Candidate Profile: Ryan Nowlin for Lakewood City Council

Editor's Note: As part of Lakewood Patch's local election coverage, we will provide profiles of . These profiles will offer biographical and issue-oriented details about each of the candidates to help you, the voters, make more-informed decisions at the ballot box.

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Name: Ryan Nowlin

Age: 31

Occupation: Attorney, Schneider, Smeltz, Ranney & LaFond PLL, maintaining a practice in the areas of family law and commercial litigation

Education:  B.A., Loyola University Maryland; J.D., University of Maryland School of Law.

Political Affiliation: Democrat, although Lakewood races are nonpartisan

Office Sought: Lakewood City Council At Large

Previous Political Office Sought or Held: Current Member At Large, Lakewood City Council

Candidate Statement: I was appointed to in January, 2011, but my Lakewood story began a long time ago. My great-grandparents lived on Woodford Avenue in the house where I grew up. Three generations of my family attended St. James School. When my wife, Meghan, and I decided to buy our first home, I felt strongly about bringing up our children in this city – because while Lakewood’s history played a big part in my life, I wanted to take an active role in shaping its future. We are proud to raise our daughter, Maisie, and our twin sons, Tommy and Peter, in our home on Chase Avenue.

Before my appointment to City Council, I served as Co-Chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee; as a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals; and as a member of the Lakewood YMCA Branch Community Advisory Board. I know that Lakewood faces many challenges, both now and in the immediate future. I am committed to maintaining and improving Lakewood’s housing stock; to keeping Lakewood’s streets safe; and to helping Lakewood weather budget cuts from the state without raising taxes or cutting core services.

I will continue to work hard for our city, making sure that Lakewood remains Northeast Ohio’s best place to live, to work, and to raise a family.