Election Day is Nov. 3. Here is a closer look at all of your local candidates!

Columbus City Council

(Vote for three) 

•Name: Matt Ferris, 324 Sycamore St., Columbus, OH 43206

Candidate did not respond. 

 

•Name: Alicia Healy, 721 Bulen Ave., Columbus, OH  43205

Occupation: Home manager/Mary Kay consultant; Employer: self-employed

Education,military, and/or political experience: Columbus City Council; high school diploma, Dinwiddie, VA,  1987; legal secretary diploma, Washington, DC, 1989; Literacy Council certificate, Petersburg, Virginia 1993.

Goals if elected: Restore integrity, lower taxes, create a business friendly environment to attract new businesses, develop better relationship with existing businesses, better management of revenues by prioritizing city spending, reduce crime, provide better services for neighborhoods. Provide better transparency between city leaders and the citizens we work for and represent. 

 

•Name: Roseann Hicks, 920 Garden Road, Columbus, OH 43224

Occupation: General manager; Employer: Yogis Hoagies

Education,military, and/or political experience: Maize Morse Tri-Area Civic Association, vice president; Northland Community Council, secretary; Northland Area Business Association, trustee.

Goals if elected: I have three goals that I would like to accomplish. I would like to restore the voice at City Hall by engaging myself with all neighborhood organizations. I would also like to arm our police department with proactive programs and i would like to restore accountability to city spending. 

 

•Name: A. Troy Miller, 3389 Stadler Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147

Occupation: Owner – ATM Central Development LLC

Education,military, and/or political experience: Master of business administration – Ohio Dominican University; bachelor of science in health services administration - University of Cincinnati. 

Goals if elected: Technology can be used in myriad ways to create efficiencies and cost-savings in city government, along with promoting innovations and new business development. I plan to build upon these distinctions with my skills and experiences in strategic planning, business entrepreneurship, health management and application of information technology. 

 

•Name: Joesph A. Motil, 167 W. Cooke Road, Columbus, OH 43214 (write-in)

Occupation: Construction - project safety specialist; Employer: Elford Inc.

Education,military, and/or political experience: Graduate of Bishop Watterson High School; attended Youngstown State University; served as vice-chairman of the Columbus Historic Resources Commission and zoning chairman for the University Area Commission; former candidate for state representative and Columbus City Council.

Goals if elected: Eliminate wasteful spending of our tax dollars. Expend funds for surveillance cameras in neighborhoods with high crime rates. Introduce and fight for legislation requiring mandatory registration for owners of rental properties in order to properly address the issues of vacant housing. Restore appropriate funding for our Recreation and Parks Department.  

 

•Name: Eileen Paley, 668 Bellamy Place, Columbus, OH  43213

Occupation: Attorney; Employer: City of Columbus and Paley Law Office, LPA

Education,military, and/or political experience: Bachelor of arts in psychology, minor in business, The Ohio State University; doctorate of law, Capital Law School; served on the Civil Service Commission for the City of Columbus for over three years; on several boards including The Neighborhood House and the National Council of Jewish Womenp; served as vice chair of the executive committee for the Franklin County Democratic Party.  

Goals if elected: I will continue looking for new ways to streamline government and save tax dollars by using my firsthand knowledge of city finances and my experience balancing budgets in tough economic times. Build new and innovative partnerships and collaborations to provide better efficiencies throughout government and the private sector.   

 

•Name: Priscilla R. Tyson, 268 South Harding, Columbus, OH 43209

Occupation: Business owner; Employer: Star Arts Limited

Education,military, and/or political experience: Elected to complete a two year term in November 2007; served on the Columbus Civil Service Commission for 13 years, six of those years I served as president; currently chair the Recreation and Parks and Zoning Committees on Columbus City Council; more than 30 years of community related professional work experience which includes founding Columbus City Year; member of the Greater Columbus Arts Council;  served on the Columbus Community Shelter Board, the Central Ohio YMCA; the Phoenix Theatre Circle, The National Black Programming Consortium; Opera Columbus; received the YMCA Women of Achievement Award, 1996.

