Orange Village Council Candidates Make Their Case at Forum

Residents turn out for candidate night

Four residents hoping to serve on Orange Village Council made their pitch to voters during an Oct. 9 forum at Orange Village Hall.

The forum was moderated by Barbara Greenberg, magistrate of Bedford Municipal Court, and featured school board candidates followed by council candidates.

Four seats are open on council. Five people are running: incumbent Lisa Perry, James Boyle, Jeffrey Foster, Amanda Kurland and write-in candidate Stacy Manila.

Perry was unable to attend and was represented by Mayor Judson Kline, who read her opening statement. Perry has served on council for 28 years and chairs the finance committee. She also served as liaison for the parks and recreation committee and worked on delivering the new dog park to the community.

The candidates

Boyle is an attorney with 30 years of experience in public service. He served as a South Euclid city councilman for seven and a half years, as an assistant county prosecutor under Stephanie Tubbs Jones, and as an assistant attorney general under four separate attorneys general. He currently works as a municipal lawyer in Parma. Boyle and his wife have lived in Orange Village for 20 years on Fairview Drive. Their two children are graduates of Orange High School.

Foster has 24 years of military experience and has lived in Orange Village since 2005. He works as a healthcare professional and has managed millions of dollars in staff, hardware and supplies. He has designed medical devices to treat concussions that have received multiple patents. Foster said he would like to see increased use of sports fields, solar energy and EMS capacity while protecting wildlife and green foliage.

Kurland has lived in Orange for 19 years and has been actively working for the community since 2019. She serves on the finance committee and previously served as council president. Kurland has walked all of Orange Village’s neighborhoods multiple times and stopped at every voter’s home. Her goals include maintaining the residential character of the village, preserving natural spaces, promoting the viability of police and fire departments, and remaining dedicated to reliable services for seniors.

Manila has been a resident of Orange Village for five years and is running as a write-in candidate. She became interested in local government in May 2024 when a proposed zoning change came before council. Since then, she has regularly attended council meetings and studied the ordinances that shape the village. Manila said she is bringing a common sense approach grounded in accountability, integrity and attention to detail.

Discussing public schools

When asked how they would stand up for Orange Public Schools amid state legislative challenges to public education funding, the candidates offered different perspectives.

Manila said residents should stay informed about legislation, attend activities, write to senators and leaders about how funding will impact local school districts, and vote.

Kurland said she is a strong supporter of public schools and always votes for levies. While she doesn’t think it’s Orange Council’s job to tell the legislature what to do regarding schools, she believes individuals in the community should speak up about unjust policies.

Foster said he moved to Orange because of the public school system. He believes providing information to constituents will help motivate them to vote in the right manner and would help organize and inform residents to stay abreast of what’s going on.

Boyle said the schools and village are intertwined and their success is shared success. He noted that state actions in Columbus impact both the schools and the village’s budget, with Orange Village receiving over $500,000 in 2022 from property tax revenue that could be affected by state legislation.

Development concerns

Candidates were asked about their views on development over the next three years, including retail, gated communities and senior housing.

Foster said he doesn’t think many more developments are needed in certain areas, particularly near wetlands that have already been sectioned out for retirees.

Boyle referenced the village’s master plan as a guide for development expectations around the fringes of the community. He noted that the Omni development by the Drury Hotel was a known development area. He said residential development will be coming in areas including the Omni development and closer toward Shagrin Road at the back end of Pinecrest, which was part of the plan approved by voters.

Manila said development is inevitable but cautioned against having too many projects going on at once. She said the village should take time with development and not rush into new plans. Manila suggested waiting to see how current developments turn out before starting new projects.

Kurland said most development is residential and much of what’s coming was already approved by voters long ago, including the Lakes of Orange expansion and Pinecrest’s residential section. She said the Omni development near the Drury includes a larger section for 55 and older residents and a smaller retail section. Kurland said she hopes the village won’t be changing any more zoning too soon.

Closing statements

In closing, Foster emphasized his desire to give back to Orange Village, which has given so much to him and his family. He praised the community’s exposure to different cultures, people and wildlife.

Kurland highlighted her belief in community service and her problem-solving approach. She said she will continue to engage residents to learn of individual situations and ideas that might benefit the greater community.

Manila said her goal is to listen, learn and lead with transparency while respecting all perspectives. She emphasized that ordinances must be evaluated for their immediate impact physically and financially, and for how they align with the village’s master plan.

Boyle thanked organizers and expressed optimism about the community’s future. He said the village has many big issues on the agenda, including the Omni development, residential development, the fire station and updating the charter and master plan. He said the village needs leaders who can hit the ground running.

The election is nov. 4.