John Cousins (Upper Arlington City Council At-large, Ohio, candidate 2025)

John Cousins

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Upper Arlington City Council At-large

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 4, 2025

Education

Bachelor's

Ohio University

Personal

Birthplace

Philadelphia, Pa.

Religion

Methodist

Profession

Attorney

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

John Cousins ran for election to the Upper Arlington City Council At-large in Ohio. He was on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source]

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

Biography

John Cousins provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on November 3, 2025:

• Birth date: July 10, 1983
• Birth place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• High school: Bay High School (Bay Village, Ohio)
• Bachelor's: Ohio University
• Gender: Male
• Religion: Methodist
• Profession: Attorney
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign slogan: Building community. Finding common ground. Representing us all.
• Campaign website
• Campaign endorsements
• Campaign Facebook
• Campaign Instagram

Elections

General election

General election for Upper Arlington City Council At-large (4 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Upper Arlington City Council At-large on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
		John Cousins (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Nic Fortkamp (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Ukeme Awakessien Jeter (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Laura Oldham (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Michael B. Stafford (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Ben Tracy (Nonpartisan)

---

	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

To view Cousins's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Cousins in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

John Cousins completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cousins' 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'm a husband, a father of three, an attorney with 17 years of experience protecting Ohio families, and a youth coach. I married my wife in UA 18 years ago, and I’m running a nonpartisan campaign to keep Upper Arlington timeless—not trendy.

By listening to the community and being careful with other people’s money, I’ll work to ensure that our landlocked, bedroom community remains a special place for everyone, without fundamentally changing it.

I’m running to protect what makes UA special by focusing on public safety, infrastructure, and thoughtful redevelopment. I support options that fit the character of our neighborhoods. We don’t need density for density’s sake. To me, the most meaningful kind of “affordability” is keeping Upper Arlington livable for the people who already call it home, including retirees and empty nesters.

I’m one of two candidates who did not seek a political party endorsement. For 106 years, our City Charter has required council members to be elected on a nonpartisan ballot, and I want UA—not D.C.—to set the tone. I’ll choose people over politics every day of the week, and twice on Sunday. We get to live in one of the best places in world history. If we let D.C. divide us, we’re missing the plot.

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?

• My primary focus will always be on the core purpose of local government: public safety and infrastructure. That means investing in our police, fire, and EMS so they can keep our neighborhoods safe, and maintaining the roads, sewers, and essential services that make Upper Arlington a great place to live.
• I believe in thoughtful redevelopment. As a landlocked, bedroom community, we need to be smart about how we approach commercial development opportunities. We especially need to make sure we listen and involve neighbors in the planning process.
• The city is about to begin reviewing its master plan, which is the blueprint for the next decade of planning and redevelopment. When the city walks this path, I want to make sure that it listens to the community and does not fundamentally change the character of our neighborhoods.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m passionate about city council being dispassionate and using impulse control. With every question, I will return to first principles and the role local government. For UA, that means public safety, infrastructure, and providing excellent city services. Throughout history, government has been tempted to spend as much as taxes will allow, and more. In every vote I take, I’ll remind myself that we’re using other people’s money, and that demands focus, humility, and discipline.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

This office represents the most direct form of representation and is responsible for applying state and federal frameworks to the actual streets, safety, and services that shape our daily lives.

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

The most important trait in an elected official is humility, knowing what you don’t know and resisting the urge to pretend otherwise. As Socrates said, “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing,” and that mindset keeps you grounded, curious, and accountable to the people you serve.

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

The core responsibility of a City Council member is to focus on the essential duties of local government and listen to the community. That means prioritizing public safety, infrastructure, and sound stewardship of taxpayer resources.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Our City Charter calls for a "Council of seven citizens," not seven political experts. To represent UA, the members should include parents, retirees, small business owners, and people who reflect the values of this great community. Granted, as a suburb of the state capital, UA will always have citizens with prior government experience (like me), but that’s not automatically more valuable. The best public servants know their limits, ask good questions, and never forget they’re spending other people’s money.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

The most helpful skills for City Council members are the ability to listen to residents, the ability to make tough decisions, and an understanding of the role of local government.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the local government?

City council is unique in that it establishes our local laws and, according to our Charter, is responsible for the "government and control" of UA.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Brian Close (Vice President UA City Council), Jim Lynch (UA City Council Member); Linda Mauger (Former UA City Council Member); Michele Hoyle (Former UA City Council Member); Ron O'Brien (Former Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney); Judi French (Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice).

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

My greatest accomplishment was convincing my wife to marry me. Because of that, I’m now the wealthiest man on earth.

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.

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