2025 Council Candidate Podcast Synopsis

The Amplify Podcast interviewed this year’s council candidates, and here is the synopsis of the 50-minute video.

In this post, you can read the take-aways from each candidate. Below there is a synopsis of key similarities and differences.

Joy Dong

Background: Raised in Worthington; parents are small business owners. Studied biomedical engineering at Northwestern. Returned to care for aging family.

Top Challenges / Opportunities:

Housing: Provide diverse housing for all generations, including starter homes, accessible units, and multiplexes.

Local Economy: Support small businesses, create an economic development strategic plan.

Connectivity: Improve walkability, bikeability, and public transit for all ages.

Actions (12–24 months):

Implement housing study recommendations.

Promote multi-generational living and creative housing solutions.

Establish an economic development strategic plan, modeled after Westerville.

Enhance transportation options to support independence across generations.

Rebecca Hermann

Background: Serving first term; long-time volunteer; graduate of Leadership Worthington. Married, two children.

Top Challenges / Opportunities:

Sustainability & Walkability: Ensure housing and development are sustainable and connected.

Housing: Support aging population and young professionals.

Economic Development: Support local businesses in a viable, sustainable way.

Actions (12–24 months):

Continue ongoing projects like the pool and housing initiatives.

Promote mixed-use development near public transit.

Maintain community engagement and communication.

Ed Johnston

Background: Lifetime resident; Leadership Worthington graduate; experience with community programs; family-focused.

Top Challenges / Opportunities:

Business & Development: Advocate for productive discussions with business/development community.

Community Engagement: Bridge community gaps and maintain historical preservation.

Actions (12–24 months):

Actively participate in council discussions about development projects.

Promote initiatives to strengthen community cohesion and historical preservation.

Glen Pratt

Background: Retired public finance attorney; 31-year resident; experience with community assets and development projects.

Top Challenges / Opportunities:

Business & Development: Repair relationships with business community; increase tax revenue.

Housing: Increase diversity of housing options for young families and seniors.

Workforce Employment: Encourage local workforce to live in Worthington.

Actions (12–24 months):

Implement comprehensive plan and 2024 housing needs assessment.

Promote mixed-use developments, duplexes, quads, and village-type housing.

Stabilize commercial tax base and maintain city services.

Maria Ramirez

Background: Born in Columbus; childhood in Colombia; architecture and urban planning degrees; works at Greater Columbus Arts Council.

Top Challenges / Opportunities:

Housing: Increase diversity of housing to meet needs of all community members.

Economic Development: Retain and attract businesses; develop Class A office spaces.

Public Spaces: Design active and inclusive public spaces; incorporate public art.

Actions (12–24 months):

Explore gentle density (duplexes, accessory dwelling units) in neighborhoods.

Target high density along transportation corridors.

Support economic development and integrate public art into public spaces.

David Robinson

Background: Co-owner of mid-sized manufacturing business; served almost 8 years on City Council.

Top Challenges / Opportunities:

Business & Economy: Maximize commercial and industrial land use; capitalize on city’s tax revenue.

Housing: Provide affordable options for young families and seniors.

Development: Redevelop key areas (Wilson Bridge Rd., Anthem site, Northeast Corridor) responsibly.

Actions (12–24 months):

Guide redevelopment of commercial and mixed-use areas.

Maintain city’s strong financial position and revenue growth.

Innovate and plan strategically for future eco-tech and mixed-use development.

Mike Sharvin

Background: Attorney; raised in Worthington; family-oriented.

Top Challenges / Opportunities:

Housing: Provide options for all stages of life; address aging population and young families.

Public Spaces: Create vibrant, multi-use public spaces for community engagement.

Community Evolution: Ensure Worthington evolves with regional growth while maintaining character.

Actions (12–24 months):

Implement innovative housing solutions (cottage courts, setbacks adjustments, impervious coverage changes).

Develop public spaces that support community interactions and local businesses.

Common Themes Among Candidates

1. Housing

• Joy Dong: Emphasizes multi-generational, accessible housing and starter homes; wants to implement recommendations from the recent housing study; creative solutions like multiplexes and accessory dwelling units.

• Rebecca Herman: Focus on sustainable housing; supports housing for aging population and young professionals; emphasizes walkability and proximity to transit.

