Logan Cowperthwaite campaigning for Centerville City Council: ‘I want to make it a better place’

CENTERVILLE — Logan Cowperthwaite is hoping to go from concerned citizen to city councilman this November. 

He is already active in his community as a co-founder of the Forest Glen Neighborhood Watch group. By day, he works in a blue-collar job while also raising a family of five children. 

Now, at just 25 years old, he has set his sights on local government.

“I know that’s young if you think about being in charge of the city, but the only way you can make change is by being the change,” Cowperthwaite said.

Last year, Cowperthwaite and a group of neighbors addressed a city council meeting regarding homeless encampments and gunfire near their homes. He understood the need to withhold certain information due to ongoing investigations but felt that the council was being evasive in their responses. 

His experience interacting with the council ignited a desire to create change from within.

“The way the council answered our questions at the meeting, where about half the neighborhood showed up, they were kind of brushing us off, not wanting to answer or being very vague. I want to be a change and give some kind of transparency,” he said.

Cowperthwaite’s campaign is just beginning. He has been active in his neighborhood, engaging with neighbors and placing signs. After he qualifies, he plans to broaden his outreach.

“I’m starting to gain some traction on Facebook. I’m reaching out to other individuals and businesses and talking to them, letting them know what my plans are for the city of Centerville and how my voice can try to help shape,” he said.

If elected, Cowperthwaite aims to serve as a liaison and provide information to the council.

“Ultimately, it takes a majority in the city of Centerville to make any kind of change. So it’s just me relaying the information back to the rest of the council and seeing what can happen,” he said.

For Cowperthwaite, public safety is top priority. He said promoting recruitment and retention is key to ensuring the police and fire departments are well-equipped and don’t feel overworked.

“Currently, there’s two officers that work at night, and they run together. If there’s multiple calls, it splits them up. If we’re able to allow more officers to be able to work at night by having more officers, hiring more and retaining what we have, then we wouldn’t be stretched as thin, to where one neighborhood would feel priority over the other,” he said.

Cowperthwaite also hopes to enhance safety by encouraging neighborhoods to establish their own watch programs.

“Neighborhood watches do work. It worked for us. It works for Eagle Springs … it does work, even when [police are] understaffed, because it helps them. It gives them extra eyes if there’s people in the neighborhood paying attention to things,” he said.

Cowperthwaite mentioned the city is expanding its residential options while maintaining a small-town atmosphere. He would like to see more transparency and support from the city in helping residents understand their qualifications for affordable housing.

If elected, Cowperthwaite would be excited to learn about the city’s operations and serve as a reliable source of information for the public.

“It’s all new to me. I’ve gone to the city council meetings before. I’ve sat in and listened, but being on the seat side versus behind the desk with the rest of the council is two different things, and they have a process that they have to go through. [I want to] understand that process, to just be transparent to the citizens,” he said.

His campaign ultimately stems from a passion for his city and a desire to see it flourish, he mentioned.

“I’m proud to live in Centerville. My grandpa moved there in the 70s, and he lives on the parallel street from me. It’s my home, and I just want to make it a better place for everyone else that comes through and wants to call it home as well,” he said.

Election Day is Nov. 4.