Brunswick is handing the keys to City Hall operations to one of its own. Council President and Vice Mayor Nicholas Hanek will slide out of his elected seat and into the city manager’s chair, replacing longtime administrator Carl DeForest. The move shifts Hanek from setting policy to running the machinery of day-to-day government. He is expected to vacate his council seat in April and step into the new role in May.
As reported by Cleveland.com, Hanek announced the move on Facebook, saying, “I'm retiring from politics, and my full-time job is going to be government,” and inviting anyone eyeing his soon-to-be-open council seat to meet with him. That report notes council has chosen Hanek to succeed DeForest and highlights DeForest’s long run leading the administration.
What the city manager does
The city manager is the council-appointed executive responsible for turning policy into on-the-ground action. The job includes supervising appointed department heads across police, fire, parks, finance, service and other divisions, and keeping the daily operations of the city on track. Brunswick’s municipal site describes the manager as the person in charge of day-to-day administration and of directing appointed leadership through any transition. The City of Brunswick spells out that job description.
DeForest's tenure and the handoff
Carl DeForest has been a steady presence in Brunswick government for years, moving up through the police ranks before serving as acting city manager and then taking the job permanently. University of Akron alumni notes record his move into the manager’s role around 2017. University of Akron documents his early transition into that position.
Local coverage of the city’s recent manager search has traced the churn in the office following prior terminations and interim appointments, which helped set the stage for council to pick an experienced local hand. The Eastern Medina Post has detailed DeForest’s earlier acting roles and the latest hiring process.
Hanek's record and what comes next
Hanek is a lawyer and more-than-decade-long council member who, according to his council biography, has backed efforts focused on public safety, parks and economic development while practicing at Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis. With his move into the manager’s office, his council seat will open up and follow the usual candidate filing and election timeline.
Would-be candidates and curious residents should watch the statewide primary-related filing deadlines that hit in February on the 2026 elections calendar. The City of Brunswick provides background on Hanek’s council tenure, and the Ohio Secretary of State lists the official election deadlines.
What to watch
Council is expected to finalize Hanek’s appointment and any staffing timelines at upcoming meetings, and residents can track the paperwork, agendas and minutes through the city’s civic clerk portal. The administration is expected to release the contract terms and a transition schedule in an upcoming council packet as public records are updated. For the official timeline and future council actions, keep an eye on the city’s agendas and minutes page via the City of Brunswick.
