North Ridgeville Council chooses Jason Jacobs to replace Michelle Hung

NORTH RIDGEVILLE — City Council members have selected lifelong North Ridgeville resident and health care administrator Jason Jacobs to fill the at-large seat that was vacated this month when Michelle Hung joined the board of Lorain County commissioners. In addition to working as the director of ancillary services at O'Neill Healthcare North Ridgeville, Jacobs serves on the city's Planning Commission and sits on the board of directors for the North Ridgeville Chamber of Commerce, according to his resume. Jacobs, a Republican, is on the North Ridgeville Office for Older Adults advisory board and the city's tax abatement review board. Hung also is a Republican. He was nominated to the Council seat Monday by Councilman Jim Maleski, R-at-large; the motion was seconded by Councilman Dennis Boose, D-2nd Ward; and he received unanimous approval from the remaining Council members. Jacobs will be sworn in at a date to be determined. Jacobs said Wednesday that he and his wife decided after they got married that they would stay in town and raise their family there, and he hopes his perspective as a lifelong resident will help him make good decisions for the city. Maleski said Jacobs has shown a "lifelong commitment to North Ridgeville" through his involvement in various organizations, as a businessman and as a father. "Jason will be an excellent candidate to join the team as we move the city forward," Maleski said. Jacobs will serve the rest of Hung's term, which runs through the end of this year. If he wants to retain the seat, he will have the opportunity to run for election. He said Wednesday that he intends to run. More than 20 candidates applied for the seat before the deadline last month. The candidates included a variety of civic and community leaders including former Council members and members of other boards. Some already have filed for the 2021 primary elections to run for Council-at-large seats. Lorain County Board of Elections records show former Democratic mayoral candidate Paul Wolanski and Republican Georgia Awig have thrown their hats in the ring, as have incumbent Council members Jacobs, Maleski and President Martin DeVries, R-at-large. There are three at-large seats in North Ridgeville City Council, and all expire at the end of 2021. Contact Dylan Reynolds at (440) 329-7123 or dreynolds@chroniclet.com. Follow him on Twitter @drey1357.