2025 Westerville
CITY COUNCIL candidate profile
John Gatiss
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The focus of John’s campaign centers on progress, courage, and transparency. His long history as a political activist in the community shapes his central theme of “fighting” for accelerated change toward a new Westerville. John emphasizes the need for increased support for residents and prioritizes action above all else—even civility in public discourse. While his commitment to transparency is welcomed and appreciated, his overall message of political activism within City Council does not align with the Good For Westerville Core Values.
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With the current dysfunction at the federal and state levels, we need a city government that will protect people and defend our shared values. We need new bold leaders who will fight for improvements in quality of life, for good government, and for our future.
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As an activist and advocate who has attended Westerville City Council meetings for years, I know the current issues facing the council and the city. Having helped lead the effort to pass Westerville’s nondiscrimination ordinance, I also know how to get things done.
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I have lived in Westerville for 20 years.
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Westerville is changing and becoming more progressive and less encumbered by its past. This is not the Westerville of even just 10 years ago. We need to lean into change and accelerate progress. This is our time to lead.
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For most of the past 20 years, I have largely connected with the community via politics. As such, I have engaged Westerville residents by knocking doors, circulating petitions, making phone calls, sending text messages, and writing letters and postcards to advocate for change. I was one of the earliest members of the Westerville Progressive Alliance. More recently, I have been a leader in the pro-democracy Indivisible movement locally and across central Ohio.
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People often confuse civility with kindness and criticism with meanness. They also tend to place too much value on civility over progress and action. What we need more than civility right now are justice, fairness, transparency, accountability, and equity.
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Transparency, courage, and grit.
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Fighting for people
Fighting for transparency
Fighting for our future
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People always come first over process and planning. If there is ever a need to prioritize, people will always come first. However, we are facing many problems, so we need to fight on several fronts in parallel.
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We are living through a series of crises in our economy, in our democracy, and in our environment, so we must prioritize protecting people and our shared values over other concerns.
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Leadership is more than just a position or role: it is how you engage with problems. Rather than just waiting for change, I strive to make it happen. Safety can be economic, resiliency can be in the environment, and welcoming can be via transparency. The core of my priorities and platform encompasses all these issues and more.
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The business community already has significant support from the council. I will prioritize support for our residents and growth in the number of housing units in Westerville. Prioritizing residents’ concerns about housing is an ethical and sustainable practice.
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People who run for office seeking to leave a legacy are only looking to serve their egos. I’m running to improve people’s lives, help people feel heard, and plan for our shared future.
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Transparency is one of the main focuses of my campaign. I am engaging with all Westerville residents, including people who have differing views. (I can’t run on transparency if I’m ducking questions.) I know that I have significant differences with Good for Westerville in terms of viewpoints and priorities. However, if I am elected to council, even if we disagree, you will know where I stand because I am committed to transparency, openness, and responsiveness in government.