Both Ward 2 candidate cite experience, professional skills
By Jeff Gallatin
Bay Village
Published Oct. 28, 2009

For both Ward 2 City Council candidates preparation is a key when finding ways to deal with municipal problems.

Incumbent Paul Koomar is the senior member of city council and a certified public accountant who works in finances for the Cleveland Clinic. Challenger Jeanette Corlett McGovern is a former chairwoman of the Municipal Planning Commission with more than 20 years experience in municipal planning, finance and development work in Illinois and Ohio.

Koomar said a primary responsibility of a Ward councilman is to deal with issues pertaining to constituents in the ward, both residential and business.

“You find those out by talking to people about what’s going on out there whether it’s going to their home, talking to them on the phone or meeting them somewhere,” he said.

McGovern said she’s had people tell her that they haven’t gotten a lot of response from their councilman.

“People tell me they don’t know him or what he looks like and that they haven’t gotten much out of him,” she said.

Koomar said he is responsive to people.

“I can tell your about about three phone calls just this week and that I’ve already met with the police to discuss those matters and that I’ve responded to other people as well recently,” he said.

Both said working with the businesses that are in Bay Village is important.

“We do need to have some development in the city,” McGovern said. “It’s been frustrating for a number of years to have ideas and plans go from the planning commission to council and see nothing happen. Ultimately I see council as having been somewhat passive and that’s something I believe I can help change.”

Koomar said he and other city officials do look into business matters.

“I meet and talk with officials from Dover Junction regularly about what’s going on in there,” he said. “We also discuss it in various forms in city meetings and with peole in the community.”

Both cited strong backgrounds in finance and related municipal areas.

“I’ve served on every municipal committee at some point and we’ve done a good job of handling municipal finances during some tight times,” he said.

McGovern also believe dealing with city finances is one of her strengths.

“It’s something I’ve dealt with for many communities for a number of years,” she said. “We can draw on those experiences and help find solutions to what we deal with as a city.”

Both also cite their various experiences in governmental matters as giving them the ability to work with other governmental officials and the community.