Hilliard City Council Democratic candidate Nadia Rasul returned to the Beacon studio to reflect on a campaign she described as humbling and energetic. Rasul, who previously ran in the spring primary, shared stories from the campaign trail, her focus on community inclusion, and her views on Hilliard’s growth and governance.
Listening at the Door
Rasul said most residents express overall satisfaction with their neighborhoods, citing strong community ties and affordability. Common frustrations include traffic congestion and a need for better recreation facilities. Anecdotally, one resident lamented a perceived shortage of baseball fields and another wished the city’s WELL Center included an indoor track.
But Rasul also noted disparities: some apartment dwellers she met struggle with rising rents and disability care, highlighting the city’s need for income-based housing and stronger social connections.
Seeing Hidden Needs
Rasul participated in Columbus Foundation sponsored “Big Table” discussions at the Hilliard Library and YMCA, where she learned about local homelessness and food insecurity. She advocated compiling a “community passport” listing free resources, food pantries, and ESL programs so newcomers and residents in need can easily find help.
Building a Grassroots Campaign
Rasul’s volunteer-driven campaign produced 5,700 handwritten postcards, a personal approach she believes helps residents feel directly connected. She credited young volunteers (including local high-school students who registered family members to vote) for keeping the campaign focused on the future.
Platform: Connecting Hilliard
Her central theme: “community connector.” Rasul wants to bridge divides among neighborhoods, cultural groups, and faith communities. She cited a recent dinner she organized at Hilliard United Methodist Church, where she cooked a traditional Palestinian dish, maqluba, as a small example of using food to bring people together.
Civic Inclusion and Representation
The Noor Islamic Cultural Center hosted its first-ever candidate night this season which was a milestone for civic participation within Hilliard’s Muslim community. She said inviting Norwich Township trustees to the forum was her suggestion, underscoring her belief that every layer of local government should interact.
In a win for Jordan, (emphasis Jordan’s -ed) Rasul endorsed the idea of ward-based representation to strengthen communication between residents and city officials. “We cannot expect everyone to come to us…we have to go to them,” she said, adding that small, recurring neighborhood meetings would help prevent residents from feeling disconnected.
Managing Growth Thoughtfully
On development issues, Rasul emphasized better coordination between planning and infrastructure: “Things sometimes feel like an afterthought,” she said, urging city leadership to evaluate long-term impacts before approving new projects. She supported hiring a city manager who listens widely and values public engagement.
Infrastructure and the Fuel-Cell Debate
Rasul echoed resident concerns about Amazon’s planned fuel-cell power facility, especially its proximity to schools. She called for even greater transparency and communication ahead of transformative change so residents “know why a decision was made” and can trust the process.
Youth and the Future
Rasul said her average volunteer age is 25, and she sees engaging young residents as essential to Hilliard’s democratic health:
“And when you get young people before they’re ready to vote, excited that they can make a change so that when they are old enough, they’re educated enough to know what to look for and to continue the conversations and to come reach out to people that are in positions of power to make decisions.”
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~Music and Production by Tim Hofmann at Franklin Street Studios
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