• Ed Johnston: Highlights need for more affordable housing for younger families and seniors; encourages duplexes, row houses, and compact developments.

• Glen Pratt: Wants increased diversity of housing, including quads, duplexes, and village-type developments; sees housing as intertwined with development and workforce.

• Maria Ramirez: Focus on housing diversity to allow people to stay or move into the community; proposes gentle density, accessory dwelling units, and targeting density along transit corridors.

• David Robinson: Not as explicit on housing policies but emphasizes mixed-use development in commercial corridors that could support residential growth.

• Mike Sharvin: Stresses housing for all life stages, including aging population; supports innovative solutions like cottage courts and maximizing available space.

Takeaway: Every candidate recognizes housing affordability and diversity as a major concern, especially for young families, seniors, and workforce retention. Many propose creative or “gentle” densification strategies.

2. Local Economy / Business Development

• Joy Dong: Small businesses are critical; wants an economic development strategic plan inspired by Westerville; emphasizes supporting local businesses and city services.

• Rebecca Herman: Supports economic development in a “Pro Worthington” way; wants to retain and grow local businesses, mixed-use development, and maintain sustainability.

• Ed Johnston: Sees rebuilding relationships with businesses and developers as key; notes lost employers and emphasizes attracting new businesses to stabilize tax revenue.

• Glen Pratt: Stresses improving relations with business/development community to boost revenue; sees development as necessary for sustaining services.

• Maria Ramirez: Focus on retaining businesses and meeting their needs (e.g., Class A office space); economic development connected to public spaces and community engagement.

• David Robinson: Highlights opportunities in Wilson Bridge Rd., Anthem site, and Northeast corridor; emphasizes mixed-use redevelopment to strengthen tax base.

• Mike Sharvin: Economic vitality tied to public spaces; creating spaces people want to be in supports businesses and community engagement.

Takeaway: Every candidate prioritizes a strong local economy. Common sub-themes: supporting small businesses, strategic economic development, and connecting business growth with community vitality.

3. Connectivity / Transportation

• Joy Dong: Promotes walkability, bikeability, and public transit for all generations to maintain independence and strengthen community.

• Rebecca Herman: Mentions walkability, bikeability, and mixed-use locations; supports sustainable access to housing and businesses.

• Ed Johnston: Supports mass transit and walkable neighborhoods to allow workers and seniors to stay in the community.

• Glen Pratt: Less explicit but mentions housing and workforce mobility, indirectly connected to connectivity.

• Maria Ramirez: Encourages development along transportation corridors; highlights public spaces integrated with mobility.

• David Robinson: Focuses on strategic placement of development along major corridors; indirectly supports connectivity through planning.

• Mike Sharvin: Advocates for walkable, vibrant public spaces; connectivity supports aging population and community engagement.

Takeaway: Walkability, bike-ability, and transit are consistently highlighted, often tied to housing and public spaces.

Summary of Major Differences

Eco-Tech / Regional Economic Positioning (David Robinson)

• David uniquely emphasizes eco-tech and Worthington’s role in the regional economy (corridor redevelopment, Anthem site, Wilson Bridge Road).

• His framing is broader, looking at macro-level redevelopment opportunities compared to the more neighborhood-scale housing focus of others.

Public Art & Design (Rebecca Hermann)

• Working on completing the outdoor pool project.

Public Art & Design (Maria Ramirez)

• Maria strongly emphasizes public art and urban design as central to community development.

Specific Planning Tools & Zoning Changes (Mike Sharvin)

• Mike highlights technical land-use solutions like setbacks, cottage courts, and impervious coverage rules.

• While others talk about housing density broadly, he is more specific about how Worthington could change zoning to fit more units.

Workforce Retention & Class A Office Space (Glen Pratt)

• Glen Pratt stresses keeping the local workforce in Worthington by making housing more accessible.

Strategic Economic Plan (Joy Dong)

• Joy is the only candidate to call for a formal economic development strategic plan modeled after other cities (like Westerville).

Historical Preservation / Balancing Past and Future (Ed Johnston)

• Ed stands out by repeatedly framing development in terms of community history and preservation, alongside growth.

• Others lean more into future-oriented growth and density without that strong historic balance framing.