Dr. Lakshmi Sammarco admittedly knew nothing about politics when the nationally renowned neuroradiologist was appointed Hamilton County coroner nine years ago.

But the Democrat is pretty good at the politics now.

An elected official can't get a major project done without having political savvy, and Sammarco has relentlessly led efforts to get a $55 million, 90,000-square-foot crime lab built in Blue Ash. The ribbon-cutting is scheduled for May 3. Sammarco has also emerged as a common-sense voice in the Hamilton County Democratic Party, having been outspoken about incivility and the divisive nature of identity politics.

As this week's guest on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast, Sammarco talked about her evolution in politics; being outspoken in the party; the new crime lab and how she copes with seeing so much death.