Elected Officials

Lake County Commissioner John R. Hamercheck was elected to serve as one of three Lake County Commissioners. Hamercheck’s term as Commissioner commenced on January 3, 2017. Commissioner Hamercheck was re-elected to a second term that commenced on January 3, 2021.

Prior to taking office as Commissioner, Hamercheck built a successful engineering and communications firm, which he managed since 1992.

Hamercheck served as an elected member of Madison Village Council starting in 2006, and, with two re-elections, continuously serving until taking office as Commissioner in 2017. Hamercheck served four of those years as President of Council.

Hamercheck served as an auxiliary police officer for Madison Village. Hamercheck became Auxiliary Team Leader and Community Outreach Coordinator. Several other officers who were part of the auxiliary team have gone on to part-time and full-time positions as officers in Madison and other communities. In 2003, Hamercheck was named Madison Village Police Officer of the Year, the first time that award was given to an auxiliary officer.

As Commissioner, Hamercheck has served as the President of the Board of Commissioners in 2018, 2020 and 2021. Hamercheck also serves as the 1st Vice-President of the Executive Board for the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA). Additionally, Hamercheck serves as an Executive Board member of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO).

Hamercheck is a lifelong Lake County resident, John and his wife, Susan, were married in 1992 and together they have two daughters, Dyan and Sarah. The Hamerchecks welcomed Dyan’s husband, Isiah into the family in 2017 and are now proud grandparents with the arrival in 2020 of Leo.

Biographical Information

Commissioner John Plecnik was sworn in as the 79th Commissioner of Lake County, Ohio on February 11, 2021. He is one of three Lake County Commissioners, who meet weekly in Painesville to set the budget and administrative policy for county government.

In the past, Commissioner Plecnik served as Vice President of Council, Chair of Finance and Councilman-at-Large for the City of Willoughby Hills, where he personally negotiated and drafted the tax abatement that brought over 300 good-paying jobs and the single biggest employer in the last decade to Lake County. He also served as Vice President of the Board of Trustees for Willoughby-Eastlake Public Libraries and Chairman of the Willoughby Hills Recreation Commission.

Commissioner Plecnik is very active with our local nonprofits. He volunteers as a Board Member of the Slovenian American Cultural Association, which publishes the Slovenian American Times newspaper. Commissioner Plecnik is also a member of St. Vitus Church, SNPJ (Slovenian National Benefit Society), KSKJ (American Slovenian Catholic Union), Collinwood Slovenian Home, North Coast Lions, the Lake County Retired Teachers Association, Willoughby Hills Historical Society and the High Note Society of the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame.

Commissioner Plecnik holds degrees in accounting, law and tax. He earned his Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, in Accounting from Belmont Abbey College, where he graduated co-valedictorian. He earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Duke University School of Law, where he co-founded the Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy. He earned his Master of Laws in Taxation from New York University School of Law. Commissioner Plecnik was also awarded the Certificate in Business Excellence by the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University.

Commissioner Plecnik is also known as Professor Plecnik at the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University, where he serves as an Associate Professor of Law. Professor Plecnik has also taught classes at North Carolina Central University and Georgetown University. Internationally recognized for his work, Professor Plecnik won the prestigious Bilateral Grant twice from the Public Research Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, and his research has been cited as authority by the Supreme Court of the United States.

Prior to taking office as Commissioner, Richard J. Regovich was the Mayor of Willowick, Ohio for 6 and a half years.

Commissioner Richard Regovich started Willowick Hearts and Hammers to help the senior citizens and any other member of the community in need. He has served on the Willowick Planning Commission, Willowick Charter Review Committee, and was appointed as Willowick Ward 1 Councilman and then elected for another term. Two tenets which drive Rich are service and his faith. To this end, he has volunteered at countless school functions, sporting events and church festivals. He is a lifelong parishioner of Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic Church.

Regovich has been married to his wife, Lynn, for 33 years and together they raised their two children in Willowick. Their son, Brian (22) is currently in Graduate School at Baldwin Wallace University. Their daughter Lizzie (20) currently attends the University of Mount Union.

