The Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus hosted a candidate forum on September 9, 2025 at the McConnell Arts Center. Seven people are running for four open seats on the Worthington City Council. Below is a top level summary of the forum. The full and original video can be found at this link. Please also check out the 2025 Worthington Election Guide for more information about the upcoming election this November.
The Candidates
Seven candidates participated in the forum, vying for four open council seats:
- Joycelyn Dong - campaign website here
- Rebecca Herman - campaign website here
- Edward Johnston - campaign website here
- Glenn Pratt - campaign website here
- Maria Ramirez - campaign website here
- David Robinson - campaign website here
- Michael Sharvin - campaign website here
Forum Structure
The forum followed a structured format with:
Candidate Introductions (1 minute each)
- Video Timestamps: 0:51:10 - 0:59:14
Six Questions (90 seconds per response)
Question 1: First priorities if elected
- Video Timestamps: 0:59:23 - 1:09:38
Question 2: Community communications strategies
- Video Timestamps: 1:09:38 - 1:19:13
Question 3: Ensuring integrity and ethics
- Video Timestamps: 1:19:13 - 1:30:00
Question 4: Creating healthy political culture
- Video Timestamps: 1:30:00 - 1:40:45
Question 5: Attracting business to Worthington
- Video Timestamps: 1:40:45 - 1:52:18
Question 6: UMCH property development
- Video Timestamps: 1:52:18 - 2:03:42
Closing Statements (1 minute each)
- Video Timestamps: 2:03:45 - 2:11:34
The order of responses was rotated for each question to ensure fairness.
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Key Themes Discussed
Throughout the forum, several major themes emerged:
- Economic Development: Concerns about business retention and attraction, with several major employers having left Worthington
- Housing Diversity: Need for various housing types to serve all generations and income levels
- Comprehensive Planning: The ongoing comprehensive plan update and its importance for the city's future
- Community Engagement: Strategies for improving communication and involvement across all demographics
- UMCH Property: The contentious development of the former Methodist Children's Home site
- Fiscal Responsibility: Balancing city services with sustainable revenue sources
Additional Resources
- Worthington's 2025 Election Guide: WorthingtonVotes - Features links to candidate campaigns, forum videos, and upcoming podcast episodes
- League of Women Voters: Information about voting, registration, and candidate positions
- Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce: Business community perspectives and endorsements
About the Hosts
Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce: Represents the business community's interests and promotes economic development in Worthington.
League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus: A nonpartisan organization that encourages informed and active participation in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
The full and original video can be found at this link.