Meet The Candidate: Joshua Wilkerson, Bethel Township Trustee Candidate
Vol. III, No. 131 - First-time Candidate is No Stranger to Public Service
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Meet Joshua Wilkerson
Today, our series on local candidates takes us to Bethel Township where we meet Joshua Wilkerson, who is listed as Joshua P. Wilkerson-Bienick, on the ballot. Mr. Wilkerson is a first time candidate, but no stranger to public service. He has been on the township’s zoning commission and also a Lieutenant Colonel in the Ohio Air National Guard.
Here are the thoughtful responses that Mr. Wilkerson gave to candidates running for two seats on the Bethel Township Board of Trustees. We have sent the same questionnaire to the other two candidates and are anxiously awaiting their responses.
In the meantime, here is what Mr. Wilkerson had to say.
What inspired you to run for township trustee, and how do you believe your background and experience make you a strong candidate?
My inspiration to run for Bethel Township Trustee comes from a deep-rooted passion to safeguard our rural way of life—not just for us today, but for future generations as well. During my 17 years in the military, my family and I called half a dozen other communities home, places that started out much like Bethel, but had been forever changed by unchecked development. Farms like Miller Farm turned into cookie-cutter subdivisions called “Miller’s Landing”, cows were replaced by cul-de-sacs, and the unique rural spirit of a close-knit community faded. I would often hear from local residents who had witnessed this change talk about the “old days.” When we settled in Bethel, it felt different—we were embraced by the community, we took to coaching kids’ basketball at First Baptist Church of New Carlisle. I volunteered to serve on the Zoning Commission and we started raising our first flock of laying hens. Over the past five years, I have noticed the voices of residents being ignored in favor of the voices of developers. The 2020 referendums showed over 70% of residents stood against large-scale development, yet in subsequent cases, trustees at the time still supported more development. I’m running to serve the interests of the residents – not developers, to truly listen, and to fight tooth and nail to keep Bethel the rural oasis we all cherish.
What makes me a strong candidate is a blend of proven leadership and hands-on experience. With 17 years of service—14 on active duty in the U.S. Air Force as a Logistics Readiness Officer and now as a Lieutenant Colonel and Squadron Commander in the Ohio Air National Guard—I’ve led teams big and small, managing multimillion-dollar projects with fiscal discipline and transparent collaboration. It’s taught me that the best decisions come from empowering others and seeking diverse input, not going it alone. Professionally, my nearly two decades in logistics and supply chain management, including my role at Lockheed Martin supporting the F-35 program, have sharpened my skills in efficiency, accountability, and problem-solving. Since November 2020, I’ve served on the Bethel Township Zoning Commission, being peer appointed Chairman this past year. I helped champion commonsense changes like boosting minimum lot sizes from 1 to 3 acres in 2022 to protect our farmland. My family also plays an active role in the community; my wife Charity and I have coached Upward basketball for five seasons. Additionally, I was the head coach for the Bethel girls’ 4th-6th grade rec league last year and our eldest daughter is involved in our local 4-H club, Bethel Bunnies and Livestock. I’m not just a candidate; I’m a neighbor deeply invested in Bethel, ready to lead with integrity, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to our shared values.
I would invite anyone who wants to learn more about me as well as the issues I support to visit my website, votejoshwilkerson.com.
What is your vision for Bethel’s future, and how do you plan to achieve it?
My vision for Bethel’s future is a vibrant rural township committed to agricultural preservation. I hope to foster a tight-knit community spirit which endures for generations to come. Bethel should stand as a rural oasis, honoring the overwhelming resident consensus against dense housing while embracing sustainable growth that actually enhances our quality of life, not erodes it.
To make this vision a reality, I’ll focus on policies driven by you, the residents: strengthening agricultural protections through proactive zoning updates, such as pushing for even larger minimum residential lot sizes building on the three acres we achieved in 2022; advocating open forums and town halls for genuine community input on every major proposal; and making sure our fiscal choices bolster rural infrastructure like roads and services without opening the door to overdevelopment. Drawing from my military background, where leadership means listening before leaping and promoting transparency in everything from budgets to referendum processes, I’ll ensure decisions reflect what the residents of Bethel Township truly want.
What do you see as the most pressing issues facing Bethel Township today, and how would you address them?
Bethel Township is at a crossroads with three pressing and interconnected issues: unwanted large-scale development eating away at our farmland, zoning regulations that require additional changes to support sustainable growth, and a historical lack of transparent, responsive leadership that truly hears our residents.
