Berea, Brook Park, Middleburg Hts. voters to choose city leaders, school board

The General Election takes place on Nov. 2, with polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
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BEREA, Ohio -- Berea and Brook Park voters have lots of decisions to make on Nov. 2, with several city council incumbents facing opposition.

Brook Park Mayor Michael Gammella also has competition, but Middleburg Heights Mayor Matthew Castelli and all Middleburg Heights City Council members are running unopposed.

Berea Mayor Cyril Kleem won re-election in 2019.

BEREA

Ward 3 Councilman Jim Maxwell has no opposition for City Council president and will serve a two-year term. Current Council President Jeff Dettmer did not seek re-election.

Ward 1 Councilman Leon Dozier, Ward 2 Councilman Christopher McManis and Ward 5 Councilman Rick Skoczen are all unopposed and will each serve another two-year term. Newcomer Lisa J. Weaver is running unopposed to fill the Ward 3 seat Maxwell held.

Ward 4 voters will choose between incumbent Councilwoman Kim Smith and challenger Erika Coble.

Incumbent at-large Councilman Gene Zacharyasz faces competition from Mary K. Brown, Bernadette Butler and Daune Jaynes. Voters will choose only two to fill the at-large seats. Councilman Bill DeVito did not seek re-election.

Additionally, voters will decide if an amendment to the city charter will be enacted that “whenever the male gender pronoun is used (in the charter), it is understood that it reflects and includes all gender pronouns.” Voters also will decide if they want to renew a five-year, 4.1-mill city tax to provide for Berea’s current operating expenses.

BROOK PARK

Voters have three mayoral candidates appearing on the ballot. First-time Mayor Michael Gammella faces competition from Charles Kashi Jr. and current Ward 3 Councilman Edward Orcutt. The winner will serve a four-year term.

Finance Director Gregory Cingle is unopposed and will serve another four-year term.

City Council President Mike Vecchio also is unopposed, as is Ward 2 Councilman Jimmy Mencini.

Incumbent Ward 1 Councilman Tom Troyer faces opposition from Tracy L. Peters. In Ward 3, either Susan E. Adams or Steve Roberts will win the seat, as Orcutt is running for mayor. Incumbent Ward 4 Councilman Richard D. Scott is being challenged by Chuck Buckholz Sr.

The at-large race has five candidates vying for three seats. Incumbents Brian Poindexter and Richard Salvatore face Nora Coyne, Thomas Dufour and George Teetzel.

All Brook Park council representatives serve a two-year term.

MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS

Mayor Castelli will serve for four more years after finishing his current term.

City Council members David Bortolotto (council president), Tim Ali (at-large), Dan Sage (at-large), Bill Meany (Ward 1), Matthew McGregor (Ward 2), Michael Ference (Ward 3) and John Grech (Ward 4) all will serve another two-year term.

BEREA BOARD OF EDUCATION

Voters in all three cities will decide who fills three Berea Board of Education seats for the next four years.

Incumbents Ana Chapman (Berea), who serves as board president, and Steve Dockman (Middleburg Heights) are seeking re-election. They face Richard Mack (Berea), Rachel McDonnell (Brook Park), Douglas Schwind (Brook Park) and Heather Zirke (Berea).

Larry Gabbard (Middleburg Heights) is running as a write-in candidate.

Current board member Jeffrey Duke (Brook Park) did not seek re-election.

The polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 2. Early voting is currently under way.

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