Retired Green Beret Selected as New Councilman-at-Large

The chairman of the Avon Lake Historical Preservation Committee has been appointed to fill the vacated by now-Mayor Greg Zilka.

Shondel, 72, will complete the two years remaining of Zilka’s term, which expires Dec. 31, 2013.

Following his swearing in at council Jan. 23, Shondel immediately joined other council members. He thanked fellow council members for their selection and said he hopes to remain involved with the Historical Preservation Committee in his new capacity and add to other areas as well.

"As a former small business founder I’m especially hopeful to add to the discussion of economic development,” Shondel said.

Shondel has been an active community member since moving here seven years ago.

In 2011, Shondel created an email alert system he implemented to notify residents and business owner when it was appropriate to fly the flag at half-staff. He also serves as the sergeant-at-arms for the Avon Lake .

Shondel was one of 15 initial candidates for the seat. Five of those 15, Shondel, Zach Arnold, Bob Brooks, Andrew Perry and Michael Sherban were interviewed Jan. 21 before the final selection was made.

“What I bring is 50 years of adult life experience, a 24-year career in the military, a former professor, former high school football coach and 32 years in the insurance industry,” Shondel said at the interview. “I enjoy people and I enjoy leadership positions. I’ve been in a few and I’ve been successful.”

Shondel will head council’s Public Utilities Committee. Shondel said in this capacity he would like to revisit an item tabled at the May 16, 2011 Public Utilities meeting discussing the future of the He would also like to follow up on power outage issues in the city and focus on the city’s veterans.

“As a longer term, pet project, I might want to do more with veterans affairs using  the resources of the city…so that the overall environment is one of a community that cares,” he said.

Shondel earned a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and a master’s degree from American College. He founded Miami Valley Pension in 1978, retiring from the company in 1978. Shondel, a former Green Beret, retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1985 and earned numerous military decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal adn Special Forces Tab, among others.

He lives in Avon Lake with his wife Delores. They have one grown son, Michael, who lives in Milford, Ohio.