Lake County Treasurer Lorraine M. Fende said she is not interested in a potential appointment as Lake County commissioner.

"When I ran for treasurer, I made a commitment to the residents of Lake County to pursue the collection of delinquent taxes and I would be remiss in my duties as an elected official if I didn't keep that promise," Fende said.

Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish has served the past 18 years as commissioner and announced Nov. 18 that he would not seek re-election in 2016 and he would resign effective Dec. 31. The Lake County Democratic Party Central Committee will appoint a new commissioner in January.

So far, Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO and Laketran Trustee President Kevin Malecek is the only person to publicly announce a candidacy. Malecek also is a former Willoughby Hills councilman.

Others who sources say are in the mix are state Rep. John Rogers; Common Pleas Court Judge Joe Gibson, who term ends this year and couldn’t run for re-election due to age limits; Clerk of Courts Maureen Kelly; Recorder Ann Radcliffe; Mentor Councilman Matt Donovan; and Concord Township Trustee Paul Malchesky.

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah