Columbus City Council will choose between three candidates for the vacant city auditor position, following the resignation of Megan Kilgore.
The city released a list of three "qualified" finalists that it narrowed from a total of five candidates for the city's chief financial officer. Those candidates are Jacquelin Lewis, Kimberley Mason and Garrett Patterson.
Mason isn't new to the Columbus political scene, running two unsuccessful bids for Columbus City Schools' Board of Education in 2025 and 2019. She's a higher education partnership director with the Ohio Banker's League. She has a master's degree in public administration from American Public University.
Lewis is a finance attorney with the private practice Bricker Graydon Wyatt LLP and also a board member of several prominent organizations in Columbus, including the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County, the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority and the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority.
Lewis graduated from Ohio State University Moritz College of Law with a juris doctorate, a master's in public policy and management and bachelor's degrees in French and international relations.
Patterson is the director of debt management and internal bank operations at Ohio State University, helping manage the finances of the state's largest public university.
Patterson has a masters and bachelors degree from Ohio State University in business administration and public administration and leadership.
The two applicants the city rejected were Elise Byrd, a student at Capital University, and Amal Osman, a remote IT specialist.
In remarks to city council, Kilgore stressed the importance of picking someone qualified and experienced for this role.
"This is not a ceremonial appointment. It is not a routine transition. And it is not a role that can be learned on the job," Kilgore said.
Kilgore compared the role to running the finances of a Fortune 500 company, helping manage billions of dollars, overseeing complex financial systems, and working with a web of investors, rating agencies and private companies that choose to work with Columbus because of what she called the city's "historically strong financial foundation."
The city has only had eight auditors in history compared to 48 mayors and countless council members since the city was founded in 1812. Kilgore pointed out she is one of only four people to serve in the position in the last 80 years.
Kilgore will also take part in the hearing where city council members will interview Lewis, Mason and Patterson.
The hearing is on April 27 at 4 p.m. at City Hall, during which time council members will publicly deliberate. At 5 p.m. the city council will start its regular meeting where it will vote on who to choose as Kilgore's successor.
The city said in a statement whoever is chosen will serve in the role for the remaining duration of the first two years of Kilgore’s elected term, until Jan. 1, 2028. The appointee or any other individual could then file to run for election in 2027 to complete the final two years of the term.
Then another election for a city auditor to serve a four-year term would be held in 2029.
