HEATH − Shawn Gallant, the newest Heath City Council member, said he is ready to do his part to help the city progress as the county continues to be a target for development.
The council appointed Gallant, 46, a Heath resident more than 20 years and a lifelong Licking Countian, to succeed longtime council member Dick Morrow, who resigned because he moved out of the city. Gallant began his new role July 1.
Council members chose him from among three candidates whom they interviewed to represent the 2 nd Ward.
“I was extremely honored,” Gallant said of the appointment. “Sometimes it’s hard to read the room, but I felt great coming out of it. I’m just super excited and honored to have this opportunity. I hope I can live up to expectations.”
He said the interview allowed him to get to know council members before starting the job and thank them for the city's progress during a time the entire county is dealing with growth and development pressures.
“I really appreciated it,” Gallant said. “It was a chance to meet with the entire council for quite a bit of time.
“We spoke about what value I could bring to the city in this role. It was a chance to connect with each of the council members. I walked away from it feeling if they feel I’m not the one, I still respect them.”
Gallant works as the director of operations at Moby Dick 3PL, a family-owned and operated distribution company in Canal Winchester.
“I come from a background of distribution and warehouse,” Gallant said. “That industry is very competitive, and you have to run very lean.
“For me, bringing that budget mentality might be a good fit for them, from the perspective of trying to run extremely lean where at all possible.”
Deb Cole, council member-at-large and president pro tem, said she didn’t know any of the three candidates before the interviews.
“I think we all liked him, and from what I’ve seen so far, he’s engaged, he’s taking an interest in everything we’re doing and learning about things to kind of get up to speed,” Cole said. “He is showing the initiative that he needs to get the job done. I’m impressed so far.”
Four of the seven members have joined council within the past three years. Joining Gallant, the newcomers are Jim Roberts, Paul Moretti and Adam Porter.
Roberts, council member at-large, has been involved in the community for decades, however. He said there are positives and negatives to such transitions.
“It’s a mixed blessing,” Roberts said. “Dick will be missed. He was fantastic on council for years, but at the same time, new people have new ideas. It’s good to get some younger folks engaged. Certainly, what Heath is in the future will be very important to them.”
Mayor Mark Johns, who had no role in the council appointment, said he knew Gallant because their daughters were in school together.
“I was pleased council chose him to fill the 2 nd Ward seat,” Johns said. “Dick did a great job in that role for many years, and I think Shawn will do everything he can to pick up where Dick left off.”
Gallant volunteers with Licking County Aging Partners and Midland Theatre. He also works with Honor Flight Columbus, which honors senior veterans with a trip to Washington to visit the nation’s memorials, celebrate their service and help them share their stories.
Gallant said he plans to run for the 2nd Ward seat in the 2025 election ballot. The winner begins the next term in 2026.
"Yes, I have the intent to run," Gallant said. "I prefer to make sure I’m the right person for this position. That’s important for the city. If it’s not the right fit, I’ll be the first to tell them and tell everyone.”
Heath's elections are non-partisan, which means candidates do not run under the banner of a political party.
“I’m OK with that," Gallant said. "I try not to live on one side or the other of that (partisan) line.”
kmallett@newarkadvocate.com
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Twitter: @kmallett1958
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Shawn Gallant 'extremely honored' to succeed Dick Morrow on Heath City Council
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