Westerville Races for Council and School Board Take Shape for November Election. Parks Presentation Not Well Attended.

Aug 22, 2025

Westerville Races for Council and School Board Campaign

As the November 4, 2025, general election approaches, the fields for Westerville City Council and the Westerville Board of Education are certified by the Franklin and Delaware Boards of Election, promising a season of robust debate on the future of the city and its schools.

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.

Meanwhile, the race for the Board of Education features three contested seats, with two incumbents and two challengers with deep roots in the community.

Westerville City Council

With four at-large seats on the ballot, the race for Westerville City Council has drawn a field of nine candidates, including three incumbents. The seven-member council holds significant authority, setting city policy, approving the budget, and appointing key officials like the City Manager. The candidates offer a diverse range of backgrounds, from lifelong residents and city officials to business owners and community advocates.

Daniela Beckett, a small business manager and mother of two, is running with a focus on being a voice for families, seniors, and small businesses. A new American originally from Colombia, Beckett moved to Westerville four years ago. Her platform prioritizes keeping Westerville safe and affordable, listening to residents, and bringing "common sense" leadership to council.
Coutanya Coombs, the current Vice-Mayor, is running for re-election. A 17-year resident, she is a nonprofit leadership consultant and realtor. Coombs has served on numerous local boards, including the Westerville Sunrise Rotary and the Westerville Chamber Business Inclusion Opportunities Council. Her campaign emphasizes smart growth, inclusive opportunity, and expanding housing options for working families and seniors.
Matt Erney, a 15-year resident, small business owner, and father of four, is running on a platform of fiscal responsibility and preserving Westerville's character. He advocates for strengthening safety services, revitalizing parks and infrastructure, and keeping "divisive national politics" out of local government.
Mark Faubel, a small business owner and financial advisor, has been a Westerville resident since 2000. His campaign calls for the City Council to remain non-partisan and focus on the effective and efficient use of taxpayer resources for safety, maintenance, and services. He is running on the message for council to "Stay in Your Lane."
John Gatiss, a community advocate with a long history of civic engagement in Westerville, is also a candidate. He has been active in the community for over a decade, focusing on issues of fair and transparent representation in local government.
Aaron Glasgow, an incumbent appointed to the council in February 2024, is running to retain his seat. A lifelong resident and attorney, Glasgow previously served on the Westerville Board of Zoning Appeals and the Planning Commission. He emphasizes maintaining the city's high quality of life through superior public safety and services.
Megan Czako Reamsnyder, an incumbent and lifelong resident, serves as the council's Vice Chair. With a background in social work and her current role at Otterbein University, she has been active on numerous community boards, including the Rotary Club of Westerville and Uptown Westerville, Inc. She prioritizes solving resident issues and fostering a strong sense of community.
Kelley Stocker, a Westerville City Schools government and history teacher, is also vying for a seat. A parent and member of the Westerville Planning Commission, Stocker is a vocal advocate for public education and community well-being. Her platform focuses on preserving what makes Westerville special while promoting thoughtful progress for the future.
Preston C. Stapleton, a Westerville resident since 1994 and graduate of the Westerville Leadership program, brings experience as an adjunct faculty member at Columbus State, an OHSAA football official, and in professional leadership roles. He is committed to maintaining community safety, ensuring resources meet residents’ needs, and fostering transparent, honest leadership.

Westerville Board of Education

With three at-large seats on the ballot, the school board race features incumbents Kristy Meyer and Anisa Liban, who currently serve as the board's president and vice president, respectively. They are challenged by social worker Nafiso Jamale and retired district educator Mark Stevens.

Kristy Meyer, the current board president, is running for re-election. A Westerville native and parent of two students in the district, Meyer has over 20 years of experience as an environmental policy consultant. Her platform emphasizes creating safe and inclusive learning environments, responsible financial management, and supporting student-centered programs.
Anisa Liban, the board's vice president, is also seeking to retain her seat. Appointed in September 2024, she made history as the first Somali woman to serve on a school board in Ohio. Liban is a nonprofit leader focused on advocating for immigrant communities. Her priorities include academic success, safe schools, and community engagement.
Tatjana Brown, an 18-year Westerville resident and local business owner, is the mother of three children in the district. She brings a broad parental perspective to the race. Brown and her husband own an Uptown Westerville wine shop that has actively fundraised for local schools and charities. Her campaign platform prioritizes smart budgeting, strong support for educators, and creating inclusive opportunities for every student.
Nafiso Jamale is a licensed social worker and mental health advocate. As a mother of two and a district alumna, her campaign focuses on educational equity, bolstering student mental health services, and fiscal responsibility. She serves on the Westerville Parks & Recreation Advisory Board.
Mark Stevens, a recent retiree from the district, is also vying for a seat. Stevens was a music educator in Westerville for 25 years. His platform centers on using his direct experience as an educator to make informed policy decisions that promote intellectual growth and critical thinking.

Editor’s note: The original email omitted Tatjana Brown’s information. It is now included in the candidates for the School Board.

Westerville 2025 Candidates Contact Information Website

The Westerville News has created a web page listing contact information for each of the City Council and School Board candidates. The information is correct as of Thursday, August 21, 2025, and will be updated if the candidate’s information changes. Bookmark the site for easy reference.

Westerville Parks and Recreation staff and park designers stand alone about an hour into the two-hour presentation.

Few Attend Parks and Recreation Proposed Changes Meeting

Despite an invitation to help shape the future of Westerville’s parks, few residents showed up Thursday evening at the historic Everal Barn for a community meeting hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department to learn about proposed changes to several of the park system’s holdings.

The event, scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m., was designed as an open forum where city staff could gather input and share updates on major upcoming projects. These include the highly anticipated upgrades to Millstone Creek playground, restoration efforts at the Alkire Run Wetland behind the community center, shelter replacement plans for the Highlands Park Aquatic Center, and structural improvements to the Everal Barn itself.

Presentation boards with plans for each of the projects were displayed on stanchions around the barn’s wooden walls, offering visual previews, maps, and designs. Park administrators stood ready to engage and answer questions about the changes. But as the evening wore on, the spacious barn remained mostly empty — its echoing wooden floors a stark reminder of the missed opportunity for community participation.

The turnout, or lack thereof, raises questions about how the city communicates these opportunities and what it will take to boost civic involvement. The meeting was intended to be a two-way conversation, but much of the night was spent in quiet with small, scattered exchanges rather than robust dialogue.

For those who missed the event, Parks and Recreation will have a similar program September 23, 2025, at the community center.

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