Dion Manley

Dion Manley is an at-large member of the Gahanna-Jefferson City School District school board in Ohio. He assumed office on January 1, 2022. His current term ends on December 31, 2025.

Manley is running for re-election for an at-large seat of the Gahanna-Jefferson City School District school board in Ohio. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source]

Manley completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Dion Manley was born in California. Manley earned a high school diploma from Burbank High School and a bachelor's degree from the New College of California. His career experience includes working as a healthcare professional.^[1]

Elections

2025

General election

The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

General election for Gahanna-Jefferson City School District school board At-large (3 seats)

Incumbent Kara Coates, incumbent Megan Dimmerling, incumbent Dion Manley, John Dooley Jr., and Cynthia Lampkins are running in the general election for Gahanna-Jefferson City School District school board At-large on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
		Kara Coates (Nonpartisan)
		Megan Dimmerling (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Dion Manley (Nonpartisan)
		John Dooley Jr. (Nonpartisan)
		Cynthia Lampkins (Nonpartisan)

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Manley received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.

2021

General election

General election for Gahanna-Jefferson City School District school board At-large (3 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Gahanna-Jefferson City School District school board At-large on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sue Horn (Nonpartisan)	19.0	5,637
✔		Kara Coates (Nonpartisan)	18.5	5,491
✔	Submit photo	Dion Manley (Nonpartisan)	15.1	4,472
		Angela Sullivan (Nonpartisan)	12.7	3,767
		Tony Sullivan (Nonpartisan)	11.0	3,271
		Matthew Campbell (Nonpartisan)	10.9	3,246
	Submit photo	Greg Kneeland (Nonpartisan)	7.0	2,070
	Submit photo	Jeff Conklin (Nonpartisan)	5.7	1,690

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 29,644
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

Dion Manley completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Manley's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a parent of a Gahanna Lincoln HS graduate. First in my family to attend college. BA in Humanities, full athletic scholarship. Trade school grad with 3 jewelry certificates. Nonprofit, leadership, volunteering and athletic honors including Hall of Fame.

Healthcare worker in optical department for 8 yrs in private practice. Sole proprietor 15 yrs. in custom jewelry. Twenty yrs in elections/public service, including voting manager, absentee & provisional department.

Proven leader with nonprofit, community, athletic, and public service achievements. Ohio School Board Association awardee, state task force member. Diplomatic, ethical, effective communicator, lifelong learner. Gahanna resident since 2006, focused on teamwork, fiscal responsibility, unity and student-centered decision-making.

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?

First, I believe every student & staff member deserves a safe and welcoming environment. Safety is not only about secure buildings; it also includes an environment with respect, belonging, and mental health support. I have consistently listened to community voices and advocated for proactive measures to increase safety and expand resources for student well-being so every student can thrive.
Second, I am committed to responsible fiscal stewardship. I am proud of my focused role in strengthening mental health and safety, balanced budgets, approving strong contracts for educators and staff, and overseeing building upgrades across the district. A major accomplishment has been advancing the new high school project on budget. These efforts demonstrate that I take seriously the trust voters place in us to manage taxpayer resources wisely while delivering real results for students, families and community.
Third, I believe deeply in expanding opportunities for all students. Not every child’s path leads to traditional college, so I’ve worked to strengthen opportunities at Eastland-Fairfield Career Tech and look forward to expanded partnerships with business and employers. As a trade school graduate myself, I know firsthand how powerful technical education, apprenticeships, and well-matched career pathways can be. Together, these priorities reflect my vision: safe schools, responsible leadership, and preparing every student to succeed in life.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My policy priorities go alongside my campaign messages. I am passionate about the safety and well-being of all students, fair school funding, both locally and at the state level as strong and equitable funding ensures every student has access to high-quality education and staff stability. I oppose policies that undermine public schools' mission, drain resources from public schools or perpetuate division. I also believe in strengthening community partnerships that prepare students for college, careers, or good jobs.

In short, my campaign is guided by a clear vision: safe & welcoming schools, strong fiscal leadership, & opportunities that prepare every student for lifelong success.

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

Principles: honesty, integrity, courage, humility, unity, discipline, perseverance, hope, & service. Putting students first, being transparent and accountable, diplomatic, communicates effectively, respectful, able make hard decisions, always striving to learn, improve and achieve for district growth and benefits.

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

School board members are elected to represent and amplify the voices of families and the local community. We direct or connect families into the system (district) when needed, uphold our oath of office, and work to make sure all students are served well in attaining an excellent education. Our role is governance: setting standards, hiring and evaluating the Superintendent and Treasurer, overseeing administrators' work on contracts, hiring, finance, curriculum and partnerships. I also value attending conferences, school events and building relationships to strengthen Gahanna-Jefferson City Schools.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

To work with the Superintendent toward creating and maintaining a learning environment and system that is safe, supportive, inclusive and fair to provide every student an excellent education. I am running for re-election to continue my role as a liaison for stakeholders, managing within our budget, passing strong contracts for educators and school employees, upgrades to all campus buildings plus seeing the new high school to completion while staying on budget. Accepting appointments to committees and representing our district as a school board member for Eastland-Fairfield Career Trade and Technical Schools. I especially appreciate the opportunity to work with students and families directly to find resources in the district to address their specific needs and concerns.

Who are your constituents?

All students and their families, community members, taxpayers and local residents.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

Every single student deserves a high quality education to reach their full potential. I am proud to support the diverse needs of the district through collaboration, comprehensive policy, intentional leadership and community engagement. I want to ensure that all students, regardless of race, identity, religion, class, gender or disability have access to skilled, trained and supportive educators to bridge gaps. I aim to continue supporting our outreach and work in providing a welcoming, respectful, affirming and inclusive environment for our students, families, staff and community members.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Gahanna-Jefferson Education Association, Ohio Association Public School Employees (pending), Franklin County Democratic Party, Ohio Young Black Dems, Franklin County Young Dems, Victory Fund, American Federation of Labor & the Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Gahanna Dems & Friends, Ohio Association Public School Employees (OAPSE pending)

What role should artificial intelligence have in your school district?

AI is currently being utilized as a resource and tool at age-appropriate stages with professional educator guidance and supervision. Educators are trained on introducing AI's benefits for learning and monitoring ethical considerations and accuracy challenges. The district has established policies and guidelines on AI that are continuously evaluated, followed and routinely updated.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

The personal accomplishment I am most proud of is being a parent of my amazing daughter. I am grateful for every day, the good times, struggles and surprises throughout her journey into adulthood. There are many aspects of my life I am proud of, being her dad is my number one accomplishment and always will be. She is an absolutely incredible young adult.

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.

2021

Dion Manley did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.

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Candidate

Gahanna-Jefferson City School District school board At-large

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Officeholder

Gahanna-Jefferson City School District school board At-large

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Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 25, 2025

[1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 25, 2025

[1]

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Dion Manley

Contents

Biography

Elections

2025

General election

General election for Gahanna-Jefferson City School District school board At-large (3 seats)

Endorsements

2021

General election

General election for Gahanna-Jefferson City School District school board At-large (3 seats)

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

2021

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

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Public Policy

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