Who Has Earned Our Vote? PCPW Endorsement Announcement

“Seven candidates for four seats. Which ones have earned your votes?”

Lately we’ve been getting some version of this question several times a day from our neighbors, friends, subscribers, etc.

Here’s our short answer: Sharvin and Robinson.

And now the longer version:

We support full participation in the democratic process, including the choice to only vote for candidates one wholly supports.

We recommend that in this year’s City Council election, citizens vote solely for candidates who have truly earned their votes.

Michael Sharvin and David Robinson, and no other candidates, have earned ours.

There are many points in common in the language used among the 7 candidates in their print materials and/or public statements: a vibrant downtown, economic development, diversifying our housing options, etc. are common themes. Regarding the property at 1033 High St, commonly referred to as UMCH and the focus of our organization, there seems to be consensus in favor of commercial/office development along High Street.

But with seven candidates running, we need to look beyond the common bullet points, and at where they differ.

We are impressed with the depth of Sharvin’s and Robinson’s knowledge, thinking, and ideas about a broad range of local and regional issues, and their willingness to engage and communicate directly and clearly with voters about those issues.

Michael Sharvin and David Robinson are the only candidates whose thinking about UMCH aligns with the Project Community Park Worthington (PCPW) vision.

• Sharvin and Robinson recognize that overwhelming community feedback for 12+ years must be central to any development of the UMCH property. That feedback – from life-long to newer Worthington residents, seniors to young families, and from every neighborhood throughout the city – has consistently called for significant contiguous green space and public amenities at the UMCH property – in addition to commercial/office along High, and a modest amount of housing.
• Sharvin and Robinson, while advocating innovation in housing in Worthington – particularly for sensible, senior-friendly and affordable options in enclaves embedded throughout our city – have made it clear in public statements that they do not advocate a Lifestyle Communities or similar high-density vision for the UMCH property.

The remaining five candidates, in their public written and spoken statements, have not advocated for significant contiguous green space and public amenities at the UMCH property. While there are nuances between them, they have all made it very clear that they do not support the PCPW vision. Therefore, we at Project Community Park Worthington cannot recommend any of them for your vote.

Voting for third and fourth candidates you don’t fully support can potentially add to those candidates’ totals in a way that inadvertently defeats the candidates you do fully support. Declining to “spend” all four of your votes is not wasting your votes. It is casting a ballot confidently for candidates who will represent you at City Council regarding this issue that matters to you and so many of your neighbors.

We at PCPW will be casting our ballots this November 4 for two — and only two — Worthington City Council candidates:

Michael Sharvin and David Robinson.

We hope you will consider doing the same.

To learn more and to request yard signs:

https://sharvinforworthington.com

https://robinsonforworthington.com and https://davidrobinsonblog.com

About Project Community Park Worthington:

We advocate a mixed-use development at the former UMCH (United Methodist Children’s Home) site:

• 9-10 acres of commercial/office along High Street
• 3-5 acres of residential (preferably focused on senior living)
• 18+ acres for contiguous public space (plus the undevelopable Tucker Creek area, about 7 acres)

Potential amenities: multi-use event facility, outdoor amphitheater, walking trails, athletic field, pollinator and community gardens, and a natural preserve along Tucker Creek suitable for educational purposes.

To learn more about the PCPW vision, please explore our website. A broad overview is summarized on our petition page, here:
https://projectcommunityparkworthington.com/sign-the-petition/

Realizing the Vision of a Worthington Commons – to inspire an alternative mixed-use vision for the UMCH property, for the enjoyment and well-being of all, now and in perpetuity.

Project Community Park Worthington is an informal community group and does not claim tax-exempt status. We are not set up to receive or give contributions. While we spend a small amount of money out of our own personal pockets for our website, it is well below the dollar amount that would necessitate a more formal organizational structure. As such, we are free to communicate with the public about issues, candidates, and elections.