After voting Thursday to appoint Pamela Bobst, 48, as mayor, City Council and the more than 50 people gathered at City Hall gave her a standing ovation. William Knoble resigned the post June 9, and Bobst, former council president, will serve through the rest of his term, ending Dec. 31, 2007.

Beside Bobst, the only member not voting on the appointment was at-large Councilwoman Linda Bartalozzi, who said at the June 26 council meeting that she would be out of town, but wanted to voice her support of council’s mayoral nominee.

“I think it’s an excellent choice and I have the utmost confidence in Mrs. Bobst,” Bartalozzi said. “She would have my vote.”

Mayor Pam Bobst

Though Ward 4 Councilman Brian Hagan said he advocated for council to extend an open invitation to all residents interested in the mayor’s office, he also voted for Bobst. City Council did consider the qualifications of its administrators, none of whom were interested, as well as Fred Sokol and former Fairview Park Mayor Richard Anter — candidates in the last mayor’s race.

The new mayor’s husband, Dr. Thomas Bobst, and the couple’s children, Caroline, 13; Christine, 16; and Matthew, 18, smiled on as state Rep. Sally Conway Kilbane (R-Rocky River) swore Bobst into office. Also on hand were several city employees and administrators. Bobst thanked them all for their support.

  Since June 12, Bobst has served as a member of City Council and interim mayor. Prior to Knoble’s departure, she spent several weeks with him preparing for such an event, as the charter would require her to take over the job until council appointed her or another. During that time, Bobst met with city officials and studied ongoing and future city projects.

Fairview Park Mayor Eileen Patton said she recently worked with Bobst at the June 16 Westshore Council of Governments meeting.

Officials from Bay Village, Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted, Rocky River and Westlake comprise the group.

“I think it will be an excellent transition,” Patton said. She added that Bobst is already very knowledgeable on affairs concerning the Westshore governments.

Bobst is the first woman to serve as mayor in the more than 100-year-old city, as was Patton when she was first elected.

Though both accomplishments are monumental, Patton said she never made gender an issue in her campaign, running instead on her experience and accomplishments.

According to City Council and Fairview’s Patton, Bobst, who served for more than 10 years as a councilwoman, was appointed for the same reasons.

“I came on board with the knowledge of city issues, just as Pam is doing in Rocky River,” Patton said.

Bobst has a master’s degree from Kent State University in community health education and a bachelor’s of arts degree in health care access/public health. She was the special program coordinator for the Research Institute of the American Dental Association’s Bureau of Health Education. She also worked for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio in the HMO Health Ohio and Provider Relations divisions.

In addition, she served as a grant and continuation application reviewer for the Centers for Disease Control, Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Adolescent and School Health.

Besides her talent, Brian Hurtuk, Rocky River’s interim council president, said appointing Bobst allows continuity in government and eliminates the “learning curve,” something the entire council thought was necessary.

“Early on, one of the most important things was really a seamless transition, one that promotes business as usual,” Bobst said.

Now that she’s been made Rocky River’s 16th mayor, Bobst plans to follow through with current city projects and hopes to be able to implement some new ones, she said.

The city is currently expanding its civic center, has road and streetscape projects under way, and is anticipating a renewal in business with the opening of a revamped Beachcliff Market Square. Plans for a massive, federally funded overhaul of Lake Road also are in the works. The three-year project will reconstruct the one-third of the road’s eastern portion, including sewers, while two-thirds of the western portion will be resurfaced.

“Obviously you want to see these projects through to a timely conclusion either on budget or under budget,” Bobst said.

She added that she, city administration and her former council members have several other things they would like to accomplish.

They include addressing property maintenance issues, rehabilitating aging sewer systems and strengthening nontax revenue sources.

Bobst also would like to continue looking at creative ways to save money, such as regional cooperation on purchases and getting state and federal grants when possible.

Some other things she wants to see include a revamping of the city’s public records system, making information accessible quickly and easily, while cutting down on manpower. Updating the city’s global information system is another of her goals. The tool could provide the city with guidance in building, controlling its public right-of-ways, knowing what utilities are located where, and has myriad other possibilities.

Bobst’s appointment leaves a vacancy on City Council and less than one month to fill it. Residents interested in the at-large position can submit resumes in person, by mail or e-mail, to the office of the clerk of council, Misao Kurokowa, 21012 Hilliard Blvd., by 4 p.m. July 12. Hurtuk said interviews begin July 17. City Council also is expected to vote at its July 10 meeting to appoint a new council president and council pro tem. For more information, call City Hall at (440) 331-0600.