Republican candidate Jim Martin joined the Hilliard Beacon audio companion to discuss his run for Hilliard City Council, marking his first election campaign for local office. Martin described how his interest in city governance began with a neighborhood zoning dispute over a vacant church property. While the proposal ultimately passed, Martin said it was the flaws in the decision-making process that pushed him to get involved. He went on to serve two years on the Board of Zoning Appeals and later two years on the Planning and Zoning Commission, where he drew on his design and construction background.
Martin also serves as president of his neighborhood HOA, a role he accepted reluctantly but said has taught him the value of listening and connecting residents with solutions. He emphasized that his motivation for council service is to expand meaningful civic engagement, encouraging residents to see community involvement as a worthwhile investment of their limited time.
On development, Martin said he supports thoughtful, contextual growth that respects Hilliard’s character. He expressed concerns with parts of the city’s comprehensive plan, arguing it leans too heavily on fast moving commercial development without enough balance. He cited the I-270 corridor, Trueman Pointe, Old Hilliard, and the retired rail corridor as ongoing and upcomging development areas where that must be carefully managed to ensure meaningful benefit to residents. While recognizing the importance of commercial revenue, he stressed that growth should serve community interests broadly.
During the conversation, the introduction of a ward system was raised as one possible way to make representation and civic engagement more concrete and effective. Jordan made the usual suggestion that recurring ward meetings could give residents regular opportunities to bring concerns directly to their council representative. The hope being that such a system could create “low simmer civics” that keep people connected and invested in the process, rather than disengaged between moments of controversy. Martin acknowledged the value of making residents feel heard and suggested that greater representative access and dialogue would be an important part of addressing the frustrations he has heard from voters on the campaign trail.
Asked about partisan politics, Martin downplayed the role of party labels in local governance, though he identified as a lifelong conservative who favors limited government. He said he would approach projects with a focus on whether they benefit the community as a whole, rather than through an ideological lens.
Martin praised the Hilliard City Lab and other local economic initiatives that foster small business growth, noting that government’s role should be to create the right environment and then step aside. He said residents he has met on the campaign trail primarily want to feel heard and valued by their government, and he hopes to bring that listening-first approach to council.
If elected, Martin said he would begin by observing and learning from sitting members, seeking to build consensus on shared goals rather than divisions. He acknowledged challenges ahead in balancing residential growth with infrastructure capacity, especially as Hilliard approaches 50,000 residents. Ultimately, he said he is optimistic about the city’s future and believes council must assert a stronger leadership role in shaping policy for the city manager to implement.
The conversation closed with Martin reaffirming his commitment to service, consensus-building, and helping guide Hilliard’s growth in a way that keeps residents engaged and the community strong.
(Music and Audio production by Tim Hofmann at Franklin Street Studios!)
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