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Michael Dulin
From Ballotpedia
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Michael Dulin is running for election for an at-large seat of the Groveport-Madison Local School District school board in Ohio. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.[source]
Dulin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Michael Dulin was born in Columbus, Ohio. He earned a high school diploma from the Groveport Madison Local Schools. Dulin's career experience includes working as a laborer and facility maintenance specialist.[1]
Elections
2025
See also: Groveport-Madison Local School District, Ohio, elections (2025)
General election
The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.
General election for Groveport-Madison Local School District school board At-large (3 seats)
The following candidates are running in the general election for Groveport-Madison Local School District school board At-large on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Seth Bower (Nonpartisan) | |
| LaToya Dowdell-Burger (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Larry Carey (Nonpartisan) | ||
Michael Dulin (Nonpartisan)  | ||
| Lori Foltz-Rea (Nonpartisan) | ||
 | Dionna Herbert (Nonpartisan) | |
| Ashley Zimmer (Nonpartisan) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Naomi Sealey (Nonpartisan)
Endorsements
Dulin received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Michael Dulin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Dulin's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am Michael “Mike” Dulin. I am a lifelong resident and graduate of Groveport-Madison School District. I am also a proud parent of three GM graduates and grandpa of three grandchild (one currently attending GM). I’m passionate about upkeep and long-term planning for our school facilities. Safe, well-maintained buildings are essential for student learning and community pride. By reestablishing key board committees—like Facilities, Finance, and Policy—we can ensure preventative maintenance, avoid costly emergency repairs, and make data-driven decisions that save taxpayer dollars while improving our schools. Vote Dulin, It’s Time for Honest Leadership in Groveport Madison Schools
- Fiscal Responsibility & Transparency: Every tax dollar must go toward improving our schools, not pet projects. I will ensure spending follows policy, is fully transparent, and delivers real value to students and taxpayers
- Long-Term Facilities Plan: Our district needs a clear 10-year facilities roadmap to maintain and upgrade buildings, address overcrowding, and bring students back into neighborhood schools. No more patchwork fixes.
- Data-Driven, Community-Focused Decisions: I will push for decisions guided by data and community input—not politics. This means creating meaningful board committees, inviting residents and business leaders to the table, and ensuring all voices are heard.
I am most passionate about facilities and financial responsibility. Our students and staff deserve safe, modern, and well-maintained schools. Board policies like FA (Facilities Development Goals) and FB (Facilities Planning) call for a long-term roadmap, yet they are too often ignored by incumbents. Enforcing these policies will reduce overcrowding, strengthen neighborhood schools, and make better use of existing buildings. Equally important is financial responsibility. Policies such as FEF (Construction Contracts Bidding) and DGA (Authorized Signatures) protect taxpayers. Following them will stop waste, prevent costly pet projects, and keep spending focused where it belongs—on students and classrooms.
I look up to my mom. She raised four children on her own, often working multiple jobs to provide for me and my three siblings. Through her example, I learned the value of hard work, honesty, compassion, and integrity. She has always been my strongest advocate and greatest supporter, and she is truly my hero. I strive every day to follow the example she set.
The most important characteristics for an elected official are accountability, integrity, and commitment to following policy. We already have strong board policies on facilities and finances—FA, FB, FEF, DGA—but too often they are ignored. An effective elected official must not only know these policies but also have the courage to enforce them. That takes transparency in decision-making, fiscal responsibility in managing taxpayer dollars, and the willingness to say “no” to costly pet projects that don’t serve the majority of our students. Most of all, it takes integrity: keeping promises, being consistent, and doing what is best for students and the community, even when it is not politically convenient. ELECT DULIN: STUDENTS AND TAXPAYERS FIRST!
The core responsibilities of a board member are clear. First, to provide oversight of the district by ensuring that decisions are made in the best interest of students and taxpayers. That means following established policies and taking an active role in policy writing and planning, so our schools have a clear path forward. It also means making data-driven decisions, not rubberstamping what is put in front of us. Finally, a board member must listen to constituents, bringing community voices into the conversation so decisions reflect the needs and priorities of those we serve. VOTE DULIN: ACCOUNTABLE, RELIABLE, READY!
The legacy I want to leave is one of honesty, hard work, and integrity. I hope to be remembered as a good husband, a caring and respected father and grandfather, and a person of faith who lived as a good Christian. In public service, I want people to say I was fair, that I listened, and that I always put students and the community first.
