About John

About John
John Plecnik (Slovenian: Plečnik, Pronounced: Plech-nik) is your
"No Nonsense, Common Sense Councilman" for Willoughby Hills!

You elected John our Councilman-at-Large on November 5th, 2013, and twice re-elected him as the top vote-getter in all contested races for elected office in Willoughby Hills. Council voted to appoint John as Vice President of Council in his second term, and unanimously re-elected him as Vice President. In his three terms, John has worked hard for you and served on every single Committee of Council. John currently serves as Chair of the Finance Committee; Member of the Rules & Legislation, Personnel Relations, and Utilities Committees; and our Willoughby Hills Representative to the Cuyahoga County Airport Noise Abatement Council. John's promise is honesty and fiscal responsibility. His goal is to serve you and only you as a trustworthy and dedicated, independent voice!

Law Professor
John serves as an Associate Professor of Law with Tenure at the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University, where he teaches Tax I; Tax Procedure, Penalties & Crimes; Wealth Transfer Tax; and Estates & Trusts. Prior to his current post, John served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he taught Tax Penalties & Tax Crimes.

In 2012, John's students voted him Professor of the Year. In 2015, John won the Golden Apple Award from the Alumni Association, and was named Co-Chair of the Cleveland State University Faculty & Staff Campaign, which raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for student scholarships.

In 2016, John was appointed Interim Associate Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. In 2017, John was awarded a bilateral grant from the Public Research Agency of Slovenia, highlighted as the "Featured Researcher" for Cleveland State University in February by its Office of Research, and his students voted him Professor of the Year. In 2018, John's law review article, "Officers Under the Appointments Clause," was cited by the U.S. Supreme Court in Justice Sonia Sotomayor's dissenting opinion in the case of Lucia v. SEC.

Hardworking Volunteer & Public Servant
John volunteers as a Board Member of the Slovenian American Cultural Association, which publishes the Slovenian American Times. John is also a member of St. Vitus Church, Slovenska Pristava, SNPJ (Slovenian National Benefit Society), KSKJ (American Slovenian Catholic Union), Collinwood Slovenian Home, and the High Note Society of the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame. In Willoughby Hills, he volunteers for the Pancake Breakfasts, Easter Party, Corn Fest, Craft Show, Halloween Party, Winter Fest, and Breakfast with Santa. In the past, John served as Chair of the Recreation Commission for the City of Willoughby Hills and Vice President of the Board of Trustees for the Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library System.

Holds Degrees in Accounting, Law, and Taxation
John earned his B.A., summa cum laude, in Accounting from Belmont Abbey College, where he graduated co-valedictorian. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from Duke University School of Law. While at Duke, he was one of six inaugural executive board members to co-found the Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy. He also served as an editor on Law & Contemporary Problems and received the Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement in Taxation & Estate Planning. John earned his LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law. While at NYU, he served as Executive Editor of the NYU Review of Law & Social Change and was the first part-time student to be selected as a member of that review. In addition, John was awarded the Certificate in Business Excellence by Columbia University Graduate School of Business for completing a number of Executive Education programs.

Practiced Law in New York City and Advised a Federal Judge in Washington, DC
Following his graduation from law school, John joined the Wall Street law firm of Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP as an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) attorney. He then served as an Attorney-Adviser to Judge David Gustafson of the United States Tax Court.

Successful Small Businessman
John was the owner and founder of Plecnik Real Properties, LLC, which sold and leased homes in Northeast Ohio. His father taught him how to work on homes, and John enjoyed the challenge of hanging doors, installing sink traps, and repairing masonry. After balancing his books and running his business at a profit for three years, John negotiated a deal to sell his properties for more than twice his original investment.

Son of a Slovenian Immigrant
John is a first generation American, and he fought hard to achieve the American Dream! John’s family emigrated from Slovenia to Ohio in the 1950s and gravitated toward the East Side of Cleveland and Willoughby Hills. He has family that has lived in Willoughby Hills for decades, and he fondly remembers visiting them as a young boy for summers and special occasions. Those visits led to his decision to live in our city permanently. John owns a home on the corner of Bishop Road and Evergreen Drive.

Has a Puppy!
John’s family includes his best friend, Bimmer the puppy, and the two of them love to go for walks all over Willoughby Hills. If you see them exploring our Metroparks, be sure to say hello!