Editor's note: This article was udpated at 11:30 a.m.
Kent City Council has a field of 16 applicants from which to choose a successor for the at-large council seat vacated by Erik Valenta.
from council midway through his four-year term means the remaining council members are charged with appointing a replacement to serve through Dec. 31, 2013.
Public interviews of the applicants will be conducted during a 6:30 p.m. work session tonight in council chambers at City Hall.
Balloting will take place right after roll is called for the 7:30 p.m. council meeting. The victor will be administered the oath of office and invited to take their new seat on council immediately.
Linda Copley, clerk of council, said the last time council made an appointment was in 2008 when member Bill Schultz died. Initially there were 14 applicants for his seat, then one withdrew.
Here are the Kent residents who would like to serve their city as an at-large council member:
- Glenn Adair of 545 Overlook Drive; works in sales for Lumberjacks.
- Greg Balbierz of 417 Stinaff St.; a development professional who works as an independent contractor/consultant.
- Jeffrey Ball of 1530 Elizabeth Court; a project manager for V2 Technologies on assignment at Windstream Communications.
- Sean Buchanan of 931 Franklin Ave.; a self-employed attorney.
- Erik Clarke of 1350 Petrarca Drive; a public policy and urban planning student at .
- John Ferlito of 1464 River Trail; .
- Scott J. Flynn of 220 Frances Drive; an attorney with Flynn Keith & Flynn.
- John Gwinn of 511 Harvey St.; a retired University of Akron professor.
- Rick Hawksley of 120 Portage St.; an architect doing business as Design With a Vision.
- Paulette (Polly) Kordinak of 513 Rockwell Ave.; a sales associate with Life Center Plus Health Center and Howard Hanna Real Estate.
- Kenneth McGregor of 461 W. Grant St.; a self-employed artist.
- Lisa Regula Meyer of 1433 Cedar St.; an adjunct professor at Hiram College.
- Jon Ridinger of 837 Harold Ave.; a substitute teacher in the and at Maplewood Career Center.
- Roger Sidoti of 1257 Elno Ave.; a semi-retired educator (former principal at ).
- Jeremy Szucs of 375 Janik Drive; a self-employed attorney.
- Linda UmBayemake, 609 Vine St.; CEO of the online counseling service UMBAY6 Intervention Journeys Inc.