The first historical event I remember was when President Reagan told Gorbachev to “tear down this wall.” I was 9 years old, and it stuck with me because I felt happy knowing people were going to be free. Around that same time, I also remember hiding under my desk during bomb scares and hoping we wouldn’t get bombed. Those moments made me realize, even as a child, how much leadership and freedom matter.
My very first job was at Kroger on Refugee Road, where I worked for 16 years. I started out as a bag boy, learning the basics of hard work, responsibility, and customer service. Over time, through dedication and perseverance, I moved up into management. That experience taught me the value of teamwork, leadership, and accountability—qualities I still carry with me today. It also showed me that when you put in the effort and treat people with respect, you can grow and succeed.
My favorite book is the Bible because it gives me comfort and direction. In times of struggle, it provides peace and reassurance, and in times of decision, it offers wisdom and guidance. It has shaped my values of honesty, compassion, and integrity, and it reminds me of the importance of serving others. Just as importantly, it also teaches me to respect and accept that others may hold different opinions or beliefs, and to treat them with the same fairness and understanding I would hope to receive.
I haven’t really thought about this since I was a kid, but back then my pick was Superman—and honestly, I’d probably still say the same today. Who wouldn’t want to be Superman? He could do it all—strength, speed, flying—and he always used his power to help others. Of course, I can’t leap tall buildings in real life, but I can admire the idea of working hard, standing up for what’s right, and helping people whenever I can.
One of the greatest struggles in my life has been the loss of my granddaughter and my mother. Losing them was incredibly painful, and it reminded me how fragile life is and how important family truly is. Those experiences also taught me resilience, compassion, and the importance of supporting others through their struggles. While I carry the weight of that loss every day, it has strengthened my commitment to serve with empathy, patience, and understanding.
The primary job of a school board member is to provide oversight and set the district on a path of honest, successful leadership. That means hiring and evaluating the superintendent and treasurer based on a proven track record of results. The incumbents failed this test when they hired a superintendent with a negative record, and now our community is paying the price. We cannot afford four more years of poor judgment, votes of no confidence, and costly mistakes. It’s time for fiscal responsibility, adherence to policy, data-driven decisions, and true community representation—not more rubberstamping.
My constituents are the students, families, and taxpayers of the Groveport Madison School District. Students are always at the center of every decision, but serving them well also means listening to parents, teachers, staff, and community members who invest their time, energy, and tax dollars into our schools. I represent every resident in our district—whether they currently have children in school or not—because strong schools build a stronger community for all of us. ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY, COMMITTED TO OUR SCHOOLS — VOTE DULIN!
I would support the diverse needs of our students, staff, and community by focusing on what matters most—safe schools, fair policies, and smart spending. Every student deserves a safe and well-maintained building, every teacher and staff member deserves the resources to do their job, and every taxpayer deserves to know their money is being used wisely. I will listen to parents and community members, not just rubberstamp decisions, and I will push for data-driven solutions that actually work for our district. ELECT DULIN, EXPECT MORE!
Unlike other board members, I will attend local government meetings and bring those updates back to the board; no more surprises. I will also engage directly with union leaders, business leaders, parents, and civic groups, along with local governments like Madison Township, the City of Groveport, and the City of Obetz. In addition, I will participate in organizations such as the Ohio School Boards Association, the National Association of Parliamentarians, and the Ohio Coalition for Open Government. By showing up, listening, and sharing what I learn, I can build trust, strengthen transparency, and create opportunities that directly support our schools and students. NO MORE PARTIAL BOARD—ELECT DULIN!
Good teaching means keeping students engaged, setting high expectations, and supporting every child. It’s measured not just by test scores, but by student growth and classroom success. My role is to make sure teachers have the tools, training, and policies they need to try new approaches and keep improving
No single board member can act alone, but I can support restoring accountability. Dowdell-Burger and Bower, during their presidencies, chose not to appoint members to the Facilities and Policy Committees, leaving the board without critical oversight tools. I will fight to bring those committees back and add Finance and Curriculum Committees so decisions are properly vetted, transparent, and data-driven. Without these committees, too much money goes to reactive spending and pet projects instead of long-term planning. With them, every dollar will be accountable to the public and invested where it belongs—into our students and schools. INTEGRITY. ACCOUNTABILITY. ACTION!