Goals if elected: I am committed to keeping our city safe, strengthening neighborhoods, encouraging job growth and government reform. I will also work improve the quality of life of our residents by enhancing services to seniors, improving recreation and parks, and supporting arts and culture which generate $330 million in Columbus, annually.  
 

Franklin Township fiscal officer

Unexpired term ending March 31, 2012

(Vote for one) 

•Name: Lisa A. Morris, 1076 N. Hague Ave., Columbus, OH 43204

Candidate did not respond. 

 

•Name: Bonnie Watkinson, 1408 N. Hague Ave., Columbus, OH 43204

Occupation: Current Franklin Township fiscal officer; Employer: Franklin Township

Education,military, and/or political experience: 1960 graduate of West High School

Goals if elected: Continue carrying out the duties of Franklin Township fiscal officer to the best of my ability and in the most efficient and economically sound manner for the best interest of Franklin Township residents. I took over this position six months ago when the previous fiscal officer resigned. 
 

Franklin Township trustee

(Vote for two) 

•Name: Matt Berkemer, 1766 N. Hague Ave.Columbus, OH 43204

Occupation: Service advisor; Employer: Bobby Layman Chevrolet

Education,military, and/or political experience: Wittenberg University, B.A. business management, 1997

Goals if elected: As a homeowner, husband and father of a baby daughter I can provide a fresh outlook on issues facing Franklin Township. I want Franklin Township to be seen as desirable for new families looking for affordable housing as well as those who have been here for many years. 

 

•Name: Don Cook, 3209 Clime Road, Columbus, OH 43223

Occupation: Cabinet maker; Employer:  self.

Education,military, and/or political experience: West High School class of ‘55; Peace Officer training, CTI, 1972.

Goals if elected: It’s not what I want to accomplish, it’s what do the residents of Franklin Township want for the township. If I am elected again as township trustee, I will represent the residents of the township, not my personal agenda. It’s not what’s good for Don Cook, it’s what’s good for (candidate exceeded word limit). 

 

•Name: Ralph Horn, 1610 Eastfield Dr. N., Columbus, OH 43223

Occupation: District Manager trucking company; Employer:  Dependable Express.

Education,military, and/or political experience: High school; business school; logistics school; government procedures training; past president, life member, Columbus Transportation Club; Commissioner Southwest Area Commission, six years, three years chairman, served on several boards over the years, both business and civic; 28 year member Lodge 689; F&AM of Ohio.

Goals if elected: Support fire, police and road departments. Better environmental, flood control, public safety and transportation. Work to improve condistions in Mon-E-Bak and Whim’s Ditch areas. For better zoning, health and general cleanup. Oppose any tax increases. I will listen to citizen’s concerns. Thank you for your vote.  

 

•Name: Paul Johnson, 677 N. Hague Ave., Columbus, OH 43204

Occupation: Township Trustee; Employer:  Franklin Township.

Education,military, and/or political experience: Franklin Heights High School; Ohio University; United States Army.

Goals if elected: Continue as trustee protecting and helping meet the needs of  the citizens of Franklin Township that have invested their labor and money into homes and businesses by advocating the highest level of police, fire and road maintenance as monetarily feasible. Also, work to help economic redevelopment of Franklin Township.  

 

Prairie Township trustee

(Vote for two) 

•Name: Ronald D. Ball, 6750 Alkire Road; Galloway, Ohio 43119 (write-in)

Occupation: Retired Lieutenant from Prairie Twp. Fire Department; current part-time bus driver for the Upper Arlington School District Transportation Department.

Education,military, and/or political experience: During time on fire department, I graduated from paramedic program at Grant Hospital in 1985 and participated in continuing education and leadership classes.   

