Hilliard City Council is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12 to consider the hiring of Joshua Rauch as Hilliard’s next City Manager.
Rauch currently serves as the City Manager for the City of Riverside, Ohio. He is expected to begin serving as City Manager on April 20, if Council approves the resolution at Thursday’s special meeting.
“I am honored and excited to join the Hilliard community and to work alongside elected officials, staff, and residents to achieve meaningful results,” Rauch said. “Hilliard is a remarkable city, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a shared vision that brings the community together and guides its future success.”
Council President Emily Cole said Rauch rose to the top of a deep pool of outstanding applicants for the position.
“We were impressed by the caliber of candidates throughout this process,” said Cole. “Ultimately, Mr. Rauch stood out as the best fit for our community and for Council’s vision, bringing the experience, leadership, and people-centered approach we value.”
Rauch has spent the last 15 years of his career managing, building, and improving local governments. He has worked as City Manager for the City of Riverside since 2021.
He began his career with internships for the City of Dayton and City of Mission, Kansas, before becoming the Neighborhood Services Coordinator for the City of Mission. From there, he served as the Deputy Economic Development Administrator for the City of Springfield, Ohio, and then spent several years in government management consulting.
He earned his master’s degree in public administration from the University of Kansas and his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Dayton.
Rauch is involved in the International City/County Management Association, Greater Dayton Mayors and Managers Association, Ohio City/County Management Association, and other organizations.
Rauch said he believes effective local government is rooted in trust, communication, and teamwork.
“When we work in good faith and focus on shared goals, we can turn challenges into opportunities and build something truly lasting,” he said.
This will be the City’s second city manager. Former City Manager Michelle Crandall, who served from 2020 to 2025, resigned to become the Chief Member Services Officer for the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
Crandall was Hilliard’s first city manager, following a voter-approved charter amendment in November 2018 that changed the City’s form of government from Mayor-Council to Council-Manager.
The City Manager serves as Hilliard’s chief executive officer, appointed by and reporting to the seven-member City Council. The role oversees all administrative functions across City departments, including Community Development, Recreation & Parks, Finance, Police, Human Resources, IT/CityLab, and Public Service.
Council worked to ensure that community and staff feedback were incorporated into the search process. In addition to surveys and focus groups that identified desirable qualities for the City Manager, Council hosted a meet-the-candidates open house event during the interviews that included feedback for Council to consider in its deliberations.
The finalist candidates were identified with the assistance of Raftelis, a nationally recognized search firm specializing in public sector executive recruitment.
City Council, which serves as the appointing authority, has been actively engaged throughout the process. In advance of last week’s in person meetings, City Council conducted virtual interviews with candidates in January and selected the final three candidates for in-person interviews.
Cole said she believes the community participation was key in finding the ideal candidate.
“We firmly believe that community participation played a vital role in identifying the ideal candidate,” she said. “The thoughtful input we received helped ensure this decision reflects the values and priorities of our residents.”
