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City councils

Matthew Bentley's Mayoral Bid: A Challenge to Hillsdale's "Twin Tyranny" of Road Diet and Bike Lanes

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Matthew Bentley, a 58-year-old city councilman, has announced his candidacy for mayor of Hillsdale, running on a platform of opposing the city's "road diet" and bike lane project. Bentley, who grew up in Hillsdale and graduated from Hillsdale High School, has a strong connection to the community and is committed to improving the lives of its residents. He has received endorsements from Mayor Pro Tem Joshua Paladino and former mayor Adam Stockford, and is running against former mayor Scott Sessions in the November 4 election.

Key Takeaways:

  • Matthew Bentley, a city councilman, is running for mayor of Hillsdale, opposing the city's "road diet" and bike lane project.
  • Bentley, 58, has a strong connection to the community, having grown up in Hillsdale and graduated from Hillsdale High School.
  • He has received endorsements from Mayor Pro Tem Joshua Paladino and former mayor Adam Stockford.
  • His opponent, Scott Sessions, is a former mayor who held the office from 2013-2017.
  • Bentley's main issue is the "road diet," which would change the traffic pattern on Broad Street and add bike lanes.
  • He believes that the bike lanes are a "farce" and that the road calming proponents think that's a sacrifice worth paying, which he does not agree with.
  • Bentley wants to reform the special assessment districts (SADs) that require individual property owners to pay up to $5,000 to fund road repairs.
  • He hopes to lessen the price tag for SADs and make the process more accessible to residents.
  • Bentley has expressed frustration with the limitations of the mayoral office and wants to encourage more accountability and engagement from the people of Hillsdale.

Statistics:

  • 25 signature collection by Bentley and Mayor Pro Tem Joshua Paladino in one day to get him on the ballot.
  • $135,000 allocated by the council toward the road diet project in August.
  • $250,000 to be provided by the Tax Increment Finance Authority to fund the project.
  • $10,000 to be contributed by Hillsdale Renaissance.
  • Up to $5,000 that individual property owners can be required to pay for road repairs through special assessment districts.

Sources:

  • "Matthew Bentley running for Hillsdale mayor" by Moira Gleason, City News, October 16, 2025
  • Interview with Matthew Bentley, October 2025 (exact date not specified)

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