Goals if elected: As a full-time trustee for the township I will concentrate on lowering water rates in the Westpoint and Lake Darby subdivisions, maintain a vigilant eye on township development and the Darby Accord Project, maintain a balanced budget, and maintain the high level of public services that our township residents deserve.    

 

•Name: Steve Kennedy, 6621 W. Broad St., Galloway, OH 43119

Occupation: Self employed.

Education,military, and/or political experience: Graduated Westland 1974, I organized and filed the first two referendums in township history. I have four years of trustee experience. I also testified to the budget commission stopping a new 1.6 mill tax.

Goals if elected: First and foremost I want to continue the fiscally responsible conservative approach to running the township government. I am currently focused on finding a solution to the continued high water and sewer prices in Lake Darby and West Point. I will not stop until we find a solution. 

 

•Name: Chris Rymer, 460 N. Grener Ave., Columbus, OH 43228 (write-in)

Occupation: Construction and clean green energy consultant

Education,military, and/or political experience: Current member Prairie Township zoning board

Goals if elected: Candidate did not respond. 

 

•Name: Joe Wharton, 4755 Annhurst Road, Columbus, OH 43228 (write-in)

Occupation: Retired from the Ohio Department of Taxation

Education,military, and/or political experience: Franklin University, Columbus, bachelor of science - accounting, 1984; former Prairie Township trustee from 2002 through 2005.

Goals if elected: I will work to regain the momentum that existed when I left office of building and enhancing our community. Develop strong business incentives to revitalize Broad Street and core business districts. And I promise, I will never play politics with the health and safety of our township residents. 
 

Columbus City School District

Full Term

(Vote for three) 

•Name: Jon Tracy Broaddus, 4276 Maize Road, Columbus, OH 43224 (write-in)

Occupation: Social worker, municipal court division; Employer: Franklin County, public defender’s office (23 years)

Education,military, and/or political experience: The Ohio State University, bachelor of science, 1985; The Ohio State University, track team scholarship, 1981-1985; Miami of Ohio, football and track scholarship, 1980-1981; Brookhaven graduate, 1980; Project Help Clothing Ministry, board member; Never Quit Foundation, founder and chairman, 1999; Fitness Zone 9, owner/personal trainer.

Goals if elected: As a board member, I would like to continue my quest on the importance of education. It has always been an important message to send to our children. Thus, founding the Never Quit Foundation which focuses on granting scholarships to students considered average yet have the desire to attend college. 

 

•Name: William Buckel, 1641 Hess Blvd., Columbus, OH 43212 (write-in)

Occupation: retired

Education,military, and/or political experience: University of Colorado, B.S., mechanical engineering, 1952; Kent State University, M.L.S., library science, 1980; U.S. Air Force, 1952-1956, discharged with the rank of staff sergeant; have run unsuccessfully for the Columbus School Board in the past.

Goals if elected: I will do my best to have the school board adopt a policy that encourages parents to set up an Academic Quality Assurance Council at their child’s school. Allowing parents to get well informed, by making in-depth  studies at their own school, will improve public education. 

 

•Name: Hanifah Kambon, 63 N. Ohio Ave., Columbus, OH 43230

Occupation: Educational consultant; Employer: Visionary Leaders Institute

Education,military, and/or political experience: B.A., english eductaion, The Ohio State University; M.S., high school guidance counseling, University of Dayton; School Administration License, The Ohio State University.

Goals if elected: If elected, I would love to increase stronger partnerships among parents, teachers, the administration, community and students. When we operate in isolation, there are no true winners. Additionally, I want to present a clear vision and perspective of today’s educators and parents, as they increase their teaching and parenting capacity. 

 

•Name: Ramona Reyes, 1628 Francisco Rd, Columbus, OH 43220

Occupation: HR specialist; Employer: Nationwide Insurance

Education,military, and/or political experience: B.S. marketing and transportation and logistics, The Ohio State University; NHLI Leadership Program

Goals if elected: I’ll continue to apply my experience in private business to better Columbus Schools. I believe our school system succeeds if we make our schools safer, find more ways to involve parents, and increase our graduation rates as we promised when we asked voters to approve school levies. 

