Miranda, Thompson seek to represent 1st Ward on Mansfield City Council

MANSFIELD — Mansfield’s 1st Ward will have a new representative in January.

Either Republican Michael Miranda or Democrat Amber Thompson will win the seat held by Laura Burns, who announced in December 2024 she would not seek re-election due to ongoing issues from an injury she sustained while ice skating in December 2023.

Both Miranda and Thompson are making their first run for City Council.

Both candidates advanced to the Nov. 4 general election by winning contested primaries in May.

On the Republican side, Miranda defeated Lori Cope, 388-251, receiving 60 percent of the vote. Thompson bested Amy Rainey in the Democratic primary, 129-118, earning 52 percent of the vote.

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.

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.

Mansfield City Council members, who meet twice a month, will be paid $9,263 in 2026. In terms of population, the 1st Ward is the second largest in the city with 8,405 residents.

Here is a look at both candidates:

Michael Miranda says he wants to ‘work smart for Mansfield’

The 61-year-old Miranda, who lives on Brookpark Drive, graduated from John Marshall High School in Pasadena, Calif., in 1983 and later earned NADA automotive dealership management accreditation.

He manages Van’s Tire Pros at 801 Lexington Ave. in Mansfield.

Miranda has political experience, appointed to the Richland County Central Committee from the 1st Ward in 2021 and then elected to the spot in 2022 and earned re-election in 2024. He was elected to represent the 1st Ward on the City of Mansfield Charter Review Commission in 2023.

He said Richland County had seen its first population growth in decades during the 2020 U.S. Census.

“The City of Mansfield is moving in the right direction. With an extensive business background, I have the experience to keep our city growing,” he said.

“City Council is the cornerstone of the checks and balances in city government. Strong leadership is integral to our continued growth.”

He said his top three issues would be to vote on laws and issues that matter to 1st Ward residents; help shape the city’s future through smart resolutions, strategic planning and clear goals; and managing the city’s budget to make sure public taxes are spent wisely.

“With 35 years in the automotive industry in Mansfield, I’ve built a career rooted in our community and understand the importance of economic growth to create jobs,” Miranda said. “A community is only as strong as the economic base. Good jobs give people reasons to move and stay in Mansfield.”

Miranda said he has noticed positive changes in Mansfield since moving here.

“Mansfield has transformed itself from the traditional, rust-belt old city to a revived growing community,” he said.

“Making good, common sense decisions that are in the best interest of Mansfield will continue our current path to success as a city.”

(Below is a video of an interview done with the two candidates at Richland Source on Oct. 15 by Richland Source Deputy Managing Editor Carl Hunnell.)

Amber Thompson wants to ‘make change locally’

The 24-year-old Thompson, a Brookfield Drive resident, graduated from Mansfield Senior High School in 2019. She has a bachelor of science degree in public health from Kent State University and hopes to pursue an MBA at Ohio Dominican University.

Thompson works at Third Street Family Health Services in the Moms and Babies First program.

“I want to be able to make a change locally,” Thompson said. “I want to utilize my education and community work to better our area.

“I also want to connect with the youth and get them involved. We have to keep our youth engaged in our community or we will lose them,” she said.

Asked to cite her top three issues if elected, Thompson said:

“I want to reduce housing insecurity in our area by promoting healthy property values and attainable housing units.

“I want to create a space for local businesses to thrive and engage in the community by holding business fairs in our area,” she said.

“I want to enhance local neighborhood safety programs by engaging in local community watch programs,” Thompson said.

She also wants to create open space for local youth to get involved in activities “while getting them involved in community work.”

Thompson said one difference between she and Miranda is her connection with local young people.

“I am currently a connected community partner. My education is specific to community engagement and intervention programs to better communities,” she said.

“I may be new to politics, but my heart is in it for the community,” Thompson said. “If elected, my constituents’ concerns would rank first. I would like to hold their values strong on issues that I would have a vote on.”

(Coming Thursday: Republican Shari Robertson and Democrat Phil Scott are competing for an At-large seat on Mansfield City Council.)