Leonard Hubert

FOR GRANVILLE TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE

A small business owner and farmer, Leonard is running for Granville Township Trustee to help neighbors and solve practical problems. He listens first—often asking, “What do YOU think?”—and has strong working relationships across the township and the Village of Granville. He serves on the Granville Township Board of Zoning Appeals, the Licking County Tax Incentive Review Council, the Granville Township Open Space Committee, and Ohio Cancer Research Associates. Leonard previously served with the Granville Education Foundation, Mental Health & Recovery for Licking and Knox Counties, Par Excellence Academy, and the Ohio 4‑H Foundation, and stays active with Granville Kiwanis and the Licking County Foundation’s Development & Marketing Committee. He has also pitched in as treasurer for the Granville Township Open Space and Fire/EMS levy campaigns.

As Director of Coalition Outreach and Rural Affairs for U.S. Senator Rob Portman and later his Central Ohio District Director—he worked daily with township and village leaders, businesses, and farm families. As Ohio’s State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency, he helped communities navigate programs and funding. That background shapes four clear priorities: (1) strategic, well‑planned economic development guided by the Joint Comprehensive Plan—diversifying the tax base, strengthening partnerships, and using tools like the JEDD and the SR‑16 Research & Technology Corridor; (2) preserving rural character by growing the Open Space program and engaging residents early on major projects; (3) delivering quality core services—fire protection, road upkeep, snow removal, zoning, and land management—with care and fiscal discipline; and (4) advocating for property‑tax reform that protects homeowners while keeping local services and schools funded. Granville Township has managed its dollars carefully. For example, voters approved a 2‑mill Fire/EMS levy in 2022, the first new Fire/EMS levy since 2007—and this candidate will keep the focus on value and results.

EXPERIENCE MATTERS

Small business owner and farmer
- Can hit the ground running as a trustee based on the knowledge, engagement and strong working relationships established in key areas that impact the lives of our residents and businesses, both township and village.
  - Current board member
    - Granville Township Board of Zoning Appeals
    - Licking County Tax Incentive Review Council
    - Granville Township Open Space Committee
    - Ohio Cancer Research Associates
    - Ohio Board of Pharmacy
    - Life Side Ohio Advisory Committee
- Former board member
  - Granville Education Foundation
  - Mental Health & Recovery for Licking and Knox Counties
  - Ohio 4H Foundation
  - Par Excellence Stem Academy
  - Ohio Civil Rights Commission
- Other
  - Granville Kiwanis
  - Development & Marketing Committee, Licking County Foundation
  - Treasurer for Granville Township Open Space and Fire/EMS levy campaign committees

Extensive experience in public sector administration and policy creation
- Central Ohio District Director for U.S. Senator Rob Portman. Included ongoing outreach and engagement with constituents and local, state, and federal elected officials.
- Director of Coalition Outreach and Rural Affairs and Central Ohio Regional Director for Senator Portman.
- State Executive Director for U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency.
  - Worked extensively with Ohio townships, villages, and agriculture and farming associations to help them maximize funding and engagement opportunities.

Four key areas of significant interest/impact to our residents

1. Strategic, well-planned economic development

The most significant development in the history of Granville Township and surrounding area is upon us.
We need to control our own destiny as much as possible with the tools available to us and engage in out-of-the-box creativity.
- Fully embrace and advance these goals in the Joint Comprehensive Plan:
  - Promote economic development to diversify the tax base.
  - Strengthen community partnerships.
  - Proactively encourage companies to take advantage of the Joint Economic Development District (JEDD), also established in conjunction with the Village of Granville as part of the Comprehensive Plan.
- Proactively encourage companies to take advantage of the Joint Economic Development District (JEDD), also established in conjunction with the Village of Granville as part of the Comprehensive Plan.
  - This area of SR-16 just west of the village is identified as an Enterprise Zone/Research & Technology Corridor in the Joint Comprehensive Plan.

2. Preserve the township's rural character

Promote and increase participation in the Open Space program
- Granville Township was the first township in Ohio to pass an open space levy.
Monitor, seek citizen input, and engage in discussions about significant development plans that may impact Granville Township.
Initiate/participate in multi-township, county and regional discussions on this topic.

3. Deliver quality basic services to residents

The heart of the township’s mission
- Fire protection
- Road maintenance and improvements
- Snow removal
- Cemetery Management
- Zoning
- Land Management

4. Advocate for comprehensive property tax reform

Property taxes are a basic source of funding for all the basic services above for Granville Township
The township has been prudent in fiscal management
- Example: The 2-mill fire/EMS levy approved by voters in 2022 was the first new fire/EMS levy on the ballot since 2007.
Rising property taxes are a valid concern for all of you…and me, as well as a small business owner and farmer
- Reappraisals have choked many residents and made land and home ownership a difficult challenge
- A comprehensive solution is needed at the state level
  - There is currently considerable disagreement in the state legislature about this issue following Gov. DeWine’s veto of the three property tax reform provisions included in the July two-year state budget bill.
  - A petition drive is underway to place a statewide issue on the ballot in 2026 to eliminate property taxes
  - Any solution must address how to fund local governments like the township as well as school districts if property taxes are reduced or eliminated