Kevin Ward Announces Candidacy For Mayor of Avon

A second candidate, also an Avon councilman, has announced he will run for mayor of Avon in November 2013. Councilman in his fourth year serving Ward III, announced his candidacy April 25.

Earlier this week, Ward 1 Counclman Bryan Jensen announced he will run for the seat currently held by Jim Smith, who said he is retiring this year.

“When I was elected to Avon City Council in 2009, my only desire was to serve the residents of Avon to the best of my ability,” Ward said in a press release. “I have enjoyed serving with Mayor Jim Smith and his staff, along with my fellow members of council. With Mayor Smith’s retirement at the end of the year, I believe Avon will need someone with leadership skills and a wide range of experience to continue to manage the growth of our great city.”

Ward, 44, said the city has grown considerably in the past 20 years and as a “strong leader” he would be adept at leading the city staff which totals more than 150 men and women.

“I believe our staff and the residents of Avon deserve a strong leader with both a service and a financial background that can guide and manage our city through the next four years,” he said. “As both a former Army officer and a business leader, I believe I have the leadership skills and the necessary experience to complete that task and to honorably and effectively serve the residents of Avon.”

Ward said he believes in tight budgeting and sound fiscal policy “because we cannot provide for the future of our community without responsible spending today.”

“With my financial experience, I will work to ensure that we protect our city now and in the future. I will support utilizing our limited resources to do what is most important to the residents: upgrade and maintain our city’s infrastructure and the delivery of our basic services,” Ward said.

If elected mayor, facilitating local business and ensuring the city makes starting and running a business an easy administrative process would be a priority.

H e has also been a member of the Council’s Finance Committee as well as the Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee.

He holds a Master’s degree in business administration from Boston University and a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Cleveland State University. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves since 1986 and became an officer in 1990 serving almost 5 years in active service. During his service, he was promoted to Captain and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, three Army Commendation Medals and the Army Achievement Award.

He is currently a business management consultant with the Spartan Group, providing assistance to organizations modernizing their operations with technology and helping to make their organizations more productive.

Kevin and his wife Karen have been married for 25 years and have three children - Kevin Jr. , 15, Brittney, 13 and Ryan, 10.