Nick Barbknecht
Westfield City Council
About Nick Barbknecht
Nick Barbknecht (pronounced “barb-connect”) is a candidate for Westfield City Council At-Large in the May 2027 Republican primary and a business and community leader committed to economic growth, job creation, and responsible local government. He believes the government works best when it creates the conditions for businesses to invest, entrepreneurs to succeed, and families to thrive.
For the past several years, Nick has served as President of the Westfield Board of Public Works and Safety. During a period of rapid growth, he has helped guide major city projects and address public works and public safety priorities. As Westfield has grown from roughly 46,000 residents in 2020 to more than 64,000 today, Nick has focused on the practical needs of a growing community: planning and investing in infrastructure, supporting police and fire personnel, and protecting Westfield’s quality of life.
Nick brings more than 15 years of experience in business, infrastructure, public policy, and government. Today, as Senior Vice President at Advantage Capital, he leads external affairs for major investments in communities and small businesses across the country that create hundreds of jobs.
Previously, Nick served in the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs during the Trump Administration, working with state and local elected officials across the country. He also served as Senior Advisor for Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and later helped launch the America First Policy Institute as its first Chief Marketing Officer. Earlier in his career, he served the state of Indiana at the Department of Transportation and as Assistant Commissioner of Labor.
He serves as a Republican Precinct Committeeman, State Convention Delegate, and board member of Westfield GOP.
Nick will bring this experience to the Westfield City Council to the work of keeping Westfield strong, well-managed, and prepared for continued growth. He will focus on responsible spending, thoughtful infrastructure planning, transparency in government, and respect for taxpayers while helping ensure Westfield remains a place where families and businesses can succeed.
Nick earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Manchester University and an MBA from Purdue University. He and his wife, Kenzie, live in Westfield’s Harmony neighborhood with their dog, Jack. They are active members of Thrive Christian Church.
Issues
Responsible Growth
Westfield is growing fast, and Nick believes the city needs to manage that growth in a way that protects what people already love about living here.
That means making sure new development makes sense, infrastructure keeps up, and the city is planning for the long term instead of simply reacting to growth as it comes.
Nick wants Westfield to continue attracting families, businesses, and investment, but he also believes growth should be responsible and well planned. The goal is to preserve the character of Westfield while making sure the city is ready for the future.
That also means pursuing development that diversifies Westfield’s tax base so we remain the kind of community people continue to move to, not just a series of chain restaurants.
Westfield’s own long-range planning process is focused on coordinating growth with transportation, utilities, economic development, and quality of life.
Roads and Infrastructure
People feel growth most when they are sitting in traffic, dealing with road construction, or seeing infrastructure fall behind development.
Nick believes Westfield needs to stay ahead of those problems.
He supports long-term planning for roads, intersections, utilities, sidewalks, trails, and other infrastructure so the city can keep up with growth without losing sight of existing neighborhoods.
Westfield is already making major investments in road construction and resurfacing, and the city’s current plans call for continued infrastructure investment as the population grows.
Public Safety
Keeping Westfield safe should always be one of the city’s top priorities.
As Westfield grows, Nick believes our Police and Fire Departments must have the staffing, equipment, training, and facilities needed to keep pace and continue attracting top-tier public safety professionals.
Westfield is not Indianapolis. Nick’s priority is to maintain a strong public safety presence, deterring crime, holding criminals accountable, and responding to emergencies in a moment’s notice. Public safety must remain at the forefront of every decision we make as the city grows.
Fiscal Responsibility
Nick believes fiscal responsibility starts with respecting the taxpayers who fund city government. Every dollar should have a purpose, and every major investment should be weighed against the city’s long-term needs. Keeping taxes low means spending City funds responsibly so the private sector can grow and thrive without the burden of excessive taxes.
As Westfield continues to grow, so will the demands on city services, infrastructure, and public safety. Nick believes the city should plan for those costs responsibly, focus spending on core priorities, and make sure today’s decisions do not create unnecessary burdens for taxpayers in the future.
That means setting clear priorities, carefully reviewing major projects, and looking for ways to deliver services efficiently before asking taxpayers to spend more.
Jobs and Economic Development
A strong local economy helps keep Westfield strong.
Nick believes the city should continue creating an environment where businesses want to invest, entrepreneurs can succeed, and employers can create jobs.
Economic development should also fit into the city’s broader plans for roads, infrastructure, housing, and public services. Growth is most successful when those pieces work together.
Open and Accountable Government
Nick believes residents should be able to understand what their city government is doing and why.
Important decisions should be made openly. Residents should have access to information, and city leaders should be willing to explain how taxpayer dollars are being spent and why major projects are moving forward.
For Nick, good local government comes down to being accessible, transparent, and focused on getting the basics right.
