Sarena Kelley (Oakwood City Council At-large, Ohio, candidate 2025)

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Sarena Kelley

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Oakwood City Council At-large

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 4, 2025

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Sarena Kelley ran for election to the Oakwood City Council At-large in Ohio. Kelley was on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source]

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

Biography

Sarena Kelley provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on October 29, 2025:

• Campaign website
• Campaign Facebook

Elections

General election

General election for Oakwood City Council At-large (2 seats)

Sam Dorf, Sarena Kelley, and Leigh S. Turben ran in the general election for Oakwood City Council At-large on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Sam Dorf (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Sarena Kelley (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Leigh S. Turben (Nonpartisan)

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

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Kelley in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Sarena Kelley completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Kelley's responses.

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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?

• Oakwood is strongest when residents feel heard, informed, and included in the decisions that shape our community. My leadership approach is rooted in active listening, collaborative problem solving, and open communication. I believe in showing up — for neighborhood conversations, committee meetings, small-group discussions, and one-on-one conversations at the kitchen table. I will prioritize making city information easier to understand and more accessible, encouraging resident-led initiatives, and ensuring that city decisions are not only well researched, but clearly communicated. Strong leadership is not loud leadership — it is steady, respectful, and rooted in service. My goal is to represent our community with integrity and to contribute
• Cities thrive when they invest in soil health, resilient tree canopies, efficient water systems, and thoughtful public spaces. With professional experience in permaculture and sustainable landscape planning, I understand how green infrastructure supports everything from neighborhood character to property values to stormwater management. Oakwood has aging landscapes, compacted soils in public spaces, and areas where long-term maintenance plans need to be strengthened. I have already been working with Public Works on restoring areas like Old River Sports Complex through native plantings, improved soil structure, and smarter irrigation planning. As a council member, I will advocate for pragmatic, science-based investment in green infrastructur
• Oakwood is a historically significant and architecturally cohesive community — and it is our responsibility to preserve what makes it special. With a background in historic home restoration and sustainable landscape design, I believe deeply in thoughtful stewardship. My work has centered around respecting original craftsmanship while adapting spaces for modern life in sustainable, ecologically responsible ways. As our city continues to age and evolve, council must take a deliberate approach to ordinances, zoning decisions, and beautification planning so that we maintain Oakwood’s character without stagnation. I am committed to policies that protect historic integrity, strengthen design standards where needed, and support homeowners in resto

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My public policy priorities are grounded in thoughtful stewardship of Oakwood’s character, landscapes, community life, and long-term well-being. I believe effective leadership means honoring what makes our city special while planning responsibly for the future. The areas I am most passionate about—preservation and beautification, strategic planning, zoning, sustainability, and community engagement—are all interconnected, and together they support a strong and vibrant Oakwood.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I have not allowed endorsements as this is a nonpartisan position and I do not believe outside organizations should be involved in local city council elections.

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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Candidate

Oakwood City Council At-large

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