Employment

Lake County Common Pleas, General Division, judge since April 2004 Administrative Judge 2005, 2009, 2013 Presiding Judge 2015 Lake County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office 08/1990-04/2004 Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Criminal Division 10/1995-04/2004 Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Felony Division 10/1991-09/1995 Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Juvenile Court 01/1991-09/1991 Law Clerk 1990-1991 Special Prosecutor in Ashtabula County Special Prosecutor in Geauga County

Lecturer Attorney General’s Two Days in May Conference on Victim’s Assistance 2000 Lakeland Community College, Police Officer’s Training Workshop 1998, 2000, 2002 Lake County Common Pleas Judges' Seminar 2008-present

Licenses & Certifications Attorney & Counselor at Law, State of Ohio 1990 Admitted, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio 1994 Admitted, U.S. Supreme Court 2001

Education Juris Doctor degree, The Ohio State University 1990 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bowling Green State University 1987

Memberships (Professional) American Judges Association member The Justinian Forum member 2003-present Trustee 2005-present Lake County Bar Association member Certified Grievance Committee member 1999-2000 Judicial Endorsement Committee member 2000-2003 Notary Public Commission committee member 1999-2012 Lake County Association of Chiefs of Police former honorary member 2004-2006 Lake-Geauga Fraternal Order of Police past member Local Corrections Board of Lake County member 2004-present Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Advisory Board past member National District Attorneys Association 1991-2004 Northeast Ohio Community Alternative Program (NEOCAP) Judicial Advisory Board member 2007-2012 Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association member 2004-present Ohio Judicial Conference member 2004-present Criminal Law and Procedure Committee member 2007-present Jury Service Committee member 2013-present Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association 1991-2004 Ohio State Bar Association member

Memberships (Community) Americans of Italian Heritage Club member Kirtland Baseball League board member 2011, coach 2005-2011 Kirtland Youth Basketball League instructor and coach 2008-2012 Ohio High School Mock Trial, Legal Advisor 1991-1993, Judge 1994-present Rotary Club of Willoughby member 2005-present Andrews Osborne Academy board member 2013-present

Employment

Lake County Common Pleas, General Division, judge since 2015 Lake County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

Chief Assistant, Civil Division 2011-2014 Special Lake County Prosecuting Attorney 1991-2011 Assistant Prosecuting Attorney 1989-1991

Practicing Attorney John P. O’Donnell, LLC 2008-2014 Lyons & O’Donnell Co., LPA 1996-2008 Gibson, Harkins & Brelo Co., LPA 1991-1996

City of Willowick Ward 3 Councilman 2013-2014 Director of Law 2005-2011 Ward 3 Councilman 1994-2005 Grand River Village, Prosecutor 2004-2008 Lake County ADAMHS Board, Legal Counsel 1995-2011 Cuyahoga County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Assistant Prosecutor 1988 Lake County Public Defender’s Office, Assistant Public Defender 1987-1988

Licenses & Certifications

Attorney & Counselor at Law, State of Ohio 1987 Admitted, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio 1998 Admitted, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit 2000 Admitted, U.S. Supreme Court 2014

Education

Juris Doctor degree, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, 1987 Bachelor of Arts degree, John Carroll University, 1984 Memberships (Professional) Lake County Bar Association Ohio State Bar Association

Judge Jeffrey W. Ruple Current Term: 01/06/19-01/05/25; Common Pleas Judge since 2023

(Law established this judgeship effective April 21, 2023 ) 47 North Park Place, Painesville, Ohio 44077 (440) 350-2100 Facsimile (440) 350-2210 e-mail: [email protected]

STAFF

Bailiff/Jury Commissioner (440) 350-2097 Office Administrator/Paralegal/Jury Commissioner (440) 350-2100 Judicial Staff Attorney (440) 350-2098 Judicial Staff Attorney (440) 350-2094 Assignment Commissioner (440) 350-2095 Magistrates (440) 350-2053