School safety starts with prevention, planning, and accountability. Bower and Dowdell-Burger campaigned during the bond issue saying the missing wall in our two middle schools was a serious safety problem. Yet they’ve supported using our tax dollars to renovate space and purchase property for outside businesses like Primary One Health Care, New Story, and Community Bus Services—instead of fixing safety issues and maintaining the schools our students learn in. OUR STUDENTS’ SAFETY MUST COME FIRST.
Supporting mental health starts with safe, secure buildings and a supportive environment where students and staff feel cared for. When schools are maintained properly, it reduces stress and creates a sense of stability. I also believe we should provide mental health services within our schools whenever possible, and when that’s not available, make sure families are directed to trusted outside providers. Just as important, staff need access to resources and support, because when teachers and employees are healthy and supported, they can better serve our students.
The first step is to eliminate any policies that violate state or federal law or infringe on constitutional rights. Second, we need to remove policies that give the superintendent authority to act without prior board approval—oversight must stay with the board. Third, I would restart the Policy Committee so we can review policies more efficiently and make sure they are up to date. And most importantly, we must actually follow the policies we already have in place. Policies only work if they are respected, enforced, and used to guide every decision.
OAPSE Local #312
My ideal learning environment is one where students and staff feel safe, supported, and respected. Facilities must be well-maintained, and classrooms should have the resources teachers and staff need to do their jobs well. All students should be held to the same high expectations for behavior, with no favoritism. Students should also be informed about optional learning opportunities—such as advanced courses, career pathways, or blended learning—so they can find the best way to reach their potential. When we combine safe schools, consistent standards, strong staff support, and expanded learning options, we create classrooms where every student can thrive. ELECT DULIN!
Building a strong relationship with parents starts with listening and being transparent. I will support tools like surveys to hear directly from families and use that feedback to guide decisions. I will also support putting parent-requested items on the board agenda so concerns can be addressed openly instead of being ignored. Most importantly, I’ll keep communication clear and honest—parents deserve to know what’s happening in their schools and to have a real voice in shaping decisions. ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY, COMMITTED TO OUR SCHOOLS — VOTE DULIN!
The board’s most important hiring decisions are for superintendent and treasurer—and they must be made through a broad, open search. Unfortunately, we now have an overpaid superintendent with a golden parachute contract that still has five years left, because Dowdell-Burger and Bower approved it. That decision locks any new board members out of shaping leadership for years. Going forward, I will fight for contracts that are fair, transparent, and accountable to the community—never giveaways that tie the hands of future boards.
We’ve seen some small gains in curriculum, but it’s not enough. Some of the programs we have are new and need time to show results, but we can’t just set them aside and hope for the best. That’s why we may need a Curriculum Committee made up of board members, parents, teachers, and administrators to review programs openly, track data, and make decisions that are transparent to taxpayers. With this oversight, we can strengthen core subjects, close learning gaps, and expand options like advanced coursework, career pathways, and blended learning—while ensuring every investment in curriculum truly benefits our students. LEADERSHIP THAT LISTENS: VOTE DULIN, NOV 4TH
Artificial intelligence has many potential benefits, but we must be cautious in how we use it. I see opportunities for AI to support teachers with planning, reduce repetitive administrative work, and provide new learning tools for students. At the same time, we must carefully consider issues of privacy, accuracy, and fairness before rolling out AI on a district-wide level. My approach would be to study the research, learn from other districts, and move forward only when we are confident that AI use truly benefits students and teachers. TRANSPARENCY YOU CAN TRUST – ELECT DULIN!
Many of the stories I hear from families are tough to listen to—and that’s unfortunate. Parents love this district, just like I do, but too many are choosing not to send their own children here because of years of poor decisions and disappointing outcomes. That shouldn’t be the legacy of Groveport Madison Schools. With new leadership, I believe we can change that. I’m proud of this community, and I want our schools to be something every family is proud of, too. I would truly appreciate your vote so I can help start that change.
The accomplishment I’m most proud of is my marriage and my family. Building a strong, lasting marriage takes commitment, patience, and love—and those same qualities have helped me be a caring father and now a proud grandfather. My family is my foundation and my greatest support. No matter what challenges I’ve faced, they’ve kept me grounded and reminded me what truly matters. I believe that strength carries over into my public service, because when you value family, you value community.
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.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 22, 2025
