Cleveland Heights Reopens Search For New Council Member, Will Not Appoint Evans

Cleveland Heights City Council announced today that it has for a new council member to replace Phyllis Evans, who after serving nearly 20 years.

Evans, 67, , hoping that she would be able to continue to receive her benefits from the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System and regain her role on council.

Mayor Ed Kelley had said that council would consider her and the 11 other applicants who made the July 25 deadline.

But according to a press release from City Council, "it has decided not to appoint Evans to the vacant seat upon review of the opinion from OPERS that indicates that her health benefits would be in jeopardy."

The other 11 Cleveland Heights residents who applied for the role will still be considered, as will the four who submitted their applications late and were originally not considered. Council has also reopened its search until 5 p.m. Sept. 10.

“We decided to reopen the search based on the fact that many people told us that they would have applied, but they thought that Phyllis was going to get the position," said Mayor Ed Kelley.

, and , who ran for Cleveland Heights City Council in November 2011 and when former council member , are among the applicants.

The person appointed will fill the seat until November 2013. They will then need to run for re-election to the position to serve until the term ends, Dec. 31, 2015.

Kelley said that council will likely interview three to five candidates.

Evans had just . Evans, Vice Mayor Dennis Wilcox and Councilwoman Mary Dunbar . Coryell lost by . 

Applications are available at Cleveland Heights and will be available soon on the city's website.

The full list of original applicants: 

• David Bergstein
• David Biel
• Jessica Cohen
• Jeff Coryell
• Daniel Cronin
• Pleurat Dreshaj
• Mike Gaynier
• Robert Koonce
• Keba Sylla
• Robert Taylor
• Gina Weisblat