Allison Willford

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Allison Willford

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 7, 2023

Education

Bachelor's

Bowling Green State University, 2004

Personal

Birthplace

Findlay, Ohio

Religion

Spiritual

Profession

Real estate

Contact

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Allison Willford ran for election for Mayor of Columbus in Ohio. She lost as a write-in in the general election on November 7, 2023.

Willford completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Allison Willford was born in Findlay, Ohio. She earned a bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University in 2004. Her career experience includes working in real estate.

Elections

2023

See also: Mayoral election in Columbus, Ohio (2023)

General election

General election for Mayor of Columbus

Incumbent Andrew Ginther defeated Joseph Motil, Carrie Griffin, and Allison Willford in the general election for Mayor of Columbus on November 7, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Andrew Ginther (Nonpartisan)	63.4	137,475
		Joseph Motil (Nonpartisan)	35.5	76,989
	Submit photo	Carrie Griffin (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)	0.2	512
		Allison Willford (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)	0.1	310
		Other/Write-in votes	0.7	1,579

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3	Total votes: 216,865
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Nonpartisan primary election

The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Andrew Ginther and Joseph Motil advanced from the primary for Mayor of Columbus.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Carrie Griffin (Nonpartisan)
• William Eckhardt (Nonpartisan)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Willford in this election.

Campaign themes

2023

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Allison Willford completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Willford's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Allison Willford, I'm a single mother. I'm a foster parent. I'm a female. I'm an entrepreneur. I'm an artist. I have ADHD. I'm gay. Most importantly, I’m a HUMAN, and I’m running to be YOUR MAYOR. I’m frustrated with the state of our city…with the lack of affordable housing, the misallocation of housing funds, increasing crime, and more. Instead of sticking my head in the sand, I’m determined to bring about change. For me, it’s about doing the right thing…and doing it in a way that prioritizes the needs of the people of our city. People are hurting, and that requires immediate action. The truth is that the resources are here, but thanks to mismanagement, those resources are not reaching the people who need them the most. I am running to be YOUR MAYOR so I can change that. Together, we all win. PERIOD.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• As YOUR MAYOR, I pledge to investigate how we can use our dollars most effectively, and understand why some folks who could benefit from available resources aren’t receiving them. I believe they aren’t being met where they are and heard.
• As YOUR MAYOR, I will focus on Affordable Housing, ensuring that the needs of the underserved are heard and met. I will strive to understand why resources that can help them aren’t being appropriately allocated for crucial things like reducing crime and promoting sustainability. And I will make it my priority to change that.
• My strength is in my AWARENESS of others around me, despite their position in life. I serve the Humans, all of them. Equally, and with the same attention to their concerns that I have for my own.

Community Question Featured local question

Do you think the downtown area is healthy? What is your definition of a healthy downtown? What changes, if any, would you like to make?

I have mixed feelings with this question. Call me we can talk more.

Community Question Featured local question

How important is it to involve residents in the government’s decision-making process? What plans do you have regarding resident involvement in this process?

It is so very important to have input from the residents. We need to understand the impact on our humans. My plan is to connect with the people, see what is working, what is lacking and how we can meet in the middle to see that everyone's needs are met.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you address crime and public safety? Do you have a different stance than current city council policy?

I certainly do. There is a disconnect between all the amazing opportunities the city has and what the humans here are aware of. We need to meet our humans where they are and understand the needs. A lot of folks are acting out of desperation right now and have been really. We need to ease that... in return we will see crime reduce. We also need to ensure that those committing the crimes understand there are consequences for their actions and stick to those.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you balance the needs and desires of existing business and housing communities with new development? Would you take gentrification and displacement into consideration when planning neighborhood development?

Yes. We need a plan for all of it. We need to understand what we have inherited first.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you set priorities and develop plans in a way that will reflect community values and goals?

