Candidate Guide - Franklin City Council - Matt Wilcher

As you prepare to vote in this year's municipal elections, the Western Star compiled answers from candidates. Here are the responses as provided. All typos and grammar mistakes, if any, are in the original responses.

Headshot provided by candidate

Education: Franklin High School, Wright State University

Current employment: Premiere Account Manager for Tundra-FMP

Office Sought: Franklin City Council

Why are you the best suited for this position? (150 words)

Voters should choose me as the best choice because I have the experience and knowledge from the last 8 yrs to finish the projects we have started and "Keep Moving Franklin Forward". I am well educated on the hurdles we face as a community and will use my experience to overcome them. We have so many projects in progress that I don't believe our community has time for the learning curve that a new council member would need to come up to speed. I am fully vested here in Franklin with my wife and three children. Prior to being on council, I attended many council meetings and attended community planning meetings. Additionally, I owned and operated a startup business so I know how to budget responsibly for growth. I know how to make a tough decision and learn from a bad one. My experience and dedication set me apart as someone who will deliver results for Franklin now and for future generations.

What are your top three areas of focus for your position?

Keep Moving Franklin Forward! Continue to responsibly develop our downtown and residential opportunities. Infrastructure improvements while focusing on public safety will always be a priority. Keeping Franklin an affordable place for families to thrive.

What specifically are you going to do for each of your top three topics? (200 words)

Seeking investors and developers who are properly vetted and share the passion of making our city the very best is a big part of my plans. Our city leaders will continue attending the ICSC show where they meet developers, retailers, and make new connections. We will continue seeking every possible state or federal grant to finish existing projects and new. These efforts will continue saving taxpayers money and help keep Franklin an affordable place to live.

If you are an incumbent, what is your best accomplishment?

If you are a challenger, what do you think needs to change from the current situation?

NOTE: He is an incumbent.

One of our best accomplishments was the redevelopment of our downtown. This was a goal that was set many years ago, but the current council and city staff were the ones who made it happen. This was by far the largest project I've ever worked on.

What are your qualifications for this position? (150 words)

I'm a sales rep by profession so working with the public is part of my DNA. I was co-owner of a start up company Restaurant Parts and More LLC. Being a small business owner taught me to provide elite customer service and how to budget for growth. I've been on council for the last 8 years and will use my knowledge and experiences to keep moving our city forward. I've served as Board President of Franklin Area Historical Society. I've also served on the following committees:Parks and Rec, Public Works and Utilities, Safety , and Chair of Finance Committee.

Property tax is one of the top issues for local residents. What are your thoughts on the current property tax issues? (150 words)

Property taxes have skyrocketed in the last few years. This impacts our senior citizens on fixed incomes the most. I'm a homeowner, so I feel the pain as well. The way we fund education in OH is part of the problem. The burden of education falls on property owners, many of which may not even have children in school. I would fully support abolishing property taxes as long as we have a way to replace the revenues responsibly. Unfortunately, the need for the revenue doesn't magically go away as many cities and townships rely on levies to provide basic services.

State laws often impact our county and the funding of local project depends on the state budget. What is your relationship with the local state representatives and senator? (100 words)

Our city manager, Jonathan Westendorf, along with the current council have a great working relationship with Rep.Landsman and Sen. Wilson. These gentlemen have assisted us with various grants over the last few years and I can't say "thank you" enough. They are great partners and we couldn't ask for better representation. Finishing our bike path would have been a real challenge without the state and federal grants we received. That's just one example as there are too many ways to list how our local representatives have helped our community.

How have you been involved in the community outside of politics?

I have served on the Franklin Area Historical Society as Board President. I have coached youth soccer. I served on my neighborhood HOA. I've gone door to door to educate citizens when Franklin was integrating EMS with our fire dept.

Are you running as a slate or as a team with any of the other candidates?

Is there anything else you want the voters to know about you?

Being a father of three children I can relate to the everyday struggles that we all face. I want voters to to know that my passion for our city goes way beyond this election. I'm invested in Franklin's future, from supporting responsible growth to improving infrastructure, and city services. The race isn't about politics, it's about putting Franklin first and making decisions with the best interest of our community in mind. I have attended council meetings for the last 20 years. I would encourage the candidates to start regularly attending meetings because it will give them valuable insight into the real issues facing our community. Some candidates are just now becoming involved, but I've consistently been engaged and invested in our city's progress. It has been an honor serving our community and with your help I can continue for 4 more years.