Council faces likely vacancy

A special meeting is set for today to name a president pro tempore.

By DENISE DICK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

POLAND — A resignation by one village official led to another relinquishing his post and will likely create a council vacancy.

Mayor Ruth Wilkes submitted her resignation this week, effective Sunday, from the position she’s held for 18 years.

Under law, the president pro tempore becomes mayor in the event of a resignation.

Joseph Mazur had been appointed to that post at the beginning of this year by his fellow council members.

But the day after Wilkes resigned, Mazur wrote to his council members he was vacating his pro tem position. He retains his council seat.

Wilkes called a special meeting for 9 a.m. today to appoint a new pro tem. The president fills the mayor’s duties, such as running council meetings, in the mayor’s absence.

Concern

Mazur said he was concerned after consulting with a representative of the Mahoning County Board of Elections that if he were appointed mayor, council members would have to appoint a replacement to his council seat.

“I have the rest of this year and two more years on my term,” Mazur said.

Wilkes’ mayoral term expires at year’s end, and whoever is appointed to that seat will serve until that time.

“At the end of this year, I’d be out,” Mazur said.

Three people are vying in November for the mayor’s seat.

The council member appointed to replace Mazur would serve out the remainder of his term.

“I think I can do more for the village on council and the committees,” Mazur said. “I’m on the fire board, the forest board, the Stormwater Advisory Team.”

The terms of both Councilwoman Christine M. Yash and Councilman Albert E. Lind also expire at the end of this year.

Both are seeking re-election without opposition.

If either of them is appointed president, then become mayor, they would return to their council seats next year.

“They wouldn’t lose anything,” Mazur said.

Yash said she would be next in line because of her years on council. She was first elected in 1991.

“Whatever happens happens,” she said.

Lind said that he isn’t seeking the appointment but that he wouldn’t rule out the possibility.

“I feel that the people of Poland village elected me to be a legislator, not a figurehead mayor,” he said, adding that he’ll do what he can to help the village.