 

•Name: Thomas Ruff, 2243 Wellesley Road, Columbus, OH 43209 (write-in)

Candidate did not respond. 

 

•Name: Mike Wiles, 203 E. Welch Ave.,Columbus, OH 43207

Occupation: Truck driver/asst. manager; Employer: On Demand Storage LLC (PODS)

Education,military, and/or political experience: Attended Columbus Public Schools; U.S. Navy, 1972-1976; current education commissioner for Columbus South Side Area Commission; CSSO education chair; education coordinator for Columbus Community Coalition; trustee for South Side Business and Industrial Association; PTA; boosters; Alumnis Association; PACE; School Continuous Improvement Planning Team; School Continuous Improvement Team of South HIgh School; Staff selection committee at Barrett Middle School; community representative to 1997 and 2001 CPS District Wide Steering Committees for Facilities Use; Superintendent’s Sounding Board; education chairman for Council of South Side Organizations, 11 years, past president, 2002-2008; organized community-wide forums with CPS BOE, 1999.

Goals if elected: Restore faith, confidence and pride to our schools. Insure all students receive the best education. Assure parents and the community has full access to their BOE and meaningful input on all issues. Make the schools safe, effect, efficient and operate within their budget with “no new taxes.” Provide effective leadership. 
 

Columbus City School District

Unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2011

(Vote for one) 

•Name: Paul T. Carringer, 454 Woodglen Ct., Columbus OH 43214 (write-in)

Occupation: Assistant professor; Employer: Columbus State Community College 

Education,military, and/or political experience: Columbus City Schools graduate; associate degree, business management, Columbus Technical Institute (now Columbus State Community College); bachelor degree, Franklin University, business management; MBA , Ohio University; doctoral candidate, Colorado State University; United States Army and Army Reserve, six years; Clintonville Area Commission, nine years, chairperson for three consecutive one year terms, vice chairperson for three consecutive one year terms.

Goals if elected: Be a careful and conservative guide for the management of financial resources, be a strong advocate for parents and teachers, and tell the good stories in the system to the world. I will be a careful steward of tax payer dollars and a positive voice as a board member.  

 

•Name: Lemuel E. Harrison, Jr., 1004 Conestoga Dr., Columbus, OH 43213

Occupation: State adminstrator, i.e., bureau chief, program integration and coordination; Employer: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

Education,military, and/or political experience: Sc.B. and JD degrees; The Ohio State University Graduate School of Public Policy and Management, studied public policy, management principles and economic regulation; U.S. Air Force, military intelligence (COMINT), special investigations; current PTA vice president at a CPS high school; served on private, public and church school boards.

Goals if elected: I would like to parley my experiences as a parent of children whom have attended Wellington, Columbus Academy, Columbus School for Girls and Columbus public schools, to sustain and advance the progress that CPS has achieved through, among other vehicles, on-going assessments and practical applications of promising and best practices.  

 

•Name: Carol Perkins, 1580 Melrose Ave., Columbus, OH 43224 (write-in)

Candidate did not respond. 

 

•Name: Charles Traylor, 2344 Minerva Park Pl., Columbus, OH 43229 (write-in)

Candidate did not respond. 
 

South-Western Board of Education

(Vote for three) 

•Name: Sandi Davis, 2694 Hanarry Ct., Grove City, Ohio 43123

Occupation: Sr. benefits analyst, Union Benefits Trust

Education, military, and/or political experience: Franklin Heights High School, certified employee benefits specialist designation from the Wharton School of Business, Pennsylvania University.

Goals if elected: My highest priority is to bring a climate of education that focuses on the children. This includes resolving the district’s financial crisis by ensuring the cost of education is fairly distributed and by forming non-traditional partnerships. We must rebuild trust between the board, the school system and the community.  

