Sherry Vaught (Mansfield Mayor, Ohio, candidate 2023)
Sherry Vaught (Democratic Party) ran for election to Mansfield Mayor in Ohio.[1]
Elections
2023
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Sherry Vaught completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Vaught'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 the married mom of a grown son and currently teach Career Exploration to eighth graders at Mansfield Middle School. While teaching elementary school for most of the last 25 years, I have been a part of many summer programs, camps, after school initiatives and community activities.
I am originally from Hanover, Pennsylvania and am the first person in my extended family to graduate from college, Penn State. I also have graduate degrees from Shippensburg University in education and Yale Divinity School in Theology. I am an ordained minister. I come from working class beginnings and have many experiences in my own family and classrooms that will inform my service as mayor.
- Mansfield needs services for our residents like city wide WIFI, a community pool and staffed parks.
- Mansfield is behind in housing. We need housing at all income levels and price points.
- Safety service are the backbone of our city. Those services should be provided equitably.
My approach to governance is one of transparency and accountability. I will keep the residents of Mansfield informed about the decisions that affect their lives and the actions taken by the city administration. I am committed to open and honest communication, providing regular updates on our progress, and seeking feedback from the community. Trust is essential to government success, and I will work tirelessly to earn that trust.
Richland County Democratic Committee, IBEW more are in the process
My first job was working in a laundry when I was 15. I took wet tablecloths, napkins and kitchen linen out of large rolling bins and fed it into a huge ironing machine. It was hot, hard work that summer! The following summer the director of the local Red Cross offered me a job working for the summer learn to swim program. What a change! That juxtaposition of the two summer jobs made me know that I wanted to work with people!
First, I want to change the time of city council and or school board because they happen at the same time. I think residents should be able to attend these meetings if they are interested and should not have to choose. It is very important to hear from residents and other stake holders when it comes to good governance. Secondly, I would like to start a "state of the city" podcast at least monthly where I could highlight city programs and events. I want there to be time to take questions from the public at that time and opportunities to have candid conversation about how citizens experience the city. We need to celebrate positive actions and work to deal with challenges together. This also sounds simple, but our city does not have a good city calendar on the website. I want an all inclusive city calendar that shows meetings and all other sorts of activities that are happening in our city.
I would like to develop a comprehensive plan to establish city-wide municipal WiFi, providing affordable and reliable internet access to all residents, businesses, and public spaces, bridging the digital divide and promoting digital inclusion. I must mention that the current administration has begun a program to replace water mains and other water and sewer infrastructure. This process must be ongoing and done in correct ways including informing residents of the progress and need for patience as we update a vital system: our water.
I think safety requires a multi-pronged approach. I would like to train our safety services in equity practices and deescalating violence. I think it is important to promote restorative justice practices that focus on healing, rehabilitation, and reintegration. Mediation and mental health services need to be available and employed by safety forces and the community. Finally, we need to use data to identify trends and work to combat hot spots and trouble times in order to disrupt illegal activities. Oh, and we need to help our citizens respect and trust city safety forces. This is difficult but it can be done!
I understand that the family house is the most important and valuable asset most people own. We need to help elders age in place while continuing to update and repair their homes. Encouraging nontraditional co-living as well as rental programs that could utilize some of the room in those traditional homes would be helpful in the short run. As we build, mixed income, mixed age developments are important. I think living around those who are a bit different from one's own family can help us learn about community.
The current administration has made some changes downtown that have improved traffic flow and accessibility of some businesses. Unfortunately, COVID closed several of our downtown restaurants and there is still considerable blight in our town. I think a healthy downtown in one which is walkable and drivable, has recreation opportunities for all ages, has services like childcare, shopping, personal care facilities and restaurants. Visual art, performing art, museums and other event spaces should also be part of a thriving downtown. So yes, we have changes to make, specifically economic development of new businesses and services.
Our safety forces are amazing and understaffed. We have a huge number of fire, police, EMT and call center professionals that are going to retire within the next 5 years. We are already understaffed in our police department due to retirements and lack of recruitment. I have visited with both the fire and police chiefs of our city and both of them brought this to my attention. Due to these shortcomings, many community policing efforts have been cut. I believe we need our safety forces back in neighborhoods- not just driving through but in ways that make them accessible and trusted.
I have mentioned before that I believe in mediation services. In order to help with de-escalation, not showing up in a police cruiser when there are family or neighborhood conflicts might be in order. Also being proactive and providing mental health and conflict resolution skills to citizens could also help to humanize the police force and strengthen the citizenry.
We have a charter that allows for levies to pay for some services. For example, we had a levy last year for parks that was defeated. We also have levies for safety services and there is one on the ballot this fall for increased funding for water infrastructure. I believe community listening meetings, surveys and collecting data from our city can help to set realistic goals that are tied to community needs and values. However, it must be stated that there is no strategic plan or long range goals made or communicated in our city for at least 12 years. In my visits to city offices this summer, I heard numerous times that directors are acting on goals that were set by a mayor in the 90's and there have been no long range planning since then.
