LUCAS — Voters in Lucas will decide who is steering the future of the village on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.
Five candidates are running for four seats on Lucas Village Council’s six-member council. There is only one challenger among four current council incumbents.
The Lucas Village Council serves as the governing legislative body for the municipality. It consists of six members, each either elected or appointed, who serve four-year terms.
Council is responsible for adopting the annual budget, enacting legislation, managing municipal finances and properties, overseeing the Asset Management Plan, and authorizing contracts exceeding $25,000.
With a population of 589, the village maintains its own water treatment and wastewater facilities, and as an AMP community, benefits from local electric provisioning.
All candidates running for Lucas Village Council were given the opportunity to answer the same set of questions from Richland Source:
- Tell us a little about yourself — where you grew up, your education, what you do for work, and your connection to the Lucas community.
- Why did you decide to seek another term on Village Council?
- What accomplishments or projects from your current term are you most proud of?
- What do you see as the most important issue or opportunity facing Lucas right now?
- If re-elected, what are your top priorities for the next term?
- Is there anything else you’d like voters to know about you or your continued vision for Lucas?
Their responses appear below, edited only for clarity, style and length.
John Finley – Challenger
I am a lifelong village resident who attended Lucas Local Schools and Madison Adult Education were I began a career in the health field by working in Hospice.
Today I am an independent provider with nearly 10 years experience caring for individuals with Developmental Disabilities in Lucas, Lexington, Mansfield, Ashland, Medina, Wayne, and Huron County.
For years I have been asked by local leaders past and present, business owners, and village residents to return to village office.
I truly love my hometown and have been humbled by the encouragement. If elected I look forward to serving the village once again.
Politics and serving others have been a passion of my mine since I was a child. I would record presidential speeches and State of the Union speeches for my dad with a tape recorder held close to the TV speaker (pre-VCR days, of course).
My interest lead to Middle School Student Council and Freshman Class President.
To further leadership skills I became active in the International Order of DeMolay rising to the rank of Master Councilor just shy of my 16th birthday.
- In 2000 I was elected to Lucas Village Council
- In 2002 I served as Council President
- In 2003 I again served as Council President
- In 2004 I was elected Village Mayor
The most important issue facing the village is the same one that was an issue when I first elected in 2000: Finding additional revenue streams.
The village operates its own water, sewage plant, electric system, and of course streets. All infrastructure that require upkeep and improvements.
After the village lost funds from the Richland County Permissive Sales tax in the early 2000s, village residents rejected an income tax on the ballot. In 2011 once again they largely voted against another.
I doubt highly the minds have changed in the past 14 years. Both proposals excluded senior citizens having to pay income tax and with more residents retiring, along with other exemptions its unknown how much income would be brought in.
That being said I think the best interest is for council explore an operating levy or a bond issue to be placed on the ballot for village voters to decide. After all, at the end of the day, the decision should be given to the voters first.
I am not here to campaign that everything is broken and here is what I am going to do to fix it.
I believe under the leadership of our Mayor Todd Hall, Lucas has seen major progress. The once empty buildings coming into the east end of the village now home The Lucas Community Center and Pinhook Meats and on the west end now has a Dollar General.
Probably the most beneficial to all the village residents and Monroe Township, is the new public safety tower in the south end of the village. The 300-foot tower provides reliable and upgraded communications for federal, state, and local public safety agencies, including the Multi-Agency Radio Communications System (MARCS).
Not only is this a great improvement for first responders and residents the tower also provides cell phone and Wi-Fi services through Verizon, ending the 35+ year cellular deadzone in the valley and the old local joke of the ad campaign, “Can you hear me now?”
As I mentioned before, I take pride in my previous eight years of experience serving as Councilman, President, and Mayor.
If elected I will take pride in serving the village once again.
My goal is to work with council and our Mayor to keep Lucas the Quite Peaceful Village with a Big Heart the best community in Ohio.
Thank you, and God bless.
Levi Miller – Incumbent
Hi, my name is Levi Miller. My wife Anne and I have three adult children, and four grandkids. We are a Christian family, live here and raised our kids here in Lucas and attend Grace Bible Church in Lucas.
I grew up in Holmes County, where I learned what it takes to do a job right through teamwork, working with others to succeed to complete a project. I went to college in Cincinnati at Cincinnati State and Community College, double majoring in Chef Technology and Hotel/Motel Management with multiple job offers.
I spent 22 years in the restaurant industry and helped to start the Der Dutchman Restaurant in Bellville, which is what brought my family and I to Lucas where we purchased our current home.
