- Home
- City Government
- City Council
City Council
The Whitehall City Council is the legislative body of the City of Whitehall and consists of eight elected members. The Council is made up of a council president, four ward members and three at-large members representing the entire community.
Meetings
Whitehall City Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall (360 S. Yearling Road). View all upcoming meetings here.
The Council welcomes and encourages public participation. There are two Poll Public opportunities during the regular meetings for the public to participate. All Whitehall City Council meetings are recorded and can be watched live on the City’s Facebook page on starting the day after on the City’s YouTube Channel.
Thomas M. Potter
President of Council
Thomas M. Potter began his current term as President of Council in 2020, after having served three prior terms as Ward 3 Councilman (from 1994-1995, 1998-2001 and 2002-2003).
President Potter, while originally from neighboring Bexley, has lived in Whitehall with his family since 1984. Since that time, he has also served on the Board of Zoning and Building Appeals, the Charter Review Committee and as President of the Whitehall Community Improvement Corporation. In his professional life, President Potter serves as Vice President of OEM and Private Label Business at the D-A Lubricant Company. President Potter is a proud graduate of Ohio University.
Favorite things about Whitehall:
“I look at this community and I see a lot of hard-working good folks who want to live in a nice place and I see all the potential that Whitehall has to offer. The city is moving in a great direction and I’m excited to be a part of that.”
Amy Harcar
Council At Large Representative
Chairperson, Community and Elder Advocacy Subcommittee
I grew up in a small town in northwest Ohio. The population at the time was just over 900 people. I attended college nearby before moving to Dayton, Ohio, and attending a photography school. That’s where I met my husband. I photographed hundreds of weddings after graduating from college, but I always wanted to do something to give back. I started photographing charity events to help raise awareness about important causes such as childhood cancer and events that supported St. Stephens community house.
In 2008, a dear friend introduced me to two nonprofit organizations: Ethiopian Orphan Relief (EOR) and Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services (ETSS). I began planning and photographing events for ETSS in Columbus, Ohio. This included the Enkutatash celebration (Ethiopian New Year) in Whitehall and the New American Festival that took place at the north YMCA. I also started planning events with EOR, a non-profit that sends funds to organizations in Ethiopia to provide services to children and communities in Ethiopia. We raised funds to build wells, feed children, provide medical care, and many other things. In 2014, I was hired full-time by ETSS to oversee a program that provided New American youth with a pathway to education and job opportunities. I then moved into the role of advocate and launched a program to serve immigrant and refugee survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and other forms of trauma.
Devin Brown
Ward 4 Representative
Chairperson, Infrastructure, Maintenance and Services Subcommittee
Email Councilor Brown
Born and raised in Central Ohio, Devin Brown has deep roots in the community and a strong commitment to improving the lives of its residents. He is a dedicated community advocate and public servant committed to the betterment of the city of Whitehall. At thirty years old he is one of the youngest Councilmembers in recent history.
Brown graduated from The Ohio State University, where he studied Real Estate and Urban Analysis and City and Regional Planning. Through both his personal and professional experience, he understands the complexities of urban development and has developed a passion for creating sustainable, inclusive communities.
With a deep-seated passion for people and a strong foundation in urban planning principles, Devin is well-equipped to tackle the challenges facing Ward 4 and the city of Whitehall. He is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections, promoting transparency, and championing policies that prioritize the needs and aspirations of all residents. Through his leadership and advocacy, Devin aims to create a brighter, more inclusive future for Whitehall and its diverse community.
Councilman Brown lives in Whitehall with his wife, Brittney.
Favorite things about Whitehall:
Gerald Dixon
Ward I
Chairperson, Economic Development Subcommittee
Email Councilor Dixon
Gerald Dixon is a native Whitehallian and a proud graduate of Whitehall Yearling High School. After graduation from WYHS, Councilor Dixon embarked on a successful acting career in New York City and Hollywood before returning to his roots and purchasing his family home on Doney Street, where he now resides. While acting is no longer his primary vocation, he continues to be an active member of the Screen Actors Guild.
Councilor Dixon has always had a strong desire to give back to his community through public service and is eager to bring his passion for Whitehall, city planning and sociology to the Council table. He also has a passion for debate and good conversation, and welcomes his neighbors to reach out to discuss all things Whitehall.
