Councilwoman to become Poland’s mayor

POLAND — Councilwoman Chris Yash will became mayor today with the resignation of Mayor Ruth Wilkes.

Wilkes has resigned her position effective today to become grants management director for Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann’s office. She has been mayor for 18 years.

At a special council meeting Saturday, Yash’s fellow lawmakers unanimously named her councilwoman pro tempore. By state law, the president pro tempore becomes mayor in the event of a resignation. Yash has been a legislator here since 1992.

This will create a vacant council seat.

Those interested in filling the seat until the end of the year should send a letter of interest and résumé to village hall, 308 S. Main St., Poland 44514.

Councilman Joseph Mazur had been named to the pro tem position at the beginning of this year, but he vacated it to retain his seat on council. Yash is running for re-election to her council seat.

Three men also are running for mayor — Republican John Yerian III and two independents, Ralph Mentzer and Timothy Sicafuse.