The last 13 years I have worked at Towne Pharmacy in Ashland as the HME Manager, helping people get the medical equipment they need coming home from a hospital or rehab facility.
I see the needs this village has, and the team work needed to accomplish those needs, which is why I am running to be an elected member of the Village of Lucas.
I was originally appointed to the Village of Lucas council by Mayor Hall because he felt I had shown a interest in local government, when I came to a few council meetings as a member of the community requesting the council to consider repaving our street — which, according to my neighbor who lives there, had not been repaved for more than 40 years.
After presenting the request at several meetings, council approved the project and our street was repaved as requested the following year.
I see street paving as an important issue facing our village to maintain a positive public image when it comes to real estate being purchased and sold. When a new resident wants to move into our community, they want to see a community that takes care of its neighborhoods and also provides safety for those neighborhoods.
The problem we as a village face is limited funds to complete all the street paving required to make Lucas an attractive area to move to.
If on Nov. 4, I officially become a elected Village of Lucas Council member, I will commit to serving our town through team work with our mayor and other elected council members to make needed improvements to Lucas both now and in years to come.
I want to thank the outstanding support I have received from the community members I have talked to while running for a elected seat with the Village of Lucas.
Charles Moore – Incumbent
I was born and raised in Shelby, Ohio. I attended Terra State Community College, where I studied both Healthcare Administration and Website/Graphic Arts Design. Currently, I work as a Systems Administrator for Prime AE Group, Inc. in Columbus. Prior to that, I served as an Operations Supervisor for the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Mid-Ohio in Mansfield.
While searching for a new home closer to the Mansfield area, we discovered Lucas and quickly fell in love with the community. The excellent school system played a big role in our decision to move here, along with the quiet atmosphere and the welcoming nature of the residents.
My wife and I have called the Village of Lucas home for the past 11 years, where we’ve had the joy of completing the journey of raising our children.
I decided to seek another term on Village Council because I truly enjoy being involved in the community and want to continue contributing in a meaningful way. Serving on the council has allowed me to help make decisions that reflect the best interests of our residents, and I take that responsibility seriously.
I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, and I’d like to continue working toward making Lucas an even better place to live for all of us.
What I’m most proud of during my current term is the incredible team of Village employees we now have on staff. We’ve built a strong, dedicated group of individuals who bring talent, professionalism, and a true sense of commitment to their roles. Across all departments, I’ve been consistently impressed by their work ethic and the positive impact they’ve had on the Village.
Their efforts have led to real, visible progress in our community — from infrastructure improvements to day-to-day operations — and it’s been rewarding to support and collaborate with such a capable team. It’s clear that when you have the right people in place, great things can happen.
One of the most important issues facing Lucas right now is our Village infrastructure — particularly the need for critical improvements to our water and wastewater systems. These upgrades are essential to ensure long-term reliability, safety, and support for future growth in our community.
There are real opportunities available through state and federal grant programs, and it’s important that we stay proactive in pursuing these funds. By securing outside financial support, we can make these much-needed improvements without placing the full burden on our residents. Investing in infrastructure now will strengthen the foundation of our Village for years to come.
If re-elected, my top priority will continue to be improving Village infrastructure—especially our water and wastewater systems. These are foundational services that directly impact the health, safety, and quality of life for our residents. I want to ensure we take full advantage of available grant opportunities to help fund these critical upgrades, allowing us to make real progress without placing unnecessary strain on the Village budget.
In addition to those efforts, I believe regular street resurfacing and ongoing maintenance are essential to keeping our Village safe, accessible, and looking its best. I will continue to support identifying and pursuing additional revenue streams to help fund these important improvements in a sustainable way.
Beyond infrastructure, I remain committed to supporting our dedicated Village employees, promoting smart, responsible growth, and preserving the strong sense of community that makes Lucas such a special place to live. Long-term planning and thoughtful decision-making will continue to guide my work on Council.
I want voters to know that my continued vision for Lucas is deeply personal. My wife and I have raised six children, and we’re now blessed with nine grandchildren. Though two of our sons currently reside out of state due to military service, we often say — if it were up to us — all of our grandkids would be growing up right here in Lucas.
That’s because Lucas is truly special. It’s more than just where we live — it’s where we feel at home. We love being part of this community and taking part in its traditions, whether it’s parades, trick-or-treat, car shows, or local craft fairs. The small-town charm, the close-knit feel, and the welcoming spirit of our neighbors are all things we truly value.
As the Village continues to grow, my goal is to help guide that growth in a way that strengthens our future while preserving everything that makes Lucas unique. I’m committed to working hard to protect the character, values, and sense of community that have made this such a wonderful place to call home — for us, and hopefully for generations to come.
