Newly appointed Orange council member wants to give back to community - cleveland.com

ultrasimi.blogspot.com

ORANGE, Ohio -- Amanda Kurland, who has been active in the village since she ran unsuccessfully for a seat on Village Council in 2019, has been appointed to a vacancy on council.

In a special meeting Monday (Sept. 27) held via Zoom video, council voted to appoint Kurland to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Pradip Kamat. The unexpired term ends Dec. 31, 2023.

Kurland was then administered the oath of office by Mayor Kathy U. Mulcahy.

Kamat, who had served on council since January 2020, tendered his resignation Sept. 21, effective immediately. He did not disclose his reasons for resigning, but he has had health issues that caused him to miss nearly four months of council meetings last year.

“I’m absolutely thrilled,” Kurland said in an interview. “It’s something I’ve been working for the last couple years. I’m honored and thrilled to be invited to be part of the council.”

When council was voting to approve Kurland’s appointment, Councilwoman Staci Adelman Vincent said, “With heartfelt gratitude to Pradip Kamat for his service to the Orange Village community, I enthusiastically and proudly welcome Amanda with a resounding yes.”

“We’re obviously all excited to have you,” Council President Brandon Duber told Kurland. “You deserve this probably more than anybody. So thank you for accepting this (appointment).”

Kurland was one of five candidates on the ballot for four open seats on council in the Nov. 2 election. Her appointment to council means the four remaining candidates -- incumbents Alan Charnas, Judson Kline, Lisa Perry and Brent Silver -- will be re-elected without opposition.

Kurland said due to her appointment, she planned to contact the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections Tuesday (Sept. 28) to officially withdraw from the race.

“I know the mayor and other members of council well, and I’m looking forward to serving with them,” she said. “Even when running against some of them, I said everyone is on council for the right reasons.

“I was running because I felt I had something to give, not because they had a deficit. I’m really excited to work with these good people.”

Kurland, 51, serves on the village’s Finance Committee, Records Commission and Tax Incentive Review Council. All of that involvement has taken place since she lost in her first bid for a seat on council in November 2019.

“I really believe in giving back to the community in whatever capacity one is able to do,” she said. “I think this (serving on council) is a way I’m able to give back.

“I really love being part of Orange Village, and I believe I have a lot to offer. I’m a good listener, I’m interested in learning about things and I’m always looking for ways to make things better.”

A Cleveland native, Kurland has been an Orange resident for 15 years. She and her husband, Kenny Kurland, are co-owners of Corky and Lenny’s, a deli and restaurant in Woodmere.

Kurland, who grew up in Cleveland Heights and Beachwood, is a graduate of Hebrew Academy of Cleveland. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English, communications and journalism and an associate degree in Judaic studies from the Stern College for Women, the undergraduate women’s college of Yeshiva University in New York.

“Thankfully, there are no major issues facing the village right now,” she said. “We really want to maintain the village in good condition financially.”

Kurland added that the village has been “really good about balancing development with green space.”

“My main goal is to just ensure that the village continues going in this direction, which I’m happy with,” she said.

Kurland said her intention at this point is to seek to retain the seat in the fall of 2023.

“Quite a few people have supported me in my endeavor to be part of council,” she said. “I really want to thank everyone who has supported me, and I’ll be excited to have their support again in two years.”

Kamat, 68, was elected to council in his first run for public office in November 2019. The native of India has lived in the village since 1994.

His wife, Deborah Kamat, resigned from the Orange Board of Education for personal reasons in May after having served since January 2018.

Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun.

Adblock test (Why?)

"Give" - Google News
September 28, 2021 at 07:16AM
https://ift.tt/2ZsYjU6

Newly appointed Orange council member wants to give back to community - cleveland.com
"Give" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2YqGX80
https://ift.tt/2YquBwx

Bagikan Berita Ini