EMPLOYMENT

City of Kirtland – Ward 4 Councilman 2019-2023 (President 2022-2023) Cardenas Ruple & Kurt LLC fka Deacon Cardenas & Ruple LLC 2014-2023 Buckley King LPA 2002-2014 Baughman & Associates Co., L.P.A. 2001-2002 Murphy & Lyons, P.S.C. 1999-2001 Falke & Dunphy 1997-1999

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Admitted, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit 2005 Admitted, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan 2001 Admitted, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio 2001 Admitted, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky 1999 Attorney and Counselor at Law, Commonwealth of Kentucky 1999 Admitted, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio 1998 Attorney and Counselor at Law, State of Ohio 1997

EDUCATION

Juris Doctor degree, University of Dayton School of Law, 1997 Bachelor of Arts Degree, Denison University, 1994 Memberships (Professional) Ohio State Bar Association Lake County Bar Association Community Involvement Ohio Supreme Court, Commission on the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center 2017-2022 Marilyn’s Voice, Board Member, 2016-Present Fine Arts Association, Board Member, 2014-2020 Leadership Lake County, Board Member 2016-2020 Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Board Member 2017-2020 Former Advisory Board Member of Learning About Business Former Board Member, Secretary and President of Red Oak Camp Former member and Board Member of Kirtland Kiwanis

EMPLOYMENT Lake County Common Pleas Judge, General Division, 2019-present Lake County Prosecutor’s Office 2003-2018 Portage County Prosecutor’s Office 1999-2003

LICENSES Attorney & Counselor at Law, State of Ohio 1999 Admitted, U.S. Supreme Court 2014

EDUCATION Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Juris Doctor, 1999 Miami University, Bachelor of Science in Business, 1994

MEMBERSHIPS Lake County Bar Association Notary Commission Ohio State Bar Association Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association

Judge Colleen A. Falkowski was elected to serve as Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division Judge beginning January 2, 2003. She is a graduate of Ursuline College (cum laude) and Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. In her 23 years experience before becoming a Judge, she served Lake County families as a Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts and as the staff attorney for the Child Support Enforcement Agency of the Lake County Department of Human Services.

Since 2003, Judge Falkowski has added innovations, including: Creation of a full-time mediation program staffed by Magistrates who are experienced family law attorneys Creation of a program for children ages 6-11 about divorce and their emotions. Holding a quarterly legal clinic, co-sponsored by the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Lake County Bar Association, Family Law Committee, and the ADAMHS Board for spouses who cannot afford an attorney to file for divorce. Holding continuing legal education classes for attorneys on mental health issues and guardians ad litem for required continuing legal education. Providing the home base and handler for the Lake County Court of Common Pleas Judges’ Facility Dog, Atticus, a yellow lab.

Judge Colleen A. Falkowski is appointed by Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor as a member of both the Supreme Court’s Commission on Dispute Resolution and Advisory Committee on Children, Families, and the Courts.

Judge Falkowski also serves as: Past President of the Ohio Association of Domestic Relations Judges and current Treasurer. Member of the Ohio Judicial College Domestic Relations Practice and Procedure Committee, founding and current member. Board member of the Ohio Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC).

Awards Judge Falkowski was honored with the 2015 Presidential Award by the Ohio Legal Services Foundation for the Legal Clinic Collaboration. Leadership Lake County’s Leader of the Year in 2015. National award received from the American Judges Association Chief Justice Richard W. Holmes Award of Merit in 2015.

As Probate Judge, I welcome you to the Lake County Probate Court Website.

We are dedicated to serving our citizens fairly, respectfully, and compassionately.

My staff and I look forward to serving you!

Lake County Recorder Becky Lynch was re-elected to a second term on November 3, 2020. Becky is the 25th County Recorder since Lake County’s establishment in 1840. The Recorder Office is located at 105 Main Street in Painesville, Ohio in Building C of the Administration Complex. The Recorder office enters new documents into the Official Public Record daily and maintains the Records Room library collection, preserving the history of our county’s land records. A property owner in Lake County can be assured that the official copy of their property deed is safely stored with their Lake County Recorder. Among additional Recorder Services, we provide access for records research, issue the State of Ohio Veteran I.D. card, and help to fight property fraud with the PFA program - Property Fraud Alert. For more information visit www.LakeCountyOhioRecorder.com

As the Sheriff of Lake County many have asked if I could tell a little bit about myself, my background and experience, so people know who this person is representing them as Sheriff.