Michael Mount – Incumbent
I’m a lifelong resident of Richland County. I grew up on the southeast side of Mansfield, in a family that was very involved in the community.
What began as simply participating in our neighborhood watch group, transitioned into regular visits to City Council meetings as the Great Recession hit our city with budget cuts and reduced service. In 2015, I ran for the Mansfield 6th Ward City Council seat, and narrowly lost to the incumbent. Eight years later, my sister, Deborah Mount, ran for that same seat and won.
After several years of working for other contractors, I started my own remodeling business in May of 2017, Mount Renovations. We primarily do interior residential remodels, including kitchens and bathrooms. In addition to village council and my remodeling business, I’m a pastoral intern at Providence Church east of Mansfield. I’ve led worship for many years, and have been assisting in preaching and teaching for the last five years.
In December of 2017, my wife, Amy, and I were married and began our life together. Two years later, we began looking for a second house to remodel for ourselves. We ended up finding what we were looking for in Lucas. We purchased one of the most dilapidated houses in town and began renovating it.
At first we were attracted to Lucas for things anyone could easily see. Lucas is a quiet little town nestled in a beautiful valley, where the loudest sound you’ll hear most days is trains rumbling through or church bells playing the old hymns of the faith.
In a world that seems to grow faster and less stable by the day, older, slower ways grow more appealing. But it didn’t take long to love Lucas more for the kind and caring people, many of whom come from families that have called this valley home for nearly 200 years.
I love this community and want to do my part to keep it a great place to live. Civic engagement has been low in Lucas for many years. Four out of the six current members of village council were appointed to fill empty seats.
Only one current member of council has served longer than me. It takes time to learn the ropes in local government, so getting involved and staying involved makes a difference in keeping our village running smoothly.
Things generally don’t change quickly in small towns, and we like it that way. That said, the last four years on Lucas village council have had more change than usual. I’ve served as Council President for the last two years, and chair of several committees through this period. During the last four years, we’ve had multiple retirements of village employees who had served for decades.
In each case, I’m proud of the decisions we’ve made in filling those positions, and expect the village will be in good hands for years to come. In addition to those changes, I’ve participated in decisions on paving projects, and changes to our village codes that help improve the community.
The greatest challenge I see moving forward in Lucas is our aging infrastructure. Our streets have been underfunded for many years, and our water and sewer systems are in need of many repairs as well.
If re-elected, I hope to continue addressing the long-term infrastructure needs. We’re exploring ways to fund necessary improvements at the lowest possible cost to the residents of the village.
Lucas has a heritage worth loving and preserving, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to do my part to build on that heritage and keep this a place my family can enjoy and call home for the next 200 years and beyond.
Jordan Pihl – Incumbent
My name Is Jordan Pihl. I have lived in Lucas almost my entire life. I grew up here and graduated from Lucas High School in 2016. Currently I reside in Lucas and plan on raising a family here. I coach Varsity Cheerleading at Lucas High School, work part time at Pinhook Meats, & full time at Ashland Job & Family Services.
I am very passionate about this community and continuing to watch it grow. I’ve also been involved in the community since I was in school. Throughout high school I was in the Leo Club, Student Council, National Honor Society, and president of my graduating class. I’ve always been determined to help our small town succeed.
I was appointed my Mayor Todd Hall last year. I love being on council and love being apart of decision making for our village. Also, always having the villages best interest at heart. Understanding what the community needs and wants, and the passion we all share to see great things happen here.
We hosted a Community Garage Sale & Food Truck Festival during the summer. This event was something different than what has been done years past, and I think it turned out very well.
I think our village has been stuck in a certain pattern for many years. We’ve had a good thing and it’s worked for a long time. However, as time goes by and progress, I think Lucas has been stuck with old ways.
There is lots of advancement this village needs, and upgrading in many areas. I would love to see these upgrades happen around the village and bring more people into our community and local schools.
I think cherishing our love for our small, but mighty village is amazing. Sharing these moments with people that have also had families grow up here, and new residents included is so special. Also coaching cheerleading for Lucas High School, I am all about community and school spirit. This passion is what drives me to do whatever is necessary to make sure Lucas is the best it can be.
Lucas is my hometown. Seeing it grow and advance into the future is something that is very important. Bringing more people into our village and growing our community is something I strive to do.
I would love to see more businesses come into town. Lucas residents are very passionate about our community I think growing that passion, & making sure the villages best interest is always put first is the most important thing to me.