Garfield Heights council elects Adrian Johnson as president; Michelle Tunzey chosen as pro tem, appoints clerk

Adrian Johnson was chosen as council president and Michelle Tunzey was elected council pro tem during the Garfield Heights City Council meeting on Nov. 10, 2025, following multiple nominations and roll-call ballots.

The meeting opened with nominations for president. Councilman Mark Smith nominated Avery Johnson; that nomination was seconded and put to a roll-call vote. After votes were tallied the clerk announced "We have 5 yes and 2 noes" and declared Adrian Johnson the council president. In remarks after the vote the new president thanked the council for their confidence. "I thank the council again for their confidence and their voting me as president of the city council," he said.

Nominations for council pro tem required several rounds. Dr. Tanisha Mack was nominated first but that motion failed on a 3-4 roll call. Clifford Kelly was nominated next; that motion also failed 3-4. Rochelle Thompson was nominated by Councilman Kelly and received support, but after subsequent voting the clerk announced a 5-2 result and identified Michelle Tunzey as council pro tem. The transcript contains inconsistent spellings of Tunzey's name (also recorded as Tunson/Tunze/Tunsey in places); the clerk's announcement is the basis for the outcome recorded here.

The council also appointed Marty O'Brien as clerk of council. Councilwoman Coffey moved the appointment and it was seconded; a roll-call vote was held and the clerk confirmed the motion passed.

These leadership and staffing decisions were procedural moves required to organize the council's work for the coming term. Several nominations drew split votes, but the final selections and the clerk appointment were approved at the meeting.

The council moved on to its legislative business afterward; adjournment was approved at about 7:45 p.m.