ONTARIO — Members of Richland County’s Republican Central Committee have begun discussions on appointing a member to the Ontario City Council.
Dan Zeiter, elected as the council’s Fourth Ward representative last November, passed away on April 4. Since Zeiter was elected as a Republican, the party will appoint a replacement to serve out the rest of his four-year term.
“It’s certainly unexpected and very sad,” said Cliff Mears, who chairs the GOP central committee. “We’re all shocked and we offer our condolences to the Zeiter family.”
Mears said the appointment procedure won’t be delayed because of COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines, but it likely won’t be done in person.
“We’re having ongoing discussions as to how we handle that,” Mears said. “It will certainly be done by teleconference.”
The committee is required to appoint a council member between 5 and 45 days after the vacancy occurred. Candidates will be interviewed and the decision made by the two central committee members who reside in Ontario, Zoi Romanchuk and Jane Zimmerman.
Romanchuk and Zimmerman have already selected two Ontario city council members this year, following the unexpected resignations of Mark Weidemyre and Larry Arnold in December.
“We’re very surprised that we have another opening in Ontario,” Romanchuk said.
Anyone interested in seeking an appointment to Zeiter’s seat can contact Jane Zimmerman at 440-591-0147 or the Richland County Republican Party at 419-528-8223. Interested parties must be residents of Ontario’s Fourth Ward.
According to the city of Ontario’s bylaws, the boundaries of the Fourth Ward are as follows:
(a) The east boundary of Ward 4 begins at the intersection of Millsboro Road and Chambers Road, proceeds north along the centerline of Chambers Road to SR 430, west along the centerline of SR 430 (Park Avenue West) to Lewis Road, north along the centerline of Lewis Road to a point on the north boundary of the City of Ontario.
(b) The north boundary of Ward 4 coincides with the north boundary of the City of Ontario between Lewis Road and SR 314.
(c) The west boundary of Ward 4 begins at the intersection of SR 314 and the north boundary of the City of Ontario, (near the south right of way of Snodgrass Road) and proceeds south along the centerline of SR 314 to a point on the south boundary of the City of Ontario.
(d) The south boundary of Ward 4 begins at the intersection of SR 314 and the south boundary of the City of Ontario and proceeds west along the south boundary of the City of Ontario to the intersection of Millsboro Road and Chambers Road, which is the point of beginning.
