City Council Taking Applications to Replace Pat Coyne

City Council is now accepting applications for the at-large seat vacated by last week.

Council President Mike Daymut said those interested in seeking the seat can submit applications to City Hall by 4:30 p.m. May 27.

The replacement will serve until the end of Coyne's term, which expires Dec. 31, 2013.

"I'm looking for serious applicants who are willing to serve that long," Daymut said.

Law Director Ken Kraus said council has 30 days from the next council meeting to appoint a new representative, according to the city charter. With the next meeting set for Monday, that gives council until June 15.

If members don't appoint by then, the duty falls to Mayor Tom Perciak, Kraus said.

Coyne abruptly resigned from council Friday, May 6, three days before he was arrested by the FBI on a bribery charge. He was implicated last September in a bribery case involving Hinckley developer David Terry as part of the ongoing corruption probe in Cuyahoga County.

Coyne appeared in U.S. District Court May 9 and was placed on house arrest. He was released on $50,000 bond.

His attorney, Craig Weintraub, said Coyne will plead not guilty to the charge.

An affidavit from at FBI agent filed in federal court alleges Coyne approached Terry in early 2008 and asked for money. Terry, who has already pleaded guilty to bribing Coyne, told the FBI he gave Coyne four separate checks for $5,000 each, made out to four different accounts with Coyne's home address.

Three were the Strongsville Democratic Club, Citizens for Pat Coyne and Strongsville Wildcat Baseball.

The affidavit says National City Bank later drew on those funds to issue a check for $15,000 to Smuggler's Bay Point, a development in Marblehead. That check was used toward the purchase of a condo for Coyne, the document says.

Daymut said the process to replace Coyne will be determined after he sees how many applications are received. Council will interview all or some of the applicants before voting on a replacement.