Candidates For Interim Mayor Of Shaker Heights Announced

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH — Seven people have applied to replace departing Shaker Heights Mayor Earl Leiken. City council will interview the candidates during the week of March 19. They will have 60 days, starting April 1, to elect a replacement.

The seven candidates for interim mayor are: Brian S. Gleisser, Julianna Johnston Senturia, Peter Lawson Jones, Robert Taylor Segraves, David E. Weiss, Earl Williams and Mark Zetzer.

Gleisser is the president of the Shaker Heights Library Board of Trustees. Senturia and Williams are currently sitting city council members. Jones was a city councilman and vice mayor for Shaker Heights and is an actor, according to his website. Weiss is a business executive and city council member. Zetzer is a frequent candidate for city council.Segraves is a bit of a new face in Shaker Heights politics. He's a doctor of psychiatry, according to Shaker Heights Clerk of Council.

Whoever is selected for the position will serve until, at least Jan. 2019, after which a person elected by the voters will take on the role.

Mayor Earl Leiken will officially resign his post on March 31, leaving the city to become Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish's chief of staff.

Leiken has been mayor of Shaker Heights since 2008. His departure fulfills the changing of the old guard in the east side, which has seen several suburbs, including Beachwood and University Heights, oust their longtime mayors. Leiken will leave on his own terms to join Budish's staff.

"As a mayor, I am keenly aware of the fact that many of the most important challenges to our area's future can be addressed most effectively at the regional and county level. I am deeply grateful to the residents of Shaker Heights for the opportunity to serve them as mayor for over 10 years and want to assure them of a smooth and successful transition to my successor," Leiken said.

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