Leigh Turben, a 31-year resident of the city who has served on several community boards in recent years, is the pick by Oakwood City Council among 14 applicants to succeed Chris Epley.
Oakwood Mayor Bill Duncan notified applicants of the selection in a letter dated Monday as Epley is set to resign from council next week after being elected in November as a judge on the Second District Court of Appeals in Dayton.
Turben on Tuesday declined to discuss council’s decision until after her appointment, which is scheduled to be voted on Feb. 1.
She will serve until Dec. 31, 2021 and can seek election November, according to the Oakwood city charter.
Duncan said Turben “is best qualified to serve our community at this time,” according to his letter.
Other applicants, records show, included: Parker Bedsole, Cate Berger, Mark BonDurant, Dan Edwards, Healy Jackson, Sarena Kelley, James Leach, Andrew Norton, Don O’Connor, David Schoeff, Justin Shineman, Raya Whalen and Brian Wright.
Turben said in her application letter that she was “seeking this appointment because I value the importance of a diverse city council, and believe my skill set and civic contributions make me a strong candidate.”
After earning a bachelor’s degree in communications from Penn State University, Turben’s 33-year career included working for Bank of America, Mellon Bank, US Bank, Fifth Third Bank and Huntington National Bank, records show.
She had been a vice president for 22 years before retiring in 2011 and “was always goal oriented, and results driven,” according to her application with the city.
A year after retiring, Turben joined the Wright Memorial Public Library Advisory Board. She later became a member of the city’s Budget Review Committee, the Consumer Board for Dorothy Lane Market and the Oakwood Historical Society Board of Directors.
“Through my civic participation and contributions, I have demonstrated that I am a person who can bring change and add value,” Turben said in her application.
“I believe that my professional and personal experience would serve the Council in advancing strategic planning, project organization, financial management and policymaking,” she added.
Turben can seek a two-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2022 to serve out the unexpired portion of the seat or may run for a full four-year term, according to the city.
Oakwood City Council members have a salary of $2,800 a year, city records show.
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