Joshua Morrison/Mount Vernon News
Chris Menapace
MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon City Councilmember Chris Menapace resigned Thursday, leaving the Republic Central Committee to find a replacement to serve out the last few months of his term.
Menapace said in an e-mail to council and city officials he is resigning due to his moving out of Mount Vernon, having sold his home in The Landings Subdivision. Menapace gave his effective resignation date as Oct. 1.
Menapace announced at the Sept. 23 meeting of City Council that he would be resigning if his home sold. He said he has been planning to move to Coshocton to be closer to family, and has already enrolled his children in school there.
The central committee will hold a meeting sometime after Oct. 5 to make an appointment. Knox County Republican Party Chair Chip McConville said that per Ohio statute, the committee cannot meet on the issue until five days after the resignation date.
Eleven members of the central committee from Mount Vernon will make the vote.
The three candidates for at-large seats on the council are Tanner Salyers, Janis Seavolt and Julia Warga. McConville said all are also eligible candidates to fill Menapace’s seat, though Seavolt is an incumbent and already holds a seat on the council. McConville said Salyers has spoken to him about filling the remainder of Menapace’s term.
The new appointment will be coming on just as the council is in the midst of a discussion on a stormwater utility. Menapace has chaired meetings on the stormwater utility in the past; Seavolt will chair those meetings going forward, Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis said.
Attempts to contact Menapace Friday were unsuccessful.
