Mayoral Candidate Profile: Matthew Bentley
Bentley was elected to council in November of 2024.
City of Hillsdale—Four candidates—Cathy Kelemen, Scott Sessions, Rob Socha, and Matthew Bentley—will run in the city of Hillsdale’s 2025 special mayoral election this August to fill the vacancy left by former Mayor Adam Stockford when he resigned last fall.
In a conversation covering some of the biggest issues before Hillsdale’s city council, the Hillsdalian spoke with Matthew Bentley, the third in a series of interviews covering the platforms and positions of the four candidates vying for the one-year term.
Special Assessments and Roads
The Ward 2 councilman told the Hillsdalian that though he does not see a clear path to ending special assessments altogether, he believes there are ways to negotiate and limit the amount that taxpaying residents must pay.
“I would like to see more flexibility in SADs, based on council’s evaluation of different neighborhoods,” Bentley said.
“I don’t believe they can be eliminated, but I do think they can be made less onerous for residents.”
Bentley also brought up council’s debates about Barry Street, which ended with the cancelation of the road repair project.
“The failure to fix Barry Street is our greatest regret so far on council,” Bentley said. “We were very close to fixing the road. It would have been a nice win-win.”
City Staff & City Council
According to Bentley, the race looks increasingly like a “referendum on the city manager.”
And while he insisted that the city manager “commands the loyalty of a plurality on city council,” he said that he “does not believe that the city could easily change its form of government.”
Bentley’s stated alternative is “real oversight and accountability,” which he emphasized would mean responsiveness to the people.
As for his opponents, Bentley said that he “does not understand why any of them want the job” due to the “stark contrast” between himself and the others, specifically with reference to “how we view the office.”
“I believe that Mr. Sessions said that the mayor ought to be a figurehead,” Bentley added.
“Presumably all three intend to calm the perceived discord on city council, and let the city manager run the city as he sees fit,” he continued. “I reject both the premise and the goal.”
LifeWays Building Bond
Though the LifeWays building bond is a countywide affair, Bentley mentioned that he has spoken against the issuance of the bond at the past several county meetings.
“The organizers of the petition campaign put together a strong effort,” he said.
“We built a nice coalition, and I hope it lasts into the future as a model for other coalitions.”
Vagrancy & Crime
Bentley told the Hillsdalian that in his opinion the city itself can only do so much to address the homelessness issue.
“I’m a big admirer of Penny Myers and the operation she runs at Share the Warmth,” he said. “It’s a tight ship.”
He also praised Police Chief Scott Hephner and his officers for their professionalism.
“I’ve developed a good rapport with Chief,” he noted. “They have a difficult job, and have done well under their ever-increasing constraints.”
According to the Ward 2 councilman, the “lack of beds in the county jail” is the most glaring problem.
Dominick Sansone
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{Full text of emailed remarks back and forth with the Hillsdalian (the second half of the interview was in person.) Published here with the permission of the Editors.}
Why did you enter the mayoral race?
This mayoral race was forced on council. We were originally told that Mayor Pro Tem Paladino would serve as acting mayor for two years. No one had filed to run by late February, and I wanted to highlight the opposition to the Road Diet, so I filed and announced at the March 3 council meeting. I naively thought I might run unopposed because why would anyone else want such a thankless, stressful job that pays nothing and requires a primary and an election, for a one-year term! So that’s what I was thinking in February.
Do you have any thoughts about your opponents?
I know none of them well. I introduced myself to Ms. Kelemen; she seems pleasant. I’ve run into Mr. Sessions a few times and shook his hand each time. I welcomed them both into the race. He has spoken from the podium. We don’t seem to agree on much, other than being against the Road Diet. I do take issue with one of his recent public comments, though. He accused, without evidence, the recent appointee to the Library Board.
I know Mr. Socha a bit better, having served on council with him these eight months. While we seem to agree on some things, I think there is a stark contrast between us as to how we understand our office. I am on council expressly to represent the voters who put me there, and the people of Hillsdale generally. He often seems conflicted.
I don’t really understand why any of them want the job. I did see that all three of them marched in the parade. I believe Mr. Sessions said that the mayor ought to be a figurehead. Presumably all three intend to calm the perceived discord on City Council, and let the City Manager run the city as he sees fit. If that is the case, I reject both the premise and the goal.
You mentioned City Manager Mackie. How does he fit into the race?
I decided to run for Mayor of Council in February, as a way to build support to defeat the Road Diet. I hoped that the race would be about that particular issue. But with the three late entries into the race, it seems to be shaping up as a referendum on Mr. Mackie.
How so?
Manager Mackie runs this town. His compensation package is well over two hundred thousand dollars. His two staffs’ payrolls are over nine million dollars. He commands the loyalty of a plurality on City Council. I have no delusions about Council replacing Mr. Mackie, much less changing our form of government, any time soon. The clear question for the voters now is: should Manager Mackie’s power be left effectively unchecked, as it has been for some time now; or should Council, and the Mayor of Council, provide real oversight and accountability.
How do you see the race?
There’s no way to know, is there? How do you see it?
Well, let’s start with Town & Gown…
I personally like Mr. Bentley and his "style".... Its what I'm used to in heavy industry/athletics, men being men, men asking questions unworried about fee fees. I like how Mr. Bentley holds servants accountable. I like how Mr. Bentley asks any question unafraid. Of all the people I've met in town I could see myself and Mr. Bentley becoming long time good friends. He IS the kind of man I want around me...... That being said Hillsdale has a way about it, and the way I tend to go about things just isn't the most effective here (maybe anywhere, who knows). I think he is far to easy a target being new and approaching challenges differently than is normally done here (with honesty). IMO Mr. Bentley is what the city NEEDS to straiten out this mess.... But having taken over some real messes, seeing a bit of myself in him..... For Mr. Bentley's sake, I hope another wins and he has time to build those unseen alliances that propel him to mayor in 30. There will likely be another city manager, and IMO that will relieve much of the resistance to sanity and ease the path for someone like Mr. Bentley, a man of honor and integrity to come on and really right the ship of the reef (of its own making).