First, the threat of unchecked development is real, not only because of annexation, which we all know too well, but also as we’ve seen in the 2020 and 2022. In those years multiple large-scale housing developments we planned on agricultural land within the borders of Bethel Township. There will be other proposals in the future and whether or not residents are heard and their best interests considered depends on the values of the trustees at that time. In 2020 over 70% of us voiced strong opposition to development, unfortunately, these concerns were brushed aside by township leaders. In the future this risks turning more of our precious agricultural lands into sprawling subdivisions, forever changing our rural charm. As a trustee, I’ll champion stronger protections by strongly opposing any proposal that clashes with what is best for our community.
Second, our current zoning rules still allow homes on farmland with lot sizes too small to preserve open spaces, leading to sprawl that burdens our roads, drains resources, and dims our quality of life. I’m proud of the Zoning Commission’s 2022 success in raising the minimum to three acres, which I helped lead, but we can do more. I’ll advocate for further increases based on direct resident feedback, crafting commonsense regulations that protect infrastructure and maintain our township’s heart without stopping thoughtful progress.
Third, historically there’s been a gap in leadership accountability—too many residents have felt ignored, as evidenced by the late referendum filing controversy and recent elections where incumbents lost their seats two years ago. We’ve turned a corner since that election and are better positioned today, but this election is vital to ensuring the two open seats are in alignment with what resident’s value.
As a public servant, I know the buck stops with me, just like it does in military command. I’ll address this by committing to fully open, law-abiding processes; hosting regular town halls; and basing decisions on diverse, informed input from our community. Additionally, there is no excuse for not knowing the laws and requirements required of a trustee or any elected official. If elected, I will be committed to serving lawfully as well as transparently. This approach will rebuild trust and ensure our leadership mirrors Bethel’s priorities, fostering the collaboration that makes us stronger.
What are some of the issues that you see coming to Bethel’s future? How can these issues be addressed now?
Rarely are those who try to predict the future spot-on, and I’ve learned that lesson the hard way through my years in the military—planning for the unknown is often more crucial than guessing what’s next. That’s why I believe it’s essential for Bethel’s leaders to be adaptable, vigilant, and always ready to advocate fiercely for our residents, no matter what comes our way.
If I were pressed to guess on what issues may dominate in the future I would broadly expect continued pressure regarding development of agricultural lands to be at the forefront. Furthermore, rising costs and aging infrastructure will continue to drive budget costs. Many residents have expressed displeasure with the amount of property tax increases they have seen recently due to reappraisals. As a trustee, I do not support additional taxes. I prefer fiscal responsibility to raising additional taxes.
We can tackle this head-on right now with proactive steps, but we must act accordingly. For sprawl, agricultural easements and incentives to preserve farmland should be considered ensuring we lock in those open spaces that define us. Increased residential lot size requirements should also be enacted. On infrastructure and rising costs, I’ll advocate for targeted upgrades as well as budget reviews aimed at reducing costs where possible in order to ensure taxpayer dollars are utilized as efficiently and effectively as possible.
What are the leadership qualities that you believe make you unique and will make you a positive member of the Board of Trustees?
I had mentioned in another publication and it bears repeating here, what makes me unique isn’t some standout trait, there are many other extremely qualified residents within our township. I firmly believe what makes me unique is a leadership philosophy shaped by nearly two decades in the military. I strive to empower those around me, actively seeking open and honest feedback, and setting aside ego to craft decisions that draw from everyone’s strengths, leading to outcomes far better than I could achieve alone. Commanding over 130 Airmen in the Ohio Air National Guard has shown me time and again that success hinges on valuing every “piece of the puzzle”—whether it’s fresh insight or sage advice, everyone can contribute.
This collaborative style positions me to be a positive force on the Board, uniting us rather than dividing. I’ll bring fiscal conservatism to maximize every dollar without tax hikes, in-depth zoning knowledge from chairing our commission, and a resident-first mindset that prioritizes active listening—especially on hot topics like development. In the end, I’m not here to be the star; I’ll serve as a conduit for our community’s collective wisdom, and that’s how we’ll all succeed together.
If you were awarded a $1 million grant for Bethel, how would you allocate the funds to address the city’s most pressing needs?
Receiving a $1 million grant would be an incredible opportunity to invest directly in Bethel’s core strengths, focusing on areas that align with our rural priorities and resident needs. I’d allocate it thoughtfully to support; agricultural easements that preserve our vital farmland from development pressures, essential road repairs to keep our rural routes safe and accessible, broader infrastructure enhancements like drainage, and bolstering our fire and EMS services with better equipment and training.
But we need to be realistic: we may never get such a large sum of money. That’s why it’s vital to elect a trustee who will approach our existing budget with a critical eye, hunting down waste, streamlining operations, and identifying smart improvements to stretch every dollar further. I firmly oppose raising taxes; instead, I’ll help make the most of what we have by applying my military and corporate expertise to foster efficient, conservative spending. This way, we drive real progress on preservation, safety, and sustainability without relying on windfalls, keeping Bethel affordable, strong, and true to its roots for everyone.
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