Phil was elected to Cincinnati City Council from 1993-2001 and as Hamilton County Commissioner from 2002-2006. In his role as fiscal watchdog, Phil exposed massive waste at the taxpayer-funded Drake Hospital - waste that was jeopardizing care and threatening to bankrupt the facility. He saved both the hospital and millions of taxpayer dollars by working with the Drake Board, the University of Cincinnati, and the Health Alliance to improve the hospital’s management and end the county’s tax levy.

As city council member and county commissioner, Phil was a strong supporter of law enforcement. He initiated Cincinnati’s teen curfew, passed laws restricting strip clubs and porn shops, and began the city’s highly successful Citizens on Patrol program.

In addition to his work as an elected official, Phil established Riverside Academy, a K-6 grade charter school, and the Life Skills Center, a charter school providing academic instruction, job training and job placement for high school dropouts. He was the co-founder of the Cincinnati Children's Scholarship Fund that has raised $3.5 million for scholarships for low-income children to attend private schools.

In June 2000, Phil received the first ever Torch Award for Community Service from Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. On November 28, 2001, he received the Community Defender Award from Citizens for Community Values.

Phil has spoken at Mayor's Prayer Breakfasts throughout the country on the role faith in Christ has played in his life.