November ballot now set
Filing deadline sees a few candidates, including Ward 6 Councilman Dan Kasaris, drop from races
Dan Kasaris
NORTH ROYALTON – The filing deadline for the general election has lapsed, finalizing the Nov. 5 ballot that includes the high-profile mayor’s race, all six council ward races, council president and two school board races, though many face no opposition.
The filing deadline for the general election was Aug. 7.
Council president; wards 2, 3, 4, 6; and the two school board races are uncontested.
Though Ward 6 Councilman Dan Kasaris, 56, pulled petitions for council president along with Ward 4 Councilman Paul Marnecheck, 36, Kasaris ultimately did not file. So, the council president seat will go to Marnecheck.
Kasaris is term limited. Per city charter, elected officials may only serve 12 consecutive years in any one seat. He currently works as the senior assistant Ohio attorney general and is supervising the Cuyahoga County corruption probe. This current workload simply wouldn’t allow time to run a citywide campaign.
“I had my petition signatures, sign locations and was ready to run, but when you have trials set in September and October, there is nothing you can do about it. I’ve got families relying on me to bring justice to them for their loved ones,” he said.
Kasaris said he will miss serving on council immensely, but a lot can change in two years.
“I’m sad, but fortunately Paul is a good man, and he will be competent and a good council president. I wanted to be on council, and when the time is right, I will be back,” he said. “It’s an awesome experience to serve and assist people that live in our great city. It’s an honor, truly.”
Though Vivian Luther, 62, and John Piepsny, 47 pulled petitions in ward 2, they did not file either, so that seat will go to newcomer Linda Barath, 61. Incumbent Dan Langshaw, 33, will secure a fourth two-year term in Ward 3 unopposed. Ward 4 and Ward 6 are uncontested as well and will go to Jeremy Dietrich, 38, and Mike Wos, 38, respectively.
Ward 1 and ward 5 each have two filed candidates on the ballot.
Planning Commission member Jessica Fenos, 40, and Anton Krieger, 19, are pursuing the ward 1 council seat and Dawn Carbone-McDonald, 51, and Vincent Wiemer, 40, who chaired the North Royalton School District’s Community Engagement Task Force, are running in ward 5.
The mayor’s race will have five candidates on the ballot: Ward 1 Councilman John Nickell, 55; Council President Larry Antoskiewicz, 65; and Ward 2 Councilman Gary Petrusky, 55, as well as radio personality Maria Cross, 54, AKA Desiray Cross from WDOK 102.1, and former school board member Barbara Ann Zindroski, 67.
Like Kasaris, Nickell and Petrusky are both termed limited in their current council seats.
Mayor Bob Stefanik is also termed out after nearly 12 years in office and will retire Dec. 31.
Should the winner of the mayor’s race fail to secure 40 percent of the vote, it will spark a runoff in December between the two highest vote getters.
The two school board races are also uncontested.
Three of the five school board members were up for re-election this year: School Board President Dr. John Kelly, 67; Vice President Anne Reinkober, 63; and member Heidi Dolezal, 65; who will all serve another four-year term on the North Royalton Board of Education.
School board member Jackie Arendt is two years into her term and will not be up for re-election until 2021. Former member Dr. Susan Clark was also not up for re-election but announced her resignation back in June to seek a teaching opportunity in Norway.
After an interview process, the North Royalton Board of Education selected Terry DeLap, 63, to serve in Clark’s vacated seat through the end of the year.
A special election will be held Nov. 5 for the remaining two years of Clark’s original term, which DeLap will secure as no other candidates filed for the seat.
The election is Nov. 5, and voting by mail opens Oct. 8.
The filing deadline for the general election was Aug. 7.
Council president; wards 2, 3, 4, 6; and the two school board races are uncontested.
Though Ward 6 Councilman Dan Kasaris, 56, pulled petitions for council president along with Ward 4 Councilman Paul Marnecheck, 36, Kasaris ultimately did not file. So, the council president seat will go to Marnecheck.
Kasaris is term limited. Per city charter, elected officials may only serve 12 consecutive years in any one seat. He currently works as the senior assistant Ohio attorney general and is supervising the Cuyahoga County corruption probe. This current workload simply wouldn’t allow time to run a citywide campaign.
“I had my petition signatures, sign locations and was ready to run, but when you have trials set in September and October, there is nothing you can do about it. I’ve got families relying on me to bring justice to them for their loved ones,” he said.
Kasaris said he will miss serving on council immensely, but a lot can change in two years.
“I’m sad, but fortunately Paul is a good man, and he will be competent and a good council president. I wanted to be on council, and when the time is right, I will be back,” he said. “It’s an awesome experience to serve and assist people that live in our great city. It’s an honor, truly.”
Though Vivian Luther, 62, and John Piepsny, 47 pulled petitions in ward 2, they did not file either, so that seat will go to newcomer Linda Barath, 61. Incumbent Dan Langshaw, 33, will secure a fourth two-year term in Ward 3 unopposed. Ward 4 and Ward 6 are uncontested as well and will go to Jeremy Dietrich, 38, and Mike Wos, 38, respectively.
Ward 1 and ward 5 each have two filed candidates on the ballot.
Planning Commission member Jessica Fenos, 40, and Anton Krieger, 19, are pursuing the ward 1 council seat and Dawn Carbone-McDonald, 51, and Vincent Wiemer, 40, who chaired the North Royalton School District’s Community Engagement Task Force, are running in ward 5.
The mayor’s race will have five candidates on the ballot: Ward 1 Councilman John Nickell, 55; Council President Larry Antoskiewicz, 65; and Ward 2 Councilman Gary Petrusky, 55, as well as radio personality Maria Cross, 54, AKA Desiray Cross from WDOK 102.1, and former school board member Barbara Ann Zindroski, 67.
Like Kasaris, Nickell and Petrusky are both termed limited in their current council seats.
Mayor Bob Stefanik is also termed out after nearly 12 years in office and will retire Dec. 31.
Should the winner of the mayor’s race fail to secure 40 percent of the vote, it will spark a runoff in December between the two highest vote getters.
The two school board races are also uncontested.
Three of the five school board members were up for re-election this year: School Board President Dr. John Kelly, 67; Vice President Anne Reinkober, 63; and member Heidi Dolezal, 65; who will all serve another four-year term on the North Royalton Board of Education.
School board member Jackie Arendt is two years into her term and will not be up for re-election until 2021. Former member Dr. Susan Clark was also not up for re-election but announced her resignation back in June to seek a teaching opportunity in Norway.
After an interview process, the North Royalton Board of Education selected Terry DeLap, 63, to serve in Clark’s vacated seat through the end of the year.
A special election will be held Nov. 5 for the remaining two years of Clark’s original term, which DeLap will secure as no other candidates filed for the seat.
The election is Nov. 5, and voting by mail opens Oct. 8.