Former state Rep. Tavia Galonski is appointed Summit County clerk of courts

Stephanie Warsmith, Akron Beacon Journal
Updated ·2 min read
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Former state Rep. Tavia Galonski was appointed this week by the Summit County Democratic Party’s central committee as the new Summit County Clerk of Courts.

Galonski replaces Sandra Kurt, who was elected the Akron Municipal Court clerk in November.

Galonski’s appointment will have a ripple effect on several positions. This includes:

  • The Ohio House Democrats will appoint Galonski’s replacement for the 33rd district. They are expected to tap Summit County Council President Veronica Sims, who is running unopposed for this House seat in the November election.

  • The House Democrats also will choose a new assistant minority whip, a position Galonski had held since 2021.

  • The local Democratic Party will appoint Sims’ replacement on County Council.

  • With Sims not running for her District 5 seat on council, a new representative will be elected for that district this year.

Veronica Sims
Veronica Sims

Galonski is Summit's first Black county clerk

Galonski, who was appointed as the county clerk in a meeting Wednesday night, immediately resigned from her Statehouse seat.

More: Summit County will feature many rare, competitive primary races in 2024 Ohio House races

“It has been an honor to serve the people of the 33rd Ohio House District,” Galonski, who has been a state representative since 2017, said in a news release. “I will continue to serve the public as the Summit County clerk of courts — where I will always work to put people first.”

Galonski becomes the first Black Summit County clerk, said Tom Bevan, chairman of the Summit County Democratic Party.

An interim county clerk had been appointed to serve until the county party could choose a replacement.

Galonski will have to run in the Nov. 5 election to try to keep her clerk seat. She will face off against one of two Republicans: Katie Reed, who is the Barberton Municipal Court clerk, or Napoleon Rodgers Jr. Galonski is the only Democrat in the race.

More: Election is already heating up; here's what we know about March primaries in Summit County

The candidates for the Summit County Council District 5 seat are Cynthia Blake, a Republican, and Brandon Ford and Ralph Paulk, who are Democrats.

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com, 330-996-3705 and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj. 

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Tavia Galonski is chosen as Summit County's new clerk of courts