The City of Gahanna has a strong Mayor-Council form of government. The Mayor is popularly elected by the citizens of Gahanna and serves a four-year term. The Mayor serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the City. As the City’s chief administrator and office representative, the Mayor is responsible for the general management of the City and for ensuring that all laws and ordinances are enforced. The Mayor appoints professional directors to the City’s departments, which administer the day-to-day operations for the City.

Mayor Laurie Jadwin was sworn into office on January 2, 2020. She and her family are long-time Gahanna residents, having chosen to make Gahanna their home in May 1992, only two weeks before their first child was born. They raised two daughters in the Gahanna community (both of whom are GLHS graduates). During this time, she watched Gahanna grow from a small town to a community with many wonderful residents and businesses. ​​​

​For 20+ years, she volunteered in the Gahanna community while running her own law practice, representing several Fortune 500 companies in the central Ohio area.

As Executive Director of Visit Gahanna, she interacted regularly with representatives from cities all around the Columbus Region – cities that we are in direct competition with for residents, businesses and visitors.

​Her experience, both in working with local businesses in Gahanna and in engaging with other communities, has helped her to understand the importance of smart economic development – that is, economic development that makes sense for the residents of Gahanna and for the business community.

As Mayor, her vision for Gahanna is for all residents and businesses to view Gahanna as a community where they have a home, not just a city in which they live or do business.