Applicants Needed For Vacant Lakewood City Council Seat

LAKEWOOD, OH — Lakewood City Council has started the process of replacing incumbent mayor Meghan George, who will vacate her at-large council seat on Jan. 1, 2020. Her replacement will serve out the remainder of her term, which expires in two years.

The replacement process is simple: residents interested in the seat will apply for the position. The applicants will need to submit a cover letter and resume to the Lakewood Clerk of Council, either by mail or email.

City Council will then appoint George's replacement from the pool of candidates. A timeline for the replacement process will be set at the Jan. 6, 2020 Lakewood City Council meeting, the first meeting of the new year.

City council members must be resident of the city and must have been registered to vote in Lakewood for at least one year prior to taking office. After taking office, councilpersons must continue to reside in and be registered to vote in Lakewood.

At least one prominent Lakewood official has declared their interest in the vacant council seat, finance director Jennifer Pae.

In early November, Pae announced she would resign her position and pursue George's vacant seat. She said she wanted officials to have ample time to find her replacement. Her resignation will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

"The city of Lakewood has come a long way financially since 2006 when I started with the city. The accomplishments are many, and I would like to work to protect all of that great work and continue this momentum as a member of city council," Pae said in her resignation letter, which she shared with Patch.

Applications for the vacant city council seat should be emailed to council@lakewoodoh.net or mailed to "the Clerk of Council, 12650 Detroit Road, Lakewood, OH 44107."