In his spare time, Councilor Dixon tends to home improvements, his cat Alex’s well-being, visiting friends, reading, gardening, movies, writing, painting and paying bills.
Favorite things about Whitehall:
"Whitehall is all the little things that flavor our lives here; the golden slanted sunlight of evening in John Bishop Park during the summer months as baseball and basketball games wind down. The roar of the crowd when the Rams score a touchdown on a chilly Autumn night, the kindly faces of your neighbors volunteering at events, the always heartfelt earnestness of our little town’s parade entrants during Independence Day, the serenity of a Sunday morning, the everyday poetry, beauty and rightness of regular folks going about their business, raising children, shopping and living their lives and, of course, the support this community has for itself.
When all is said and done, it is home."
Lori Elmore
Council At-Large Representative
Chairperson, Administration and Financial Management Subcommittee
In 2017, Lori Elmore made Whitehall history by being elected the first African American to hold a Whitehall City Council seat, She represents Ward IV and is also serving as Chairperson of the Public Safety Subcommittee.
Councilor Elmore is a native of Columbus and began her 30 year career in public service in 1986, while working for the Civil Rights Commission, and the Department of Insurance. Realizing her passion for advocacy, she pursued employment, and was hired with Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA), AFSCME Local 11 in 1996 as a Staff Representative, and eventually as the Associate Director of Government Affairs. In January 2020, she retired as the Organizing Director for AFSCME/OCSEA after over 24 years of service. She continues to dedicate her life to public service and community advocacy.
Councilor Elmore attended The Ohio State University, ultimately acquiring her B.A. in Business Administration from The Ohio Dominican University. She believes in being a lifelong learner, and has completed several leadership institutes i.e. Ray Miller Leadership Institute, Camp Wellstone, Democratic Leadership Institute, and Ohio Organizing Collaborative.
In 2019, Councilor Elmore, along with City Attorney, Michael Bivens, developed the first annual Whitehall’s inaugural “Day of Unity” to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King at City Hall. She has also recently championed legislation regarding having a 3-way stop sign at Fairway and Eden due to safety concerns and was instrumental in partnering to enact legislation to affirm the Franklin County Public Health declaration asserting that racism is a public health crisis.
She is married to Clinton Elmore and has three children, Marvin, Lauren and Lena and a grandson Charles “CJ”. Lori’s motto is “Love God, Love People.”
Favorite things about Whitehall:
"My favorite thing about Whitehall is that it is a multicultural, multiracial community that is growing economically, and is big enough for everybody."
JoAnna Heck
Ward II Council Representative
Chairperson, Parks and Recreation Subcommittee
JoAnna Heck is serving her second term as the Ward II Council Representative, having been first elected to City Council in January 2018. She is also currently serving as Chairman of the Parks and Recreation subcommittee.
Originally from Oakwood (a small town near Dayton, Ohio), Councilor Heck moved to Central Ohio to obtain her B.A. in Psychology from The Ohio State University. In her professional life she serves as the Secretary to the Director of Special Education at Whitehall City Schools. Beyond City Council, she also serves on the Board of the Whitehall Community Park YMCA, in the Rosemore Middle School Parent Involvement group and is working towards relaunching a PTA at Whitehall Yearling High School.
Favorite things about Whitehall:
"My favorite thing about Whitehall is the small town feel."
Larry Morrison
Council At-Large Representative, President Pro Tempore
Chairperson, Public Safety Subcommittee
Amy Smith
Ward III Council Representative
Chairperson, Community Standards and Enforcement Subcommittee
Amy Smith was elected to her first term as the Ward III representative in 2021. She is also currently serving as Chairperson of the Community Standards and Enforcement subcommittee.
Councilor Smith is no stranger to public service, with prior volunteer involvement on the City’s Planning Commission and with the Whitehall Community Park YMCA.
Adding to this, Councilor Smith is currently completing a year of service as a construction crew lead with Habitat for Humanity MidOhio to build up housing for underserved populations in the Central Ohio region. Prior to her year of service, she accumulated over six years of experience in architecture and design with M+A Architects. Councilor Smith holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture from Judson University.
In her spare time, she enjoys riding her bike and camping
"What I admire most about Whitehall is there is room for everyone to find where they belong."
Contact Council
-
Julie A. Ogg
Clerk of Council
360 S. Yearling Road
Whitehall, OH 43213
Ph: (614) 338-3100