Cleveland, OH
Avon Lake
By Bryan Wroten
Fifteen residents have applied for the vacant at-large seat for Avon Lake City Council, including two former council members.
City Council has a vacant seat following the election of Councilman at Large and council President Greg Zilka to mayor. Council will appoint a new council man or woman for the remaining two years of the at-large term, which would require the appointed council member to then run for election.
Jim Simonovich, who served as a Ward 2 councilman, and Holly Kowalski, who previously represented Ward 3 and ran unsuccessfully in 2009 for an at-large seat, have both submitted letters of interest to Clerk of Council Barbara Dopp. The other 13 candidates’ careers range from attorneys to law enforcement to the business world, and several have municipal experience through committees and boards.
Another notable name from a recent election is Bill Gallagher, who ran for the Ward 1 seat. He lost to Rob James 1,338 to 1,056. The Press investigated Gallagher’s background, finding several run-ins with the law, including a drunken driving conviction and ongoing court case dealing with an unpaid judgment of almost $80,000 against a former company of his. Gallagher previously told The Press his character has never been in question and he could handle the job of Ward 1 councilman.
Gallagher did not return a call for comment.
Dopp said interest was high. The last time council appointed a member was when it chose Mike Stanek to fill the spot after then-Councilman at Large K.C. Zuber won the mayoral election in 2007. Looking through her records, Dopp found the names of six candidates – dwarfed by this year’s 15.
The interviewing process will be different this time around, as well, Councilman at Large and President Pro Tem Marty O’Donnell said.
“They’re going to be open interviews – public interviews,” he said. “I think that’s the way to go.”
Previous council candidate appointment interviews were conducted in executive session – closed to the public.
Council will meet with the candidates at 8 a.m. on Saturday and on Jan. 21 in 20-minute sessions in the council conference room in City Hall. The council members will rank the candidates in the first meeting, asking their top four or five to return for the second round of interviews. After finishing up the interviews, council will meet in executive session to go over each candidate’s strengths and weaknesses before choosing someone to appoint Jan. 23.
“It’s a new process,” he said. “I think, in the long run, this is the route to go with (council appointments) … In the past, most of these interviews were done in executive sessions, but these days, we feel they should be done in the open.”
During the interview process, council members want to find out who can show the skills needed to work for council and the city, to show he or she understands how city government operates, including finances, and come up with ideas to improve the city.
“We’re looking for somebody interested, someone who understands what the main issues are for the city over the next two years,” O’Donnell said. “We want someone who would run for the position.”
Candidate information
Included are brief bios of the residents who submitted their names for the vacant council at large seat. Click on the links to see copies of their letters of interest and resumes.
Andrew Perry is an attorney and partner with McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman Co., which specializes in real estate, business and banking law. Perry also serves as the chairman of the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission, as well as the president for the Avon Lake Sports Hall of Fame Committee.
Neil Rush is a production planning finite scheduler for Akzo Nobel Paints LLC (formerly the Glidden Co.). He also leads the Health Studies Subcommittee for City Council’s Environmental Affairs Advisory Board. His brother is former Ward 1 Councilman Tim Rush.
Erica Powers is a parole officer for the Ohio Adult Parole Authority in Elyria. She was also a dispatcher for the North Ridgeville Police Department.
John Shondel is a retired lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Army Reserve and retired chairman of Miami Valley Pension, a regional actuarial, administration and consulting firm he began in 1978. He also serves as the chairman of the Avon Lake Historical Preservation Commission.
Frank Hamister sits on the board of directors for the Merit Co. and Sherwood Co., both in Elyria, and is formerly the president and CEO of American Technology & Development. He also chairs the Avon Lake Zoning Board of Appeals.
Michael Sherban is an attorney and associate with Thompson Hine LLP, an intellectual property practice group. He also served as a member of the Avon Lake Planning Commission.
Holly Moore Kowalski is a board member, formerly president, of the Avon Lake Public Library Board of Trustees and works for TrueNorth Cultural Arts. She previously served as councilwoman for Ward 3. In 2009, she unsuccessfully ran for council at large. She currently sits on City Council’s Environmental Affairs Advisory Board.
Ian Hessel is the chief operating officer and chief financial officer for General Aluminum Manufacturing Co.
Jim Simonovich has retired as a marketing consultant for Costco Wholesale. He served as a Ward 2 councilman for 12 years. He also serves on the Avon Lake Planning Commission.
Sharon Givler recently managed accounts payable, payroll, company insurance, company cellphones and assumed other office duties for New Era Trucking. She also taught as a substitute teacher for Avon Lake City Schools.
Bob Brooks is a financial adviser and limited partner with Edward Jones Investments. He is the past president of the Avon Lake Kiwanis Club and a Junior Achievement volunteer for Erieview Elementary School.
William Shelton was the president and chief legal officer for U.S. Healthcare Holdings LLC, a full-service TPA (third-party administrator) and licensed insurance administrator in Indiana, Florida and Kentucky.
Bill Gallagher is the president and co-owner of Suntan Supply Co. and has been a commercial real estate professional for 18 years. He serves on the Avon Lake Historical Preservation Commission. He ran unsuccessfully for the Ward 1 council seat in 2011.
Karen Stary was the founder and chief executive officer for StaRyhab Inc., an international rehabilitation business. Recently, she became involved with the Curacao Dolphin Therapy and Research Center in the Netherlands Antilles.
Zach Arnold is an insurance broker for Fitzgibbons Arnold & Co. He is a board member of the Building and Grounds Committee for the French Creek YMCA and is a member of the Avon Lake Kiwanis Club.
Contact Bryan Wroten at bwroten@2presspapers.com and www.twitter.com/bryanwroten
Tags: Appointment, Avon Lake, City Council, Public meeting
Print this story
In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement
and discussion guidelines.