouraging them to get tested. Please wear your masks, get vaccinated, and get boosted. I urge everyone to exercise caution this holiday season.”

Cranley's positive COVID-19 test comes days after he gave a press conference with Cincinnati Mayor-elect Aftab Pureval on Tuesday, Dec. 21, urging people in Cincinnati to get vaccinated and to get the COVID booster.

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CINCINNATI —

Who will be the next mayor of Cincinnati?

Democrats Aftab Pureval and David Mann debated Wednesday night on WLWT ahead of November's election.

WATCH THE FULL DEBATE IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE.

Pureval, 39, is currently the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts. He’s also a former federal prosecutor and in-house counsel at Procter & Gamble. He also ran for Congress in 2018, launching a high-profile race against Republican Steve Chabot.

Mann, 82, has previously served as Cincinnati's mayor from 1980 to 1982, and again in 1991. He's served on Cincinnati City Council from 1974 until 1992, then elected in 2013 and reelected in 2017. He also served as representative for Ohio's 1st Congressional District U.S. (1993-1995).

One will replace longtime mayor John Cranley, who is term-limited from running again this year.

When Pureval was born 39 years ago, Mann was just finishing up his first stint as mayor of the city. He served in that capacity again a decade later.

"If voters are looking for the status quo, if they're looking for the city to run in place, then there's an option for that," said Pureval in a not-so-veiled reference to his opponent. "What we're providing is a bold vision for moving the city forward, for winning the next decade, for growing our city and for growing it equitably."

Mann's distinction involved his record of service in city government since the mid-70s versus Pureval's elected position as Hamilton County Clerk of Courts.

"The clerk of courts is a very small agency," said Mann. "It's no comparison to a city with over 6,000 employees, an annual budget of $1.5 billion."

Mann intends to put heavy emphasis on how experience counts.

"I understand what public service is about. I understand what makes city hall tick," he said.

Pureval described his campaign as one that offers voters a fresh approach to what ails city government.

"Our future is bold, it's diverse, it's dynamic," Pureval intoned.

Mann maintained he was the only one of the two ready to serve with distinction on day one.

"With all respect, my opponent can't make that claim," he told us.

Cincinnati City Hall — beset by a climate of corruption — is in for a campaign of contrasts this summer.

In his third campaign, Pureval is regarded as a rising star with an energetic, engaging charisma. Mann has 18 campaigns under his belt, seasoned by public service on council, as mayor and in Congress.