Samuel DeShazior, formerly a top business and economic development official for the city of Akron, will serve as Akron's new Ward 1 council member.
Council unanimously selected DeShazior Monday to fill the seat, which has been open since former Councilmember Nancy Holland unexpectedly resigned in early January.
Now an economic development consultant, DeShazior previously worked for the city of Akron for 17 years, he said.
He served as deputy mayor for economic development and director of business retention and expansion during the administration of previous Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan, DeShazior said.
“I’ve always thought of this city as a special place,” DeShazior said. “Ward 1 is a special place with a lot of special people.”
DeShazior was sworn in after council's vote. He will serve as Ward 1 councilmember until the next regularly scheduled election.
DeShazior left his city position Dec. 31, 2023, when Shammas Malik was sworn in as Akron’s new mayor. He’s excited to be back to serve in a new way, he said.
“Why not have a chance to look at some of the skill sets that I had developed over time and be able to bring it back to the place where I live and that I love living in?” DeShazior said.
Touting the ethnic and multicultural diversity of Ward 1, DeShazior added that he hopes to get more people involved in local government.
“Hopefully that's my superpower, and that I can do that and bring folks who have never really felt like they've been included, and maybe get them included,” he said.
Fifteen people applied to represent the ward, which encompasses Highland Square and parts of the West Hill and Merriman Valley neighborhoods.
Holland served just over two years on council. She was appointed in June 2021 to fill the seat of the late Rich Swirsky, and voters elected her to keep the seat in November 2022.
Holland did not give a reason for leaving in her resignation letter.
Who applied?
Through a public records request, Ideastream Public Media obtained the applications, letters of interest and resumes of the 15 candidates for the Ward 1 seat.
The applicants came from a variety of backgrounds, including the legal, medical and nonprofit sectors. Many touted their community service and volunteer work in their letters of interest.
They also included:
- Abigail Drennan, a marketing professional;
- Acacia Reynolds, a pharmacy technician;
- Berlin King, a quality control technician;
- Bernie Rochford, a retired non-profit executive;
- Emily Durway, a public defense attorney;
- Fran Wilson, an account executive and community organizer who unsuccessfully ran for an at-large council seat in last year’s May primary;
- Gregory Butler, a director of manufacturing;
- Jennifer Maurer, a musician and former non-profit executive;
- John Jakob, an oncologist at Summa Health and NEOMED professor;
- Jude Yovichin, a small business owner who unsuccesfully ran against Holland in November 2022;
- Michael Bradley, a notary public;
- Patricia Ritzert, a lawyer and former assistant law director for the city;
- Ryan Kinney, a lawyer;
- Susan Hagey, a registered nurse.
Akron City Council’s screening committee conducted interviews with the candidates and recommended DeShazior to the full council during its regular meeting Monday at 6:30 p.m.
