By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
James Beidler took his seat at his first Groveport City Council meeting on March 27.
Groveport City Council selected James Beidler to fill the council seat previously held by former long time city councilman Ed Rarey.
Beidler was a unanimous selection by council and he took his seat at council’s March 27 meeting.
“We liked Jim’s involvement in the community and his educational and professional background,” said Council President pro-tem Ed Dildine.
Beidler has been a Groveport resident for more than 20 years. He is chief technology officer at Columbus State Community College. He has a bachelor’s degree in management from Park College and 27 hours of graduate studies in communications at Central Michigan University. He has served on the Groveport Parks and Recreation Commission, Groveport Recreational Soccer Board, and the Groveport Select Soccer Board. He also served as a volunteer board member on the Police Officer Dependent Fund Board. From 1986-97 he served in the U.S. Army Reserve as a chief warrant officer, senior aviator.
“Groveport is a great city and serving on council is a great opportunity to give back to the community,” said Beidler. “It’s an honor to serve in the council seat that Ed Rarey occupied these many years.”
Beidler said Groveport’s strengths are the many services the city provides its residents as well as the town’s ability to maintain its small town feel.
“Groveport’s a safe, clean, neighborly place to live,” said Beidler.
Beidler said that, while Groveport provides many activities for children and seniors, he’d like to see the city reach out further with programming for young adults and teenagers.
Regarding the city’s commercial development, Beidler said Groveport’s proximity to Rickenbacker Airport provides good opportunities for job and revenue growth through warehouse development.
“But we also have to remember that Groveport is home for a lot of people and we certainly don’t want to see that disappear under warehouse development,” said Beidler.
Beidler replaces Rarey, who had served on council since 1993 and retired from council on March 10.
Rarey was the second long time council person to retire from council in the past two years. Donna Drury, who had served 14 years on council, retired on Dec. 15, 2015. Scott Lockett replaced Drury on council.
Beidler will serve the remainder of Rarey’s term, which expires Dec. 31, 2017. Beidler said he has not yet decided whether or not he will file to run to keep the council seat in the Nov. 7 election.
