HBAC #96: Ballots, Budgets & Big Tech

In this week’s Hilliard Beacon Audio Companion, Kevin, Jordan and Tim tackle a mix of local and big-picture topics.

Local Election Countdown

With the February 5th filing deadline behind us, the race for Hilliard’s next round of elected officials is shaping up. Since recording just a few days ago here is the state of both parties heading into primaries. Candidates seeking reelection will be denoted with three asterisk (***)

Republicans had three candidates file and will hold no primary as there are three seats up in November.

• Les Carrier ***

• Jim Martin

• Bevan Schneck

Democrats will face a busy primary with seven candidates vying to make it to the general.

• Samer Bazerbashi

• Tina Cottone ***

• Dorothy Hassen

• Tony Moog

• Kathleen Parker Jones

• Nadia Rasul

• Andy Teater ***

All ten candidates have an invitation to sit for interviews with the Hilliard Beacon to speak directly to the readers and listeners about their campaigns. Candidates will find potential questions and contact info for our publication included in the following post.

Post-Election & New Year Challenges: What Hilliard Residents Want from Local Officials

Continuing on with City Budgeting & Law Enforcement Updates

City Council approved the routine purchase of three new police cruisers at just under $48,000 each from Byers Automotive, part of Hilliard PD’s annual fleet rotation. Discussion turned to the fate of retired cars, with auction sales and reserve fleet repurposing being the standard practice.

Meanwhile, a fight at Darby High School drew attention as four students were charged with inciting a riot. While the incident was brief, Social media reaction quickly turned into a broader debate on school safety, discipline, and bullying.

Development Corporation Meeting Canceled Amid AI Market Shifts

A seemingly last-minute cancellation of the Hilliard Development Corporation meeting raised eyebrows, particularly in light of recent AI sector turbulence. A dramatic tech stock sell-off—partially triggered by a Chinese firm, DeepSeek, allegedly developing a comparable AI model for a fraction of the cost—led to billions in lost value for Silicon Valley’s biggest players. The discussion examined whether this version of AI’s speculative bubble is bursting and what this means for Hilliard’s ambitions in the tech space.

Anduril’s Arsenal One: A Defense Megaproject in Ohio

Anduril Industries’ massive drone manufacturing facility, Arsenal One, is set to transform Pickaway County’s economy. The project, backed by JobsOhio and state-level tax incentives, is expected to generate billions annually. Officials, including junior Senator Jon Husted, have emphasized accountability in ensuring Anduril delivers on job creation- touting the state’s ability to ‘clawback’ the investment. The discussion underscored the rapid speed at which these projects can materialize—sometimes with minimal public awareness until the deals are already done.

East Palestine’s Settlement with Norfolk Southern

In a significant phase of legal resolution, Norfolk Southern has agreed to a final $22 million settlement with the village of East Palestine following last year’s train derailment disaster. Combined with previous payments and infrastructure commitments, the total financial response exceeds $60 million. However, the broader systemic issues that led to the derailment—such as understaffed inspections and oversized freight trains—remain unresolved with NEW separate legal actions already underway and the ecological state of the area still uncertain.

Honoring a Former Mayor

Finally, discussions are underway to rename East Park in honor of former Hilliard Mayor Tim Ward, following an appeal from his daughter. Councilmember Les Carrier indicated there is momentum behind the idea.

Honoring a Mayor: Hilliard Council Weighs Park Renaming for Tim Ward