Amplify Worthington (Ep43) Meet Your Council Candidates

Hello Worthington, in our continued coverage of the 2025 Worthington election, today we bring you a summary of an episode from the Amplify Worthington podcast. In that episode, host Matt Lofy from the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce interviews all seven city council candidates running for the four open seats on Worthington City Council.

The Candidates

Seven candidates participated in this podcast episode, with all candidates answering the same three questions under the same parameters.

Joycelyn (Joy) Dong - Born and raised in Worthington, biomedical engineer from Northwestern University, returned to care for aging family members
Rebecca Hermann - Current council member seeking re-election, long-time volunteer and Leadership Worthington graduate (2007)
Ed Johnston - Lifetime Worthington resident, Leadership Worthington graduate, involved in community organizations
Glen Pratt - Retired public finance attorney with 40+ years experience, 31-year Worthington resident
Maria Ramirez - Architect and urban planner with degrees from OSU and UCLA, works at Greater Columbus Arts Council
David Robinson - Current council member seeking re-election, co-owner of manufacturing business, 16-year resident
Michael (Mike) Sharvin - Real estate attorney, Thomas Worthington graduate who returned to raise family in Worthington

Interview Structure

Each candidate was asked the same three questions:

Introduction: Tell us about you the candidate and you the person
Priorities: What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing Worthington, and how would you address them in the first 12 to 24 months if elected?
Campaign Information: Where can people learn more about you or follow your campaign?

Stay connected to what's happening in Worthington, Ohio.

Key Themes Discussed

Throughout the interviews, several major themes emerged across multiple candidates:

Housing Diversity: Need for diverse housing options for all generations - young professionals, families, aging residents
Economic Development: Supporting local businesses, attracting and retaining employers, creating Class A office space
Connected Community: Walkability, bikeability, public transit, and third places for community gathering
Comprehensive Planning: The ongoing Worthington Together comprehensive planning process
Mixed-Use Development: Combining housing, commercial, and public spaces
Workforce Housing: Enabling teachers, firefighters, and other workers to live in the community they serve
Public Spaces: Creating vibrant gathering places for residents across all ages
Fiscal Responsibility: Maintaining city services through sustainable revenue growth

Interview Timestamps

You can find the full episode in the podcast player of your choice (Apple, Spotify) or find the full video on Vimeo

For your convenience you can find timestamps below in which each candidate appears in the podcast:

Joycelyn Dong
- ⏱️ 0:02:55 – 0:11:16
- 🌐 Campaign website here
Rebecca Hermann
- ⏱️ 0:11:14 – 0:17:47
- 🌐 Campaign website here
Edward Johnston
- ⏱️ 0:17:47 – 0:21:25
- 🌐 Campaign website here
Glen Pratt
- ⏱️ 0:21:25 – 0:27:43
- 🌐 Campaign website here
Maria Ramirez
- ⏱️ 0:27:43 – 0:33:51
- 🌐 Campaign website here
David Robinson
- ⏱️ 0:33:51 – 0:42:27
- 🌐 Campaign website here
Michael Sharvin
- ⏱️ 0:42:27 – 0:48:34
- 🌐 Campaign website here

Additional Resources

See more information about the 2025 Election for Worthington with these related Worthington Pulse articles:

Finally, find the Worthington Chamber 2025 Election Guide at WorthingtonVotes - Features links to candidate campaigns, forum videos, and upcoming podcast episodes.