ROSSFORD – After a group interview of applicants, the City Council voted 5-1 to have former school
board president Joseph "Moe" Minarcin join their ranks Monday.Minarcin was one of five residents
seeing to fill the vacancy created by the Thanksgiving Day death of Chuck Duricek, who had just been elected
to a third term in November.Among those seeking the seat on city council were Duricek’s widow, Pam
Domalski-Duricek and the two losing candidates from the November council election, Robert Densic and Dennis
Foy. Densic came in fifth in the six-candidate race for four sets in November.Retired Dana Corporation
president and chief operating officer William Carroll was the fifth candidate.Council interviewed the panel
of applicants for about 90 minutes, covering a range of topics including nuisance properties, development of
the Crossroads area of town, revitalizing downtown and the role of grants in city finances.While many of the
questions elicited similar responses from the candidates – all thought economic development was the most
important issue facing the city – there were some pointed queries.Councilman Jerry Staczek asked Carroll if
he thought his position with the Toledo Lucas County Port Authority posed a conflict of interest.Carroll
said he checked with the state ethics commission to make sure he would not have a conflict. He assured
council that he understood information needed to be confidential in his dealings with both city and port
authority.Staczek also asked about criticisms leveled by Domalski-Duricek against Mayor Neil MacKinnon in
the days after her husband’s death.She assured him she would be able to work with city officials, but
reiterated several times that she would not vote in favor of something just to go along with the rest of
council.Densic was asked by Caroline Eckel and Staczek about his questioning of the use of grants,
especially those from the federal government.He reiterated his staunch conservative principles that if the
Constitution doesn’t spell out a role for the federal government in an issue it should not be involved. And
while he has fewer issues with state grants, he believes cities should work to have those returned as block
grants giving communities greater flexibility on how they would be used.He said while he wouldn’t compromise
his principles he feels no animosity to those who disagree with him.Carroll and Minarcin were asked why they
had not run for council in November. Carroll said he considered running but he was managing a levy campaign
for the port authority and felt he didn’t have the time. Minarcin said he was content with the slate of
candidates.Minarcin was asked, by Staczek, about a perception that he would be "too close" to the
school board, having served for 16 years on the Board of Education, including as president.Minarcin said he
didn’t think school and city officials worked closely enough.It took two ballots for Minarcin to win the
seat.After discussing the candidates behind closed doors for almost an hour, council, returned to open
session. Three applicants were nominated, with members of council allowed to vote for more than one.On the
first ballot, Minarcin garnered three votes, Larry Oberdorf, who nominated him, Robert Ruse and Eckel.
Densic got two votes from Greg Marquette and Dan Wagner. Carroll got two as well from Staczek and Ruse.On
the second ballot, Minarcin received five votes with Staczek casting the sole nay vote.Minarcin, 67, said
his first order of business was to meet with his fellow council members and "see what they have on
their agenda."He is retired from the Air National Guard and is the former owner of Moe’s Place in
downtown Rossford.He will serve for two years until the next municipal election.