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Akron's Mayor-Go-Round of 2015

Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic (L) with city council president Gary Moneypenny in 2014.  Plusquellic was using a walker after back surgery.

The first new mayor to be elected in Akron since 1987 will be sworn in to office tomorrow (FRI).  Democrat Dan Horrigan hopes to provide a little stability to an office that was in turmoil this past year. 

 Ideastream’s Mark Urycki reports . . .

Akronites got along with the same mayor for 28 ½  years until 2015 when they had 3 mayors in a two week span.  

The wheels came off May 8 when the city’s longtime leader, Don Plusquellic, wrote a letter saying he would not only NOT run for reelection but would resign early, at the end of that month. 

His former chief of staff, Dave Lieberth every day was interesting working with Plusquellic.

“I look at it from an historic standpoint and this is a historic moment.  Not only is Don Plusquellic the longest serving mayor in Akron history, but he is the most accomplished mayor in Akron history."

City council president Gary Moneypenny, took over as mayor. But that didn’t last long. 

After 5 days in office the soft-spoken, former police officer, announced he would not seek election because he had hugged a city employee in an inappropriate way.  At first he intended to fill out the remaining year in office but then 3 days after his disclosure he resigned.  

That led to mayor number 3,  Jeff Fusco, the newly elected president of city council, to inherit the job.  Fusco held office for the rest of the year and decided not to run for Mayor. 

The open seat race led to a large group of hopefuls until voters decided in November to give the job to Summit County Clerk of Courts Dan Horrigan.   He starts his first full week on the job Monday.