City Council Candidate Forum Complete and Left Turn to Nowhere at East of Africa
Westerville City Council candidates answered questions Thursday night at a public forum sponsored by the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce at the Renaissance Hotel.
The nine candidates, nearly twice as many as the school board candidates, answered fewer questions within the allotted time. About 60 people in the crowd submitted questions.
The nine candidates are vying for four at-large seats on the City Council. Council President Michael Heyeck is retiring after serving as a council member since 1993 and on other boards and commissions since 1986. Council member Aaron Glasgow was appointed to the council in February 2024, replacing Dennis Blair, who resigned. Vice-Chair Megan Reamsnyder and Vice-Mayor Coutanya Coombs are running for reelection after completing their first four-year terms.
Candidates Daniela Beckett, Matt Erney, Mark Faubel, John Gattis, Preston Stapleton, and Kelly Stocker are first-time candidates for city council.
Questioning began by examining their ideas on streamlining the zoning and permit process, followed by questions on Westerville as a sanctuary city, city finances, Westerville culture, DEI, and supplying the needs of first responders.
A random drawing of names provided the order for closing comments by the candidates.
The entire forum, broadcast live, may be seen on the Chamber’s Facebook page.
Left Turn to East of Africa
A new left-turn lane for westbound Polaris Parkway onto a new road through East of Africa is nearly complete, with nowhere to go for the immediate moment. The thick asphalt base layer is laid first, with the finishing layer to be applied just before opening.
New roadways through the 88 acres will connect Polaris to Hoff Road at a roundabout at the center of the development, and to Westar Boulevard, which will be extended from its current dead-end to Africa Road. Another section of road will connect to Africa Road near the historic Sharp House.
Earlier plans called for the asphalt roadways to be paved by November, at the same time that asphalt plants shut down for winter. Concrete curbs and gutters must be laid before applying asphalt. The new roadway at the top of the photo shows the path through the property.
The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
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