I would implement a comprehensive renewable energy plan to transition Mansfield to a clean and sustainable energy future, including increasing the use of solar, wind, and other renewable sources to power municipal buildings and operations. I would like to increase urban farming, community gardening and green space preservation. I would create programs that could encourage mass transit usage, ride sharing and walking or biking. I also think that any new housing needs to be energy efficient in construction.
I have been a public school teacher for over 30 years and am used to providing information to the public. I believe government activities should be open to the citizens.
I looked at City Data and Police Scorecard. Mansfield is called murder city and our crime rate is higher than many US cities our size. The changes I would suggest are wholistic, not just in safety forces. Our median income is $32,000 per year. Increasing opportunity for jobs that pay well and offer dignity is important, youth programs that link young people with education and meaningful workforce planning are also important. Additional child care services, including help with swing shifts and overnights is also vital for promoting workforce inclusion. Having services that working people need in our city would help to reduce crime.
Being a leader means that one has the ability to get folks to move in the same direction and work as a group. People are more powerful together and competent leaders are able to help people marry their individual needs to that of the group for the greater good. Being the leader also means accountability: I have to explain, communicate and refine my positions so others can understand, follow and contribute to the cause. Finally, being a leader of a group means that I am responsible for the wellbeing of the city in ways that others are not. Having the ability to make decisions means that the buck stops with me. I feel my lifetime of service as a teacher has prepared me for that.
There is not a city manager. The mayor in Mansfield handles day to day administration. However, my top priority with city council would be city wide WIFI and strengthening the park system.
The mayor and city council are co-creators of the city's programs and services. Our relationship should be friendly, cooperative, open and transparent.
Our people are generous and kind. Our places are green and growing. Our churches are united and open. Our schools are strong and improving. Our neighborhoods are historic and inviting. There is a lot to like about Mansfield.
Financial wellness is a huge challenge. So much has changed in the way Ohio funds municipalities and it really impacts small cities the most. We are required to meet many unfunded mandates from the state while still providing local services that also used to be funded. Our city needs to figure out new and innovative ways to provide services and funding. Some of this issue is perception: we have been operating from an attitude of scarcity since we entered financial emergency. We have to really attend to our budget, but we also need to open our minds to the resources we own right now and be generous with ourselves. I believe we have what we need already and can do better allocating and planning our spending, growth and income.
Amicable and supportive. We are proudly a part of Ohio.
Washington is pretty far away. That said, we need to be positive citizens of our country and advocate for ourselves through lobbying. Clearly federal mandates should be followed but as I mentioned above, it is difficult to meet unfunded mandates. We need to feed back that hardship and allow those making federal (and state) policy know what is happening at the local level.
The mayor's office has oversight of all city safety services and as such should hold them all accountable to their mission of safety in our city for all.
Elected officials need to have a clear moral compass. Knowing one's values and communicating them openly is very important. Being willing to hear other opinions and measure them against one's own knowledge and conviction is also important. Being willing to engage with others, agree and change or disagree respectfully and openly is part of this. Taking responsibility for personal principals is bedrock. One cannot lead if s/he does not know what s/he believes.
I have struggled with finances in my life. I did not pay off my student loan until I turned 60. I paid those loans my whole life while buying homes and cars, working several jobs a lot and marrying and raising a family. I chose service jobs: teaching and pastoring are not known as high paying situations. But since I made the choice to serve, I have had to make ends meet with less. When I started my career as a public school teacher, I worked awake overnights with mentally challenged adults, showered and taught school all day. I slept from 3-10 and did it all over again... honestly, I cannot believe I did that!! But I had to do it for a season until I actually got a teaching contract. Even after I was a contracted, I still worked weekends and holidays in my group home job. I had differently abled people with me at most times when I was going through days because I needed to work all the time. I loved the people I served and when I think of those times I smile. However, I know that I did it from necessity. Despite not having a lot, I continued to choose service over money. I am proud of that and hope to bring that point of view into the rooms where decisions are made and programs are crafted.
John Baptiste's Freedom!! It is going through my head right now!!
How Good Do We Have to Be? by Harold S. Kushner. This book opened my mind to reimagine guilt, shame, forgiveness and freedom in the context God and Scripture. I grew up in a conservative Christian denomination but my mom and dad were more open in their beliefs. I had to learn to deal with the "no" that seemed to come from the church with the "yes" that I feel from God. Rabbi Kushner started that journey. This is a book I return to regularly. I also need to say that I read the Bible regularly and find great wisdom there.
A middle school tornado policy as follows: 6th grade to the cafeteria, 7th grade to the gym and 8th grade to the playground.
Honestly, I can be! When I read, I feel I really enter the book- it is one of the delights of teaching students how to read. I am not trying to dodge the questions: Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice (or many romance novel heroines) because she is coming to terms with love inside a repressive life and choosing her freedom and passion!!
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External links
[1] ↑ Submitted to Ballotpedia's candidate survey in 2023.
