CLEVELAND — Akron Mayor-Elect Shammas Malik is finishing his term as a city councilman. He said just one of the many topics residents have approached him about is the Israel-Hamas conflict. 

“There are people in our community who are deeply affected by this,” Malik said of the conflict. “Jewish people who know people who are targeted or who had to hide in their homes during the attack. There are Palestinians who have watched their communities be systematically deteriorated and downgraded over decades.”

It’s just one topic that is top of mind for the incoming mayor. Malik will make history as the first person of color to lead the city. He won the democratic primary and didn’t face a republican opponent in November. Malik said the months since the primary have been both a blessing and a curse.

“It’s a blessing because you have so much time to pick out a cabinet and go and meet with folks and really start to hone your plans,” Malik said. “It’s a curse in the sense that you have seven months where people are treating you like the mayor. You don’t have the staff of the mayor and you really don’t have the ability to take action.”

He’s Akron-born and served as the city’s assistant director of law before he entered public life by running for city council.

He will take office during a tumultuous time. The city is still reeling from the shooting death of Jayland Walker at the hands of Akron police. The attorney general’s office investigated and a grand jury did not indict the officers. An internal investigation by the Akron Police Department released November 28 found the eight officers involved in Walker's death did not violate department policy. After Walker’s death, clashes ensued between protesters and police.

“People have to be treated with dignity and respect,” Malik said. “If people are involved in violence, they have to be arrested, they have to be held accountable. But if people are simply demonstrating, that’s something that has to be protected. So there are times that I’ve spoken out and said that I believe that people needed to be given an opportunity to do that.”

He’s still juggling the job of mayor-elect and city councilman as he prepares for the new role at his transition office. His campaign has a four-point plan he’d like to implement during his first 100 days in office.

“Safety, safety, safety, safety, safety,” Malik said when asked what his top priority is. “Safety is the most bedrock thing. Without safety, you can’t address jobs, you can’t address housing, you can’t address education.”

Part of that safety plan will include a new police chief. Current chief Steve Mylett will step down at the end of the year, and Malik said he will get to help pick the city’s next top cop. He said outgoing mayor Dan Horrigan is involving him in the hiring process.

“So there’s a couple things that are really important,” Malik said about what he wants in a police chief. “One is experience with managing an organization of several hundred people. Another big thing is alignment on values. Particularly honesty, honesty and integrity is pretty much the most important thing to me.”

Malik’s schedule is packed as he prepares for inauguration. He’s going to as many events as possible, even if he isn’t a scheduled speaker - simply to show his presence and get face time.

“It gives you a chance to connect with a bunch of different people at once,” Malik said. “Instead of individual meetings. So it’s important to be visible in the community.”

Malik will be sworn in on Jan. 1. He said he will also be one of Akron’s youngest mayors at just 32 years old.