Meet the Candidates for Lakewood's New Treasurer

The has whittled a list of 20 candidates for the district's new treasurer down to a half-dozen.

We thought we'd share a little more information about each candidate.

• Teresa L. Emmerling, treasurer, Massillon City Schools: Emmerling has more than 21 years of experience in education and finance. Before taking the treasurer post in Massillon, she was the treasurer of the East Liverpool School District for five years overseeing a budget of $24 million.
• Lewis E. Galante, treasurer, Perry Local Schools: Going back to 2002, Galante has been the treasurer of four school district around the state. Before taking the post in Perry, he worked in Fairport Harbor, Garfield Heights and Wellington.
• Robert J. Matson, treasurer, North Olmsted City Schools: Matson’s experience in public education goes back to 1987 when he took over as the treasurer for the Maple Heights School District. Prior to that, he had worked in the private sector since 1984.
• Timothy J. Penton, treasurer/chief fiscal officer, Whitehall City Schools: Penton has 15 years of financial experience with Ohio school districts, beginning when he was treasurer’s assistant at Keystone Local Schools in LaGrange. Penton is former president of the Ohio Association of School Business Officials, and active in the Ohio School Boards Association.
• Biagio Sidoti, treasurer/chief fiscal officer, North Ridgeville City Schools: Sidoti has been keeping the books at North Ridgeville since 1998, managing a $35 million budget. He is a member of the Ohio School Boards Association and the Ohio Association of School Business Officials, and has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1994.
• Kevin M. Staller, treasurer, Nordonia City Schools: Staller, of Lakewood, has held the position of treasurer at four school organizations, including the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County, since 1989. He received his B.S. in accounting from Case Western Reserve University in 1976.

There were 14 other applicants considered, including Jennifer Pae, the city of Lakewood's current finance director.

The Ohio School Boards Association assisted the district with the search.

The new treasurer will start on Aug. 1, 2012, and current treasurer Rick Berdine’s last day is Dec. 31, 2012.

Berdine – who unexpectedly  in June after 10 years with the district – will help the new treasurer throughout the transition process.

The district complied with a Lakewood Patch public records request seeking the names and resumes of the applicants.