AKRON, Ohio — A second candidate has announced he will run to become Akron’s next mayor, with Deputy Mayor Marco Sommerville issuing the announcement he will run in 2023.
Sommerville serves as deputy mayor for Intergovernmental Affairs and is a senior adviser to Mayor Dan Horrigan.
Sommerville’s announcement came Tuesday evening on the heels of Horrigan's announcement he will not seek a third term. Sommerville said the mayor had shared that decision with him some time ago.
“Having prior knowledge of his decision gave me an opportunity to reflect, consider and discuss with my family the opportunity to further serve my city in a new capacity,” Sommerville said. “Today, I am announcing my desire to further serve all of Akron and formally declaring my candidacy for mayor.”
Sommerville, who served as a ward councilman and City Council President, as well as city planning director, said it has been an honor to serve as deputy mayor on Horrigan’s cabinet.
He said he loves the city of Akron because it is where he married, raised his family and launched a business.
“My commitment to this city, the continued growth of our economy, and the well-being of everyone who calls this great city home is unwavering,” Sommerville said.
Ward 8 Councilman Shammas Malik, who has worked in Akron’s city government since 2016, announced his candidacy for mayor last month in a statement. Malik was elected to City Council in 2018.
In the statement, he said his campaign will focus on “engaging Akron residents on the issues that matter the most to them.”
“This campaign isn’t just about me,” Malik said. “It’s about the citizens of Akron, and making sure their voices are heard. It’s about all of us coming together and building the future we want for our city.”
Akron needs someone who can bring the community together on issues such as increasing violence, community policing, high eviction rates and affordable housing, he said.