Getting To Know City Council's Newest Members
Kelly Stocker Wins Westerville City Council Seat, Brings Educator’s Voice to Local Government
Kelly Stocker, a government teacher at Westerville South High School, won a seat Tuesday night on the Westerville City Council, marking her first entry into elected office. However, when the results were announced, she didn’t immediately realize she had won.
“I was tired of flipping back and forth through the Delaware and Franklin County websites,” she said. “People kept congratulating me, and I kept saying, ‘Thanks, but all the votes aren’t in yet.’ It took about two hours before it really hit me. I had won.”
Stocker ran a quiet yet deliberate campaign, emphasizing values over volume.
“I intentionally didn’t follow most of the other campaigns,” she said. “That’s never really been my nature. I believe more in living out the values and hoping that attracts people.”
As a relatively private person, Stocker admits she never envisioned herself in politics. But the timing, the support of the Westerville Progressive Alliance (WPA), and encouragement from others, particularly fellow teacher and council member David Grimes, pushed her to run.
“There’s no way I could have had the success I did without the WPA,” Stocker said. “Their volunteers helped in so many different ways.”
Her connection with Grimes, who also teaches and serves as a union leader in the Westerville Education Association, proved pivotal. Stocker said his encouragement gave her the confidence to run.
Despite initial reservations, she found the campaign experience more enjoyable than anticipated.
“I love teaching, but a lot of my time is spent with students. Campaigning gave me the chance to connect with other adults who are active and passionate about the community,” she said.
Outside the classroom and council chambers, Stocker is a wife and mother. Her husband works evenings, and the couple is raising a six-year-old child while managing family responsibilities alongside the demands of teaching and public service.
“There are days when I don’t interact with many adults,” she said. “I’m with my students all day, then home with my six-year-old. The campaign was a refreshing change. It connected me to the wider community.”
The transition from campaign trail to city council chambers is still sinking in. Stocker said she’s “still processing” the win and shifting from campaign mode to governance.
“It’s been such a high-performance state for months. I’m unwinding now and thinking about what’s next,” she said.
That includes preparing for her first official meeting and the steep learning curve ahead. But as someone who teaches her students to embrace new challenges, Stocker is ready to take her own advice.
“I get excited about opportunities and just dive in and learn as I go,” she said.
Although her victory might reflect broader demographic and political shifts in Westerville, Stocker remains focused on the community as a whole.
“Even if people didn’t vote for me, I want to represent everyone,” she said. “We have a lot of shared values, and I’m excited to get to work.”
Stocker teaches government to high school juniors. Now, she will be living it alongside her students—and showing her child firsthand what civic engagement looks like.
Daniela Beckett Elected to Westerville City Council, Brings Fresh Voice and Family Focus
Daniela Beckett’s election to Westerville City Council is a significant milestone, not only for her as a first-time candidate but also for the city, which now welcomes one of its most diverse councils in years.
A native of Colombia who immigrated to the U.S. and built a career in small business leadership said the win feels like “pieces of a puzzle coming together.”
“After going through the immigration process, now being able to serve on city council, it’s really exciting,” she said. “It feels like everything is coming full circle.”
Beckett celebrated the win with friends and supporters on election night, keeping a cautious eye on the Franklin and Delaware County election websites. “I didn’t want to believe it at first,” she said. “I kept refreshing the results and saying, ‘We need to wait.’ Then the calls started coming in. It was exciting—and a little scary.”
She admitted the moment was bittersweet, knowing others she’d campaigned with didn’t win. Still, she felt honored and humbled by the result. “It’s been ten months of work, nonstop,” she said. “To have it come down to one night—it’s shocking. But I’m ready.” Beckett described her campaign as one that resonated with voters looking for a new face—someone who brings both fresh ideas and a different perspective to the table.
“I think residents were looking for someone who represents them—maybe someone who looks different or speaks differently,” she said. “My campaign focused a lot on conservative values, so I think I had support from that community, as well as young families.”
She also highlighted the importance of balance—both politically and in council representation. With her election and Kelly Stocker’s victory, the new council will have three women and four men.
“It brings a balance,” Beckett said. “We can advance and transform, while still honoring the conservative foundation that Westerville comes from. I think that’s what makes this so meaningful. We can work together to represent everyone.”
Beckett, who is the director of operations for a small business with three Columbus locations, also manages her work-life balance at home. She and her husband have two young children, ages six and four.
“I think it’s powerful to see young moms stepping into roles like this,” she said. “Being a mom doesn’t stop you from pursuing your dreams.”
She said her kids were part of her motivation to run and part of the celebration when she won.
“I told them, ‘I did this for you,’” Beckett said. “Seeing how happy they were made it all worth it.”
In fact, both Beckett and Stocker, who also won a seat Tuesday, have six-year-olds. It’s a coincidence, Beckett says, that highlights a new era in local leadership.
Beckett isn’t taking her win for granted. She’s still responding to messages, celebrating with her family, and taking time to decompress before jumping into council work.
“I haven’t even thought about what I’ll say on that first night,” she laughed. “But I love learning. I love growing. I’m ready for the challenge.”
With a background in managing teams, budgets, and operations, Beckett sees a natural overlap between her work and her new responsibilities on council.
“I joke that I’ve been like the mayor of our three businesses,” she said. “So maybe this isn’t so different.”
She hopes to bring not only business savvy to the council, but also transparency and connection with the public.
As she puts it, this new season is about service, not just victory.
“I’m excited for everything that’s ahead,” Beckett said. “This isn’t just about me. It’s about Westerville—and what we can do together.”
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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