Communities getting back to simple human kindness and consideration for other humans. I have seen incredible things happen when we do this. We can do this throughout the entire city.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's current approach to public safety? Would you take any different positions?

I think it's terrible. They are restricting businesses when the businesses aren't the issue.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's environmental health? Would you make any changes to current policy?

Yes. Yikes.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding infrastructure?

Yikes. We need a complete overhaul and better understanding how the growth of our city (which isn't new) will impact the outdated infrastructure we have inherited.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding the police department? Would you make any changes from current policy?

Yes, I certainly would. Call me and we can talk more.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As YOUR MAYOR, I pledge to investigate how we can use our dollars most effectively, and understand why some folks who could benefit from available resources aren’t receiving them. I believe they aren’t being met where they are and heard.

As YOUR MAYOR, I will focus on Affordable Housing, ensuring that the needs of the underserved are heard and met. I will strive to understand why resources that can help them aren’t being appropriately allocated for crucial things like reducing crime and promoting sustainability. And I will make it my priority to change that.

As YOUR MAYOR, I pledge to fight the gentrification of neighborhoods that don't address the needs of those already living there and being ignored by the system. One year ago, Mayor Ginther said many folks believe housing is the great vaccine, and yes, housing does provide security... but he neglected to recognize that making safer neighborhoods doesn't simply mean building overpriced apartments in areas where our neighbors aren't thriving; it means real, tangible evidence that the residents already living there are having their needs met and their insecurities addressed. For me, it’s all about getting back to basic human kindness and consideration for other humans.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

There are so many pieces and parts from all the humans I've interacted with over my lifetime that I carry pieces I was to follow and so I want to stay clear of. Wildly cool really.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Soon on my social media.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Transparency, Accountability, Empathy, Curiosity.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

My strength is in my ability to be a human. I learn from others and teach others, all in ways that are intended to improve our own lives and the lives of those around us. I'm a natural relationship builder, and I listen to what my fellow humans need and try to serve them the best I can.


As YOUR MAYOR, I will work to improve the lives of my constituents. I want more people to have joy. Not hope. Hope is tomorrow. Joy is today. And I know that by prioritizing their needs, I will help them attain that elusive joy.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Creating a community where everyone is heard,

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event that I remember altering our reality was 9/11. I was a Sophomore in College on my way to class when I saw everyone in the lobby around the television. I got to my 4 hour lab and our teacher let half of the class watch the news while the other half worked.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Pizza Hut when I was 18. I worked there for 4 years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The book of emotions. Because it's okay to have them, it's how we respond that matters.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Wow. I will have to think about this.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Easy on me.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

All of my lessons have come in many forms, I don't think it's been a struggle. Of course things are hard but as we grow and do our inner work even the hard things get a bit easier.

What do you love most about your city?

I love all of the amazingly diverse humans here and the amazing opportunity we have. Opportunity that we need to ensure is across the board.

What do you perceive to be your city's greatest challenges over the next decade?

The greatest challenge will be the way we did not prepare ourselves for the growth we knew was happening. That won't be a problem though, we will get right to work and do it all together.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the state government?

Ideal is one that works together not against each other.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the federal government?

Ideal is one that works together not against each other.

Tell us your favorite joke.

A teacher asks the new student her name. The girl replies, "Happy Butt."

The teacher says, "I don't think that's your name. You need to go to the principal's office and get this straightened out."

The girl goes to the principal's office and he asks, "What's your name?" The little girl says, "Happy Butt."

The principal calls the girl's mother to get the truth. After getting off the phone, he says, "Honey, your name is Gladys, not Happy Butt."

The girl exclaims, "Glad Ass -- Happy Butt -- what's the difference?"

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor's office and law enforcement?

Ideal is one that works together not against each other.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Note: Community Questions were submitted by the public and chosen for inclusion by a volunteer advisory board. The chosen questions were modified by staff to adhere to Ballotpedia’s neutrality standards. To learn more about Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Expansion Project, click here.

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