Andrew Lipian
Andrew Lipian
for commissioner
This November, put
TRUST
back in office
Why I'm Running
Rebuilding Trust in Local Government
"I am running as a write-in candidate because I believe county government should work for the people it serves. My campaign is built on restoring public trust through transparent leadership, responsible growth, and meaningful community engagement."
A Record of Service
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Three-term Elyria City Councilman
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Village Administrator for Grafton
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Former Lorain County Records Center Manager
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Former Lorain County Economic Development Coordinator
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More than 15 years serving in the Ohio Air National Guard
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Commissioned Public Affairs Officer
Write In Instructions
1
Go to Commissioner on your ballot.
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Write in Andrew Lipian
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Fill in the oval
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Submit your ballot
"The pen is mightier than the ballot box!"
Calendar
"We must unify, listen to each other again, and bridge the deep divides with dignity and respect..." - Andrew Lipian
About Andrew Lipian
Andrew Lipian is a lifelong Lorain County resident serving his third term representing Ward 1 on Elyria City Council. He grew up in Grafton, graduated from Midview High School, earned a bachelor's degree from Oberlin College and a master's degree from the University of Michigan, and lives in Elyria with his wife, Melinda, and their three children.
Public Service
Andrew focuses on practical solutions that improve public safety, strengthen infrastructure, and protect taxpayer dollars. During his time on City Council, he:
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Helped secure a $2.7 million grant to hire additional police officers.
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Supported traffic safety improvements, including new solar-powered LED stop signs and
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Safe Routes to School projects.
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Founded the Good Neighbors Initiative to improve communication between residents and City Hall.
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Opposed policies he believed would place unnecessary financial burdens on residents.
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When state law created a conflict between his county employment and his elected office, Andrew resigned from his county position to continue serving the people who elected him.
Community Leadership
Andrew serves as Village Administrator for Grafton, where he oversees infrastructure projects and downtown revitalization. He also serves as Vice Chair of the Lorain County Children Services Board and previously chaired the Lorain County Bicentennial Committee and Grafton's America 250 Committee. He has been elected three times as an independent (non-partisan) Elyria City Councilman, representing Ward One on the east side of the city. He is a member of the community development and strategic planning committees, now serving on his third term in each of those roles.
Outside public service, Andrew is an award-winning countertenor, composer, director, and choreographer. He has led community service projects, organized disaster relief efforts and escorted veterans on Honor Flights
MILITARY SERVICE
Andrew joined the Ohio Air National Guard in 2010 after taking the oath from his father, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran of Operation Desert Storm. During 15 years of service, he rose to the rank of Master Sergeant, completed multiple deployments to the Middle East in a logistical career field, later serving in the Office of the Inspector General, investigating allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse. In 2025, he earned a commission as a Public Affairs Officer with the 179th Cyberspace Wing and the rank of Second Lieutenant, where he is still a drill-status guardsman to this day.
Get Involved
Make A Difference - Volunteer!
Want to devote some of your time and energy to Andrew's write in campaign? We could use your help! Fill out the volunteer form and a campaign rep will be in touch shortly.
Join The Writer's Club
Show your support for Write In Andrew Lipian by writing a letter to the editor at the Chronicle-Telegram!
We need your voice! By volunteering to write a letter to the editor, you show your support for Andrew's cause and give him a boost in the public eye.
NOTE: In order for the Chronicle's editor to consider your letter, you MUST INCLUDE: your full name, your phone number, and your address. Emails without that information will be ignored.
Andrew on the Issues
Building Trust in Government
American’s trust in government fell from 77% in 1964 to just 22% in 2024. This long-term decline underscores the growing importance of transparency, accountability and trust-building in public institutions. Clarity and communication build trust and credibility, which is what Lipian wants to bring to county government.
Protecting Our Land & Communities
We need to pump the breaks on data centers. The amount of jobs they create per acre is not worth eliminating farms. Lipian will create a brownfield remediation program to restore blighted urban sites for economic development and help rural stay rural.
Promoting Smart, Responsible Growth
Words matter. We don’t want to be an urban county. Commissioners shouldn’t control $781,000 of taxpayer money for development until they educate on and maximize community use of the underutilized CDBG grants already available from the state. If we do initiate an “urban county” program, the decision-making body should come from township or municipal council selectees, not commissioner-chosen board members. Instead of “Mega Sites,” we should on-ramp smaller-scale industrial sites and build them out in remediated urban zones before we strip away irreplaceable farmland.
Transparency & Accountability
Clarity is our responsibility as public officials. If the public feels sidelined or doesn’t understand our policies, we must correct that. Conducting town halls, soliciting input and feedback with proactive communication are how we can establish credibility with the commissioners office. This is both possible, and extremely important.
Putting People Before Politics
Just...be a good dude.
