Term: 4 years commencing 1/1/2026Responsibilities: Subject to limitations imposed by the State of Ohio, and by village charter (if one exists), adopt and enforce local police, sanitary, and other similar regulations. Levy taxes and incur debts. Create and/or abolish other offices, departments, divisions, bureaus, boards and commissions of the municipality; fix the number of employees and set pay and benefits for these organizations. Adopt ordinances to provide a number of services including zoning and land use, housing codes, construction of streets, utility lines, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, public utilities. Purchase and dispose of property. Decisions are made by the council as a whole at public meetings.This race will be presented at the LWV Geauga Candidate & Issue Forum at Cardinal Elementary School on September 29, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Education
Bachelor’s Degree
Experience
2 terms served on Middlefield Village Council
Volunteer/Community Service
Animal Rescue
A village council person is an elected official serving local residents. We are responsible for creating ordinances and resolutions, approving budgets, and overseeing village operations. If re-elected, I will begin my third term and ninth year as a Middlefield Village Councilperson. As a lifelong Middlefield resident, my dedication and commitment to the community is what motivates me to stay involved locally. I have roots in Middlefield and plan to be apart of the community long term. Acting as a voice for residents and neighbors is my top priority.
Middlefield is a wonderful community. Mayor Garlich and Council have done exceptionally well with budgeting to ensure aging infrastructure can be repaired/maintained. Additionally, our village continues to grow and be prosperous. My continuance on village council would be focusing on our growth in the community, for families and businesses. Adapting to the new needs our village requires, such as water supply.
Middlefield Village Council meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month at 7pm. I encourage all residents to attend meetings, review minutes, and visit the Middlefield Village website to stay informed. I’m also available to answer any questions. My personal phone number and email address can be found on the village website.
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Education
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Bachelor’s Degree Business Administration.
Experience
For the past seventeen years I have been in the healthcare field. I have held both leadership and management positions throughout my working career. I also attend Middlefield’s council meetings and have done so for several years.
Volunteer/Community Service
Currently I donate plasma on a regular basis. I know that the medicines derived from my donations help those in need.
A council member’s role can be summarized into five responsibilities. First, is to be a representative for the community. Listening to residents and relaying their concerns and thoughts. Second, is setting a budget. Third, strategic planning for the future of the community. Lastly, is working with other council members in order to insure a functional government.
I believe that I can be a successful council member for the Village of Middlefield. I regularly attend council meetings so I have an understanding of council’s responsibilities and duties, and am willing to learn those that I do not. I, like my fellow residents, have a vested interest in the success of the village. Having a young family myself I want to help insure a bright future.
While out gathering signatures for my petitions to be on November’s ballot there were some common concerns. The growth of the village was a top concern. This brought up concerns over increased traffic and water consumption. With the recent addition of water wells the village has overcome the water concern, but still should be closely monitored. Traffic will increase as we continue to grow, but we can find ways to safely and efficiently control the increase. The next concern that was common was related to our youngest in the community. Those with children would like to see an additional play ground area. The George Knox Park location has available space and would be a great addition and further the use of the park.
For several years now I have gone to the village council meetings held every second Thursday of the month. I know and understand that attending such functions can be difficult. An easy way for the village to connect to the community would be to post a highlights of the meetings on the Middlefield Village Facebook page. I enjoy taking walks around the village with my family, socializing with neighbors and attending community events. If I am elected I plan to check in with them to see how everything is going and if there is anything I can do, or the Village can do. I believe in a more personal experience rather than just through an email or text message.
Education
Bachelor of Arts- Communication B.G.S.U.
Experience
Currently serving my 20th year on Village Council, seeking 6th election
Volunteer/Community Service
Assist my wife with some Developmental Disability work
The role of Village Council is to oversee the responsible use of taxpayer monies to provide services, safety, infrastructure, and a clean and orderly environment for all of us to live in and raise our families. I have been at this job for twenty years, and have been President of Council for the past 10 years or so. I have served on all our committees and have a very good working knowledge of our finances, utilities and zoning ordinances. I love living in Middlefield and am proud to serve this Village. I always strive to make it a great place to live and work.
I am a big proponent of walkability and sidewalks, and a neat and clean community that we can all be proud of. Every year we have several homeowners or properties that do not keep their places respectable, and it can be a real process to do something about it. But we go to the efforts and struggles to get something done. It is not fair to their neighbors and everyone in this Village when they let their appearances become unsightly. It can affect all our property values. I travel quite a bit for my job, and see a lot of small towns and communities that look run down and untidy. Middlefield is a showplace in regards to that type of apathy and a place we can all be proud to call home. I intend to keep it that way.
We have a very active and outstanding website and are on Instagram. We have robo calls and emails that can go to anyone who signs up for such services and notifications. All our meetings are open to the public. The Mayor writes updates in the local paper that folks can read to see and hear what is going on. And every once in a great while, when we need to decide on something that we know has supporters on either side of the issue, we will send out questionnaires to the residents of the Village to try to get the feedback. We are here to serve the residents, a group of which we are all a part of.
Candidate has not yet responded.
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Candidate has not yet responded.