My name is Frank Leonbruno. My wife Heidi and I have been married for 34 years and we have raised two daughters and two sons here in Lake County where we were both born and raised. Both of my sons and my son-in-law are also police officers right here in our Lake County communities. We are the proud grandparents of 5 granddaughters and one grandson … with more to come we hope!

I have been a proud member of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for over 30 years. Throughout my career I have continually sought to increase the professionalism of the Sheriff’s Office. Starting as a Corrections Officer in 1989 I was promoted to Sergeant, followed by Captain and Jail Administrator – a position held for 17 years. As the Jail Administrator I worked with over 100 Correction Officers and jail staff, supervising nearly 400 inmates. We accomplished many things together as a staff, and became the first jail in Ohio ever to be certified as being compliant with of the Ohio Minimum Jail Standards.

During that time I also served as the SWAT Team Hostage Negotiator and instructed in the Corrections and Police academies. In 2011 Sheriff Dunlap promoted me to Chief Deputy, second in command of the Sheriff’s Office. As Chief Deputy I was responsible for all operations, including Road Patrol, Court Security, Jail, Communications/Dispatch, Administrative Support Services, SWAT Team, Marine Patrol and CCW/SORN divisions. These duties required the efficient management of a $17 million dollar budget, over 215 employees, media relations, social media platforms, establishing department policy, contract negotiations, and advanced training.

My education includes a Master’s Degree in the Administration of Justice and Security from the University of Phoenix, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Philosophy from Borromeo College of Ohio. I am proud of the fact that in 2009 I graduated from the FBI National Academy, a program that less than 2% of police officers have the opportunity to attend in their career. My other certifications include: graduate of the Certified Law Enforcement Executives program (CLEE), graduate of the Police Executive Leadership College (PELC), graduate of the National Institute of Corrections, and one of the first Certified Jail Managers in the United States through the American Jail Association. For the past 27years I have had the opportunity to teach at Lakeland Community College in its Criminal Justice degree program in the areas of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Crisis Intervention.

Yet my proudest moments have come along side my wife Heidi as we have raised two sons, two daughters, and six fantastic grandchildren (and growing). Both of my sons and my son-in-law serve as police officers right here in Lake County. We have all been members of St. Cyprian’s Parish in Perry for over 25 years and believe that our faith in God is a critical part of our personal and family development, in addition to the service to our community.

While I am not perfect, my wife Heidi will tell you that I am a man of faith, believe in the importance of family, and an extremely hard worker who believes in the equality of law and the critical role that the Sheriff’s Office has in doing the right thing for the people of Lake County. As Sheriff I will continue to work with area police and fire chiefs to insure that we are using our best resources to defend the safety and security of our community. I promise to work with our elected officials at every level to ensure that we are a collaborative partner in making this county a phenomenal place to live.

I feel fortunate to have a tremendously skilled and experienced management team and outstanding individuals throughout our Sheriff’s Office. Jeff Sherwood serves as our Chief Deputy, Capt. Mike Warner manages Central Communications, Capt. Cynthia Brooks is our Jail Administrator, Lori Gladding oversees our Administrative Support Services, Lt. Larry Harpster runs our Detective Bureau, Lt. Bob Izzo directs Road Patrol operations, Capt. Ron Walters directs Court Services, and Robert Kundrat handles our IT operations. They are tremendously skilled and I am honored to serve with them.

I look forward to everyday here at the Sheriff’s Office moving us forward to meet the challenges of tomorrow by doing great things today. I consider it a great honor to serve all of you as Sheriff. If you ever have a question or feel you need to discuss something with me please do not hesitate to call. My office number is (440)350-5517 and my email address is [email protected]. Or stop in it would be great to see you!