DELAWARE — Delaware City Council appointed Matt McClellan during a special session Monday to fill the vacant 3rd Ward seat.
The appointment follows the resignation of former councilman Cory Hoffman on Jan. 5, after a second arrest for menacing by stalking. Hoffman had represented the 3rd Ward since 2019, and was re-elected in 2023.
McClellan will serve the remainder of Hoffman’s second term, which expires in November 2027.
Council selected McClellan after a multi-step appointment process that included collecting signatures, a questionnaire, and a public interview.
Six applicants were interviewed during council’s special session on Monday along with McClellan: Charis Bell, Brooke Diedrich, Jake Jenkusky, Dan Sanchez, and John Silvestri.
Council narrowed the pool to two finalists — McClellan and Sanchez — before making its selection. Mayor Carolyn Kay Riggle and council member Linsey Griffith voted for Sanchez, while Vice Mayor Catlin Frazier and council members Kyle Bogan, Adam Haynes, and Kevin Rider voted for McClellan.
Background in state leadership
McClellan, who moved to Delaware in 2024, currently serves as assistant director at the Ohio Department of Development, where he oversees strategic operations for multiple programs and staff.
During his interview, McClellan said his work across Ohio communities has given him insight into what makes development efforts succeed.
“I’ve seen when projects and efforts go wrong, and I’ve seen when they go right,” he said. “I’ve been able to learn from those opportunities.”
He said his experience navigating state government could help the city coordinate effectively with state agencies and regional partners.
“In every instance where I’ve seen things go well around the state, it’s almost always because there has been a close working relationship at all levels of government … and they’re also working closely with the private sector,” he said.
McClellan told council his approach to public service is guided by “hard work, humility and integrity.”
When asked how he would handle competing interests among residents, developers and city staff, he said listening would come first.
“If I am appointed to this position, I’m here to represent the residents of my ward,” he said. “I’m going to listen to them, and listen to what their concerns are.”
McClellan said elected officials must be able to clearly justify and explain their decisions.
“If I can’t do that, then I probably don’t know enough to be making the decision in the first place,” he said.
Growth and development
McClellan said Delaware leaders must carefully prioritize spending while exploring multiple funding strategies, including economic growth, grants and partnerships.
“I wouldn’t want to take anything off the table,” he said, adding that tax increases should be considered only as a last resort.
He said he supports economic development, but believes projects must be evaluated carefully.
“I’m a proponent of economic development, of course, but I’m for it done the right way,” he said, noting communities sometimes offer overly generous incentives to attract projects.
For example, if residents oppose a proposal but he believes it benefits the city overall, McClellan said he would weigh supporting it after engaging with constituents and reviewing information.
He added that annexation decisions in the rapidly-growing 3rd Ward should consider infrastructure capacity, service demands and long-term financial impacts.
“Growth is okay, but we have to be smart about it,” he said.
Below is the full application submitted by Matt McClellan to Delaware City Council.
