Two Granville Township trustees – Bryn Bird and Dan VanNess – will be vacating their seats at the end of their terms this year, leaving the positions open for political newcomers running to take their places.
Three candidates are running to fill those two open seats: Ben Barton, William Hoekstra and Leonard Hubert.
Ben Barton
Ben Barton, 61, grew up in Granville. He got to know the area, played sports, swam at Spring Valley Pool and developed a special bond with the land.
As Barton explained, his parents ventured out to the Welsh Hills neighborhood 50 years ago in search of a good Christmas tree. They fell in love with the area and moved there the next year. He has lived in Granville Township for nearly 50 years now. Currently, he runs a financial services firm on River Road.
“I am the only township trustee candidate raised in Granville, educated in the Granville school system and running a business in Granville Township,” Barton said.
If elected as a trustee, he intends to focus on managing development pressure, developing community-driven parameters for future Open Space spending and purchases, and exploring ways to ease the property tax burden on residents.
“The goal as a Granville Township trustee should be to keep the rural character of Granville intact, as the push from Columbus and New Albany heightens,” Barton said. “Protecting the land, guarding our natural resources, all while exploring creative and sustainable small business opportunities in the areas that allow for economic development.”
Barton said he has a solid working relationship with elected officials at the local, county, state and federal levels. He prides himself on his transparency, curiosity, approachability and desire to help.
“I’ve always enjoyed helping people out. Whether it’s plowing snow around town, or helping someone with a fallen tree, or pesky varmints destroying property, I enjoy the work and the challenge. Trustees deal with everyday resident concerns – parks, roads and emergency services – and I look forward to tackling the tasks presented if elected as a township trustee,” Baron said.
Barton has a vested interest in keeping Granville “as is,” he said.
“We are headed into a potentially volatile next four years, given the developmental pressure from the west and south. We cannot afford to be overrun by outside jurisdictional entities with no respect for how it affects our community – village, township, schools – and our natural resources,” Barton said.
William Hoekstra
William Hoekstra, 58, grew up in the Licking Valley area and currently resides in the village. He’s been around Granville since he was 16, when he started working at McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral & Cremation Service. As Hoekstra explained, Rod McPeek was his mentor.
“I learned so much about Granville from being around him and growing up there,” Hoekstra said.
He’s found support in the Granville community in both the village and the township. When McPeek passed away, Hoekstra and his wife Mary took over the business. They retired in 2023.
But two years into his retirement, he says he is “bored out of my mind” and looking for something to do.
“I love Granville and everybody there,” he said. “It’s just an opportunity to give back. I just want what’s in Granville’s best interest. Not a politician, just a guy trying to do what’s right for Granville.”
As a candidate for Granville Township trustee he wants to focus on keeping Granville the way it is.
“We can’t build a wall around Granville, but I think we all like what the village offers and what the township offers,” Hoekstra said.
He is concerned about the water issues that will come with development to the west.
“The village of Granville has always looked at water as a service. Unfortunately, now, instead of it being a water stream, it’s probably going to become a revenue stream for outside people,” Hoekstra said. “I think we need to build some coalitions around to help control that because that’s directly going to impact our lives and the way things are.”
He also wants to address the issue of developing municipalities resulting in an increase of students in the Granville school district.
“We need to build some bridges for more relationships. I’m all about relationship building, not tearing it down or throwing bombs or problems. Let’s bring solutions with it.”
He said he values integrity, honesty and forthrightness.
“If I’m delivering any of those messages, it’s going to be with love, not hate,” Hoekstra said.
He has served on the board of Welsh Hills Cemetery and Granville Area Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of St. Edward’s church and Granville Kiwanis, and he volunteers at Ross Correctional Institution and Southeastern Correctional Institution, helping reacclimate those who have been incarcerated into society and recovery programs.
Hoekstra wants to hear about issues important to residents. He says people should vote for him because he cares about Granville.
“I’m not a politician, I’m just going to do what’s right and I’m going to tell them the truth whether they want to hear it or not,” Hoekstra said. “I’m not a lobbyist, I’m not a politician. I’m doing simply what’s best for our future.”
Leonard Hubert
Leonard Hubert, a farmer and small business owner, has resided in Granville Township since 1997. His business, a full service consulting firm, specializes in government affairs, public policy and major advocacy-type issues.
For Hubert, 72, there are three major reasons he is running for Granville Township trustee: to contribute to the betterment of his community, address key issues facing Granville and Granville Township and to speak with the residents and focus on the major issues they are concerned about.
“I think the issues that are most important to me are the issues that are most important to the residents,” Hubert said.
According to Hubert, he aims to address property tax concerns and significant development in the surrounding area. He has embraced the Joint Economic Development District (JEDD), which was established in conjunction with the village as part of the comprehensive plan. He aims to promote economic development, diversify the tax base and strengthen community partnerships.
“We need to control our own destiny, and we have to have the right tools in the toolbox to be able to do that,” Hubert said.
Hubert is consistently giving back to his community, having held positions on the Board of Zoning Appeals, Open Space Committee, Fire and EMS Levy Campaign Committee, Tax Incentive Review Council, Mental Health & Recovery for Licking and Knox Counties, marketing committee for the Licking County Foundation and the Par Excellence STEM Academy of Newark
He is active with Granville Kiwanis. He has also served as treasurer for Granville Township, served on the Ohio 4-H Foundation Board and is a former board member of Granville Education Foundation.
“My volunteerism and local involvement in the community gives me a good understanding of what’s going on in the township and what’s going on in the village,” Hubert said.
He also has extensive experience in public sector, administration and public policy creation. He served as director of coalition outreach and rural affairs and central Ohio regional director for former Ohio Senator Rob Portman. He worked in the Ohio governor’s office and worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“We have two incumbent trustees that are not running. And so with all of the major issues that’s going on at hand, the township needs someone who can start the work on day one. Certainly, with my initial background and my involvement within the township, it’s a very easy task,” Hubert said.
Election Day is Nov. 4. Early voting is available at the election board office. Here are the hours:
Wednesday, Oct. 29 through Friday, Oct. 31: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 1: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 2: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Ella Diehl writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.