PERRYSBURG — City council took action this week to define the process of filling the seat vacated March
27 by Haraz Ghanbari when he became the new Ohio House District 3 representative.
At Tuesday’s meeting, council filled in some more specifics not addressed in the opinion issued by Laura
Alkire, the city law director.
The city charter lays out the basic procedure.
A majority vote of the remaining city council members must be made within 45 days of the vacancy.
Ghanbari’s resignation letter was submitted March 27.
In this case, four of the six members must vote affirmatively for the same candidate for council by May
6. If the vacancy is not filled by that date, the mayor can fill it by appointment.
The replacement council person’s term would expire when Ghanbari’s term expires, Dec. 31. That individual
can also run for reelection.
Council agreed that candidates can submit applications, or other related materials, to the city by the
close of business at 4:30 p.m., April 16, which is also the date of the next council meeting. A decision
would be made by council at a special council meeting on April 30, starting at 6:30 p.m.
“The special meeting is for addressing the council and making a pitch for the seat and for us to vote. It
gives candidates an opportunity to make a presentation. There are limited rules. We might take that
opportunity to narrow the pool,” said council president Jim Matuszak.
Applicants are encouraged to attend the April 30 meeting and address council.
City administrator Bridgette Kabat suggested that there be advertisements in social media, on the city
website and in the Sentinel-Tribune.
“I made it really clear that the candidate need not submit a formal city application, as long as it’s
clear that they want the job. Before my first race, I was given the opportunity to be interviewed by the
group for my seat and I was asked if I was going to run for the seat if I was appointed,” Matuszak said.
“As for advertising, at least five people should be desirous of this position because they have already
submitted petitions to run for city council.”
Qualifications:
Must be 18 years of age. Eligible applicants shall have been continuously a resident and an elector of
the City of Perrysburg for two years prior to the date of his or her appointment, or who have been for
two years prior to his or her election or appointment a resident and elector of a territory which, at
the time of the appointment, has been annexed to the city.
If appointed, the applicant shall continue to be a resident and an elector throughout his or her term of
office. Eligible applicants shall not hold any other elective public office or any other municipal
office or employment.
No member of council shall be interested, either directly or indirectly, in the profits or emoluments of
any contract, job, work or service for which moneys of the municipality are expended.”
The City of Perrysburg website can be found at www.ci.perrysburg.oh.us