Rooted in Service. Focused on Hilliard’s Future.
Hello, and thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about me.
My name is Matthew West, and I am running for Hilliard City Council because I believe local government works best when it is transparent, accountable, and genuinely connected to the people it serves.
Like many residents, I don’t believe every issue facing our city has an easy answer. What I do believe is that our community deserves elected officials who are willing to ask tough questions, listen with an open mind, and make decisions based on facts — not assumptions or politics. That philosophy has guided me throughout my life and career.
My Story
I was born in Oberlin, Ohio, and raised in the rural community of Wakeman, where I learned the importance of hard work, responsibility, and looking out for your neighbors. Growing up on a family farm instilled values that still shape who I am today: show up, keep your word, solve problems, and leave things better than you found them. While my career has taken me in a different direction, those lessons have never left me.
Today, my husband and I proudly call Hilliard home. We chose this community because of its welcoming neighborhoods, thriving local businesses, beautiful parks, and the sense of pride that residents have in where they live. Over time, Hilliard has become much more than where we live — it has become the community we are proud to invest our time, energy, and future in.
My Professional Background
For nearly a decade, my career has been within the insurance industry where I have enjoyed helping businesses, families, and individuals navigate complex situations, manage risk, and make informed financial decisions.
My profession requires me to analyze large amounts of information, understand laws and regulations, communicate clearly, negotiate solutions, and earn the trust of the people who rely on me every day. Those experiences have taught me something important: people don’t expect you to know everything. They expect you to listen, do your homework, tell them the truth, and follow through on your commitments.
Those are the same expectations I have for public office.
Why I’m Running
For many years, I have become deeply engaged in the issues affecting Hilliard. I began analyzing City Council meetings, reviewing agenda packets, reading ordinances, submitting public records requests, researching Ohio law, and following development proposals that will shape our city’s future for decades to come. The more I learned, the more I realized that local government affects our daily lives far more than many people realize.
From responsible development and infrastructure planning to fiscal responsibility, public safety, transparency, and protecting the character of our neighborhoods, the decisions made at City Hall have lasting consequences for every resident.
I decided I didn’t want to simply watch those decisions being made — I wanted to be part of making them.
My Approach
If there’s one thing you’ll learn about me, it’s that I ask a lot of questions. Not because I’m skeptical for the sake of being skeptical — but because I believe every decision deserves to be understood before it’s made.
Whether I’m reviewing city legislation, researching Ohio law, examining development proposals, or speaking with residents, I want to understand the full picture before reaching a conclusion. Too often, people feel that government has already made up its mind before the conversation even begins. I don’t believe that’s how public service should work.
I believe leadership begins with listening.
That means listening to residents who support an idea, listening to those who oppose it, listening to city staff who have technical expertise, and listening to fellow council members who may see an issue differently than I do. None of us has a monopoly on good ideas. If the facts change, I’m willing to change my opinion. I don’t see that as weakness; I see it as responsibility.
What You’ll Get From Me
I’m not running to be the loudest voice in the room. I’m running to be one of the most prepared.
If elected, I will thoroughly understand the ordinances before voting on them, ask tough and thoughtful questions, and explain my decisions to the people I represent, period. I believe residents deserve to know not only what their government is doing, but why. You should expect me to be visible in the community, approachable outside of council meetings, responsive to questions, and willing to admit when I don’t know something. When that happens, I’ll do what I’ve always done throughout my career — I’ll research it, find the answer, and follow up.
Public office isn’t about pretending to know everything; it’s about having the integrity to find the right answers.
My Vision For Hilliard
Hilliard is an incredible city, and I want to help ensure it stays that way.
As our community continues to grow, we must protect what makes Hilliard special while preparing responsibly for the future. Growth should strengthen our city—not outpace our infrastructure, our neighborhoods, or the expectations of the people who already live here.
I want a city government that plans ahead instead of reacting after problems arise:
- One that communicates openly.
- One that spends taxpayer dollars carefully.
- One that welcomes public involvement instead of treating it as an inconvenience.
Most importantly, I want residents to feel that City Hall works with them — not simply for them.