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Donna Finn and her family moved to their
Headley Road home from Gahanna in 1989 and her three children graduated from
Gahanna Jefferson Schools. After working in other fields, Donna’s love of land
use and real estate issues resulted in her employment as the Jefferson Township
Zoning/Development Coordinator. She served in this position for 10 years,
helping to shepherd early Township developments through the zoning process.
Donna ran for her first four-year Trustee term in 1997. Shortly after her
election she joined LandAmerica Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation. Her
husband, Bill, operated his own remodeling company and served on the Jefferson
Township Water and Sewer District until his untimely death in October 2004.
Along with her love of land-use issues, Donna is active in safety issues. She
received a Presidential appointment in 2002 to Homeland Security as a State and
Local representative. She enjoys walking her dogs and spending time with her
children. She is a member of various animal related organizations. Donna is
completing her second full term as a Trustee, and has served as Vice Chair for
the past 2 years.
Mike Rowan moved to Jefferson
Township in 1992 and quickly became active in the Jefferson Township Park
Board. As Park Board Chair, he was successful in obtaining 2 grants through the
state-funded NatureWorks program. A greatly expanded and modern public restroom
facility was subsequently built at Jefferson Community Park. The facility has
shelter houses on each end and is handicap-accessible. Also, a new playground
was constructed next to the handicap-accessible shelter house. This addition
broadened the park’s recreational facilities for small children.
Mike lives on Darling Road. He is the father of two girls who attend Blacklick
Elementary. A strong conservationist and environmentalist, Mike holds a Ph.D in
Environmental Engineering. He teaches at OSU and Columbus State. He strongly
supports conservation development and managed growth programs practiced by the
Township.
Mike ran for office to fill an unexpired term in 1997 and is currently in his
second full term. This is his third year as Chair of the Board.
Mat Flanagan is a lifelong
resident of Jefferson Township, and still lives on Clark State Road east of
Blacklick Creek near his childhood home. He graduated from Gahanna-Jefferson,
and in the 1970s assumed responsibility for his parents’ business, Flanagan’s
Tavern in Jefferson Township. When his parents retired, he later became owner.
After running for office in 1985, Mat, along with former trustees Steve Miller
and Ray Jarvis, created the Jefferson Water and Sewer District with a two-fold
purpose: To stop territory loss through annexation and to carefully manage
growth. His Township interests are ecumenical—he has a great interest in the
fire and service departments as well as in land use issues.
Mat’s personal interests include a strong love of NASCAR racing; he sometimes
serves as a spotter at races. Mat and his wife also have an interest in Irish
Wolfhounds and care for two aged Clydesdale draft horses that he and his wife
used to show. Mat is completing his fifth term as a Trustee.
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Ken can usually be found in his Township Hall Office tending
to the Township's books and records.
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Clerk Ken Jones is a recent addition to Township government,
having been appointed to an unexpired term in May 2004. He and his wife Melanie
moved from Buckeye Lake to a home in Havenswood subdivision, off Havens Road,
in 2003.
Ken is a financial expert, having served many years both as a
PriceWaterhouse/Coopers auditor and a Chief Financial Officer in the private
business community (he is a Certified Public Accountant).
He retired from full-time positions in the business world in 2001, but keeps
active as a board member of several area businesses, including Emerald Bank and
Applied Innovation Inc, both in Dublin.
Ken keeps fit by playing tennis and jogging with his wife as time permits. In
her professional life, Melanie is a patent attorney with Porter, Wright, Morris
& Arthur. Other interests enjoyed by the two include traveling and family
events. Township voters will see Ken’s name on the November ballot when Ken
will run to fill the last two years of his current term.
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On a nice autumn day, Ellen took a 140' ride straight
up and got a chance to see and take photos of Jefferson Township from the top
of the Jefferson Water and Sewer District's new water tower behind the Township
Hall.
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Ellen Walker became Jefferson Township’s first Township
Administrator in mid-1996. Prior to that she served as New Albany’s Village
Administrator.
Ellen manages the day-to-day operations of the Township and its staff, and
assists the Trustees in their decision-making process. Her love of the Township
began in 1964, when she boarded her horse at a Clark State Road barn and became
a 4-H Club advisor to young equestrians in the area.
A strong proponent of managed growth and green space preservation, Ellen has
carried out a variety of tasks, from helping build financial stability and
writing the employee policy to facilitating the formation of the local land
trust, taking the photos in the Scenic Byway Master Plan, and drafting the
Township’s Community Core Values. On behalf of the Township, she is a board
member of 1000 Friends of Central Ohio and vice-president of the Ohio Township
Administrators Network.
An avid rider until a few years ago, Ellen still cares for two horses, Goodtime
and Moonstone, two golden retrievers and four cats with the help her husband,
Dave, at their Jersey Township home.
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