Part 1: Contacting your Local Representatives

Do you know who to contact if there is a pothole on a street you drive everyday? Do you know who to turn to if you are worried about the upcoming federal budget cuts? Do you want to speak up about something, but you don’t know where to start?

In this series we will be addressing your local, state, and federal representatives, and who to turn to in a situation of need. In this article, we will give you a quick rundown of local government and pass on some helpful links and contacts that can aid you in the future.

If something is happening in the immediate area around you, contact your local government (potholes, city taxes, flooded water drainage, down trees, etc.). Click here for a handy guide, with listings of all city departments and the phone numbers of each.

If there are other issues, or you feel that your concerns are not being addressed, contact your council person.

There is one council member for each ward in Mansfield City and then two more council members “at large” who are concerned with the entire city. To find out which ward you live in and who your council person is, see the image above.

For a first-hand look at how your local government operates, attend the council meetings. These meetings are open to the public, and residents may voice concerns by signing in with the clerk. By attending the meetings, you will see how your representative responds to citizen complaints, legislative issues, and budget matters, among others. Minutes and meeting schedules may be found here.

List of Mansfield council members:

Council President- Phillip Scott, c419-544-2901    pscott@ci.mansfield.oh.us

Council-at-large- Cliff Mears:  h419-756-8331 cmears@ci.mansfield.oh.us  

Council-at-large- Don Bryant:  419-610-7312 dbryant@ci.mansfield.oh.us or db@donbryant.com

Ward 1- David Falquette c419-405-8833 dfalquette@ci.mansfield.oh.us

Ward 2-  Jeff Rock:   c419-545-3501   jrock@ci.mansfield.oh.us

Ward 3- Jon Van Harlingen: h419-774-0066   jonvanharlingen@ci.mansfield.oh.us

Ward 4- Butch Jefferson:    h419-525-0086 council@ci.mansfield.oh.us

Ward 5- Jason Lawrence:    c419-612-0097  jlawrence@ci.mansfield.oh.us

Ward 6- Garnetta Pender: c419-961-9302    h419-524-1827 gpender@ci.mansfield.oh.us