Willowick Mayor Michael Vanni looks forward to new post

Dec. 14—For the last 17 years, Michael Vanni served as the Ward 1 councilman for Willowick. Now, he is excited to represent the whole city as mayor.

Vanni was appointed by Willowick City Council as mayor in November after Richard Regovich became a Lake County commissioner after winning in the Nov. 8 election.

"I'm humbled and honored to have been appointed by council," Vanni said. "The support has been unbelievable."

Since 2005, Vanni said he has been able to forge good working relationships with everyone and has been able to build trust.

"I'm excited and I love doing what I'm doing even more than I thought I was going to," Vanni said. "Everyone's made the transition easier than I could have ever imagined. The people we have working for the city are outstanding."

Even though the mayoral position is part time, it allows for more visibility, Vanni said.

"All our employees, from the directors to chiefs and everyone all the way down, really care about the city," he said. "It shows in their work and they make my job easy. I cannot thank them enough."

Willowick has three wards and two council members in each in addition to the council president. From late November to Dec. 9, the city accepted resumes for those interested in filling the Ward 1 seat.

"Those applicants will be interviewed by council and I believe that meeting is going to be Dec. 22, but there will be a notice going out shortly with the exact date and time," he said. "We hope to have that position filled very soon."

Regovich's last day as mayor was Nov. 28.

Regovich said he hopes to continue to work with Willowick at the county level and plans to bring much of the same desires and ideas he's had during his time as mayor to Lake County.

"I went through a lot in six and half years," Regovich previously told The News-Herald. "My love for Willowick is true and genuine. I grew up here and I raised my kids here, and I intend on staying."