MANSFIELD — More than 8,400 residents in Mansfield’s 1st Ward will have a new City Council representative in January.
The first step toward deciding who the new lawmaker will be begins in the May 6 primary. That’s when Democrats and Republicans in the ward will each choose a party standard-bearer for the Nov. 4 general election.
Democrats can choose between Amy Rainey and Amber Thompson, while Republicans pick between Lori Cope and Michael Miranda. The winners advance to November.
The need for a new representative became clear in December when current 1st Ward Councilwoman Laura Burns announced she would not seek re-election due to ongoing issues from an injury she sustained while ice skating in December 2023.
“The person that ran for election almost four years ago is not the same person who would be running (in 2025),” she said at the time. “I believe that if you are voting for someone, you should be getting a candidate capable of giving 100 percent.
“I know there is a saying out there that on the days you only have 30 percent to give and you give 30 percent that you actually gave 100 percent. I get that and it’s nice to say. But the reality is I can’t give the people in (the 1st Ward) what they deserve,” Burns said.
It’s a district that has voted heavily Republican for at least the past three decades.
Burns was appointed by the local Republican Party in January 2020 to complete the unexpired term of current At-large council member David Falquette. She was then elected to the seat in 2021, receiving almost 70 percent of the vote against Democrat Joshua Koehler.
Falquette won the seat in 2017, earning 67 percent of the vote against Democrat John Harsch.
Before that, Republican Michael Hill represented the ward for 12 years, winning in 2013, 2009 and 2005. Republican Doug Versaw held the seat with wins in 2001, 1997 and 1993.
Members of Mansfield City Council will be paid $9,263 in 2026.
Here is a look at the four candidates on the May 6 primary ballot, based upon responses to questionnaires sent to each:
Democrats
Amy Rainey
A resident of Briarwood Road, this is Rainey’s first run for public office. She served on the United Steelworkers Local 169 Women of Steel Leadership Committee and the United Auto Workers Local 913 Election Committee.
A 1992 graduate of Milan Edison High School and the ESI Career School in 1993, Rainey moved to Mansfield as a young adult.
A union steelworker, Rainey said she is not a politician.
“I’m a steelworker, a mom and a longtime resident who has lived the real struggles our community faces. I’m not in it for politics. I’m in it to make a difference,” she said.
“I’m running for City Council to make sure real people are heard. I want our community to feel safe, supported and proud to call Mansfield home,” Rainey said.
She said her top three issues involve respect for the community’s elders, investment in youth and building “real communication.”
Rainey called for support for senior citizens with property upkeep, access to transportation and proper care.
“No one should be left behind,” she said.
She called for more “safe, fun and educational summer activities to keep our children engaged and growing.”
Rainey also called for “open, honest communications between City Hall and our neighborhoods, “so residents are heard and represented.”
She said she would lead with “compassion, curiosity and heart.”
“I’m outgoing, fun and deeply passionate about the people of Mansfield. I ask questions, I listen and I care. My campaign is built on connection, not ambition,” Rainey said.
Amber Thompson
A Brookfield Drive resident, this is also Thompson’s first run for elected office.
A 2019 Mansfield Senior High School graduate, Thompson earned a bachelor’s degree in public health from Kent State University in 2023.
She is now a community health worker for the Third Street Family Health Services in the Moms and Babies First program, “working primarily with African American pregnant mothers and babies until the baby turns 1.”
“I want to be able to be a voice for those in my age group as we want to be able to have reasons to keep the young people in this town,” Thompson said.
Among key issues, she cited support for small businesses, homelessness and opportunities for youth.
“Small businesses need support in this community more than ever,” she said. “I would wish to hold and sponsor a small business block party to allow businesses to showcase what they do.
“The homeless concern is on the rise,” she said.
She would work with landlords to determine what can be done to create affordable housing for community residents who need it.
“There is nothing for the youth in our community. The best way to help our community heal from social injustice is to allow for our activities to bring our community together,” Thompson said.
She said she is “already very involved in the community.”
“I work in the community daily as I work in a community health center. I also have a big connection with the youth in Mansfield and feel I can be a voice for those who cannot do anything to better their community,” Thompson said.
Republicans
Lori Cope
A York Street resident, Cope has been elected to the Richland County Republican Party Central Committee and selected to other party posts, as well, including Richland County Republican Women treasurer and secretary of the party’s executive committee.
Cope worked as a Mansfield police officer from 1993 to 2005 until a vehicle crash forced her to retire. She served as the city’s safety service director from 2011 to 2021.
Cope attended Ashland University and earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in 2005. She is also a graduate of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy and the JoAnn Davidson Leadership Institute in 2012.
“I am running for City Council to create a stronger, more connected community where everyone’s voice is heard. With extensive experience in governmental leadership, I know very well how to navigate complex issues and deliver real results,” Cope said.
“I am committed to making our city a better place to live, work and raise a family. Together we can building a more thriving future for all,” she said.
Cope said her top three issues are fiscal responsibility/transparency, public safety and community prosperity.
“I will help to implement policies and procedures that ensure taxpayer dollars and used efficiently and that financial decisions are made openly,” she said.
Cope said she would “advocate for an appropriate staffing level in police, fire and 911 communications.”
“I would like to ensure we implement the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design program. I intend to advocate for design strategies that reduce opportunities for crime such as better lighting in public spaces, open sightlines and maintenance of vacant properties through registration,” she said.
Cope said she would also “strongly review” the safety budget to reinstate the Internet Crimes Against Children initiative “in order to save the most vulnerable among us.”
Cope said she has already served Mansfield residents for more than 22 years as a police officer and safety service director, a role that placed her over the police, fire and 911 communications departments.
She also cited her “years of service and commitment to the Richland County Republican Party on the Central Committee, Executive Committee and as a board member for the Richland County Republican Women.
“I have served on the Attorney General’s Advisory Panel to review state police on law enforcement vehicle pursuit and also served as past president of the Ohio Association of Public Safety Directors,” she said.
Michael Miranda
A Brookpark Drive resident, Miranda was appointed to the Republican Party Central Committee in 2021 and then elected and re-elected to the committee in 2022 and 2024. He was also elected as the 1st Ward’s representative on the city Charter Review Commission in 2023.
Working as the store manager for Van’s Tire Pros in Mansfield, Miranda graduated from John Marshall High School in Pasadena, Calif., in 1983, and earned accreditation from the NADA Automotive Dealership Management program in 2021.
Miranda cited positive momentum in the city as his reason for running.
“Richland County had its population growth in decades, according to the last Census. The city is also moving in a positive direction. City Council is the cornerstone of the checks and balances in city government.
“Having strong leadership on City Council is integral to our continued growth,” he said.
His top issues include representing the ward’s voters, setting police and managing the city’s budget.
Miranda said he would push for votes “that matter to our neighborhood” and that he would work to shape “our city’s future through smart resolutions, strategic planning and clear goals” while “overseeing finances responsibly to make sure Mansfield’s tax dollars are spent wisely.”
He cited his own local community involvement.
“With 35 years in the automotive industry right here in Mansfield, I’ve built a career rooted in our community,” Miranda said.
“As a member of the Charter Review Commission, eight years as president of our local Shriners and active supporter of local charities, I bring experience, dedication and leadership to the table,” Miranda said.
“I’m ready to lead the 1st Ward with confidence and commitment,” he said.
Michael Hill was unopposed when he was re-elected to the seat for in 2013. David Falquette, later appointed to an At-large seat and then City Council president, received 67 percent of the votes cast in 2017.