 

•Nmae: Karen Dover, 5354 Thornhill Ct., Grove City, Ohio 43123

Occupation: Chief financial officer, Crosslink Market Connexions

Education, military, and/or political experience: I worked my way up in corporate America for 17 years and most recently as the vice president of finance for Sterling Commerce, a technology company whose revenues were in excess of $500 million annually. After I left Sterling, I started my own business in property development and management; a retail store in Grove City and I currently work as chief financial officer for a start-up international technology company.

Goals if elected: Develop better community relationships and address concerns of both yes and no voters. Provide leadership that will inspire our community to partner with our district that is currently divided and filled with residents who are distrustful, uninspired and lacking confidence in the key leaders of the district.  

 

•Name: Cathy Johnson, 7475 Opossum Run Road, London, Ohio 43140

Occupation: Retired school teacher

Education, military, and/or political experience: B.S. and M.A. in education - The Ohio State University; Reading Recovery Certification - The Ohio State University

Goals if elected: Continued improvement in student achievement. Intervention for all students in need. Equitable educational environment for all students. Optimal class size. Sufficient up-to-date materials. Fiscal responsibility. District report card rating of “Excellent.” Adequate, fair and tireless representation of all residents. Unity within the district. Harmonious working environment. 

•Name: William G. McCarty, 224 Darbyhurst Road, Columbus, Ohio 43228

Occupation: Regional customer service specialist for Giant Eagle Supermarkets

Education, military, and/or political experience: Westland High School, 1973; course work at Franklin University and Hondros Business College. Elected to South-Western City School Board 1977, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1993, 1997, appointed 2003, elected 2003 and 2005. Ran for Franklin County Auditor in 2003 - won the primary, but lost in general election.

Goals if elected: Continued academic achievement must be our main mission. I believe our staff has done a great job improving student achievement over the past several years. We are going to ask ourselves the tough questions and respond based on the needs of our school community.  

 

•Name: Jo Ellen Myers, 4554 Teabury Square N., Grove City, Ohio 43123

Occupation: Homemaker

Education, military, and/or political experience: Associate degree in optimetric technology, raising children, listening to the people in the community outside the closed circle of the education system.

Goals if elected: Institute pay-to-play and restore busing without a levy; make the board’s activities more transparent to the community; reduce all employees’ pay by 2 percent to match the reduction in state; reduce non-teaching positions and negotiate common sense reform into the union contracts. 

 

•Name: Edward Palmer, 6382 Wahl Ct., Grove City, Ohio 43123

Occupation: Retired

Education, military, and/or political experience: B.S. in biological science - OSU; M.A. educational administration _OSU

Goals if elected: I would like to see the children of South-Western City Schools receive a thorough education in an efficient manner. The school board must reestablish its credibility with the community. We must always keep the children a priority in our decision making.  

 

•Name: Adam Slane, 5330 Sawatch Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43228

Occupation: House Page with the Ohio House of Representatives

Education, military, and/or political experience: Graduate of Westland High School and education major at The Ohio State University.

Goals if elected: I would like to start be restoring trust in our administration - by courting community involvement, increasing transparency in decision-making, and abolishing the “gag” rule that has stifled input at board meetings. From there my main focus will be establishing rigorous fiscal discipline and helping to create a culture of excellence.  

 

•Name: Robin Douglas Starrett, 4335 Waterside Place, Grove City, Ohio 43123

Occupation: Retired

Education, military, and/or political experience: Ohio Valley College, David Lipscomb College, Ohio University, The Ohio State University - I have about 175 credit hours.

Goals if elected: Improve state of Ohio academic rating to excellent with distinction by making academics the number one priority. Restore extracurricular activities using current funds and pay-to-participate. Operate within current funds and work with state legislators to stop funding schools through property taxes. Reasonable salaries based on current funds available.