AKRON, Ohio — Dan Horrigan's eight years as mayor of Akron comes to an end this month, closing at midnight on Dec. 31.
He was the city's 62nd mayor, sworn in on Jan. 1, 2016. His second term began in 2020, and last October he announced he would not run for re-election.
"As I reach the final weeks of my time as Mayor of the city I love, I can’t help but look back on my experiences and all that we have accomplished together," Horrigan said a news release. "I take considerable pride in the work my administration has done in a lot of key areas including financial stability, good governance, housing investment, revitalizing public space and green space, reimagining our downtown corridor, increasing equity, and reinvesting in public safety and public infrastructure."
Financially, he increased city funds in the General Fund Cash Balance from $5 million at the end of 2015 to more than $25 million at the beginning of 2023. He also efforted the passage of Issue 4 in 2017, providing nearly $5 million more each year of investment into the city's police and fire departments. Horrigan also negotiated three amendments to the city’s federal consent decree saving Akron ratepayers a total of $215M so far, according to a city news release.
“Having pride in city work has been instrumental to the projects and programs throughout my tenure," Horrigan said in a news release. "There is no one project that I think of as the highlight of my time as Mayor, but rather, I’m proud of the myriad of issues we have tackled together."
In 2017, he presented a non-discrimination ordinance to Akron City Council which prohibits discrimination based on age, sex, gender identity, race, religion or background, which led to the creation of the Akron Civil Rights Commission to investigate discrimination complaints.
Horrigan introduced legislation to Akron City Council to ban conversion therapy for minors in the city in 2022 which was passed unanimously by City Council. He also convened the Reconnecting our Community Innerbelt advisory group to determine equitable steps for redeveloping the Innerbelt.
One of the main focuses of Horrigan's time in office was on public safety. Added revenue from Issue 4 has led to the purchase of six new fire engines and three new fire stations. A new fleet of police vehicles to replace aging stock, tasers, uniforms and SWAT vehicles have also been purchased for the police departments.
Horrigan worked alongside City Council in 2020 to declare racism a public health crisis and create the Racial Equity and Social Justice Taskforce among a year rife with protests following the death of George Floyd.
In the past year, Horrigan faced several challenges, including being named a defendant in a lawsuit from the family of Jayland Walker, a young unarmed Black man shot by Akron Police officers in June 2022. The city had weeks of protests following Walker's death which led to the passage of Issue 10 which created a citizen police oversight board.
"There is no victory lap to take but a handing off of the baton as incoming Mayor Malik will take the lead on these and other important initiatives for the betterment of our great city," Horrigan said. "I have the utmost faith and optimism in the people who call Akron ‘home.’ It is the people who make Akron what it is, and putting our trust in them will always be the right decision for Akron’s future."
"I will be hard at work for this city until my last day in office and will continue to hold a special place in my heart for Akron for all of my days. I thank all the residents, city employees, and colleagues who have made my time as Mayor the highlight of my professional lifetime. And I thank my family for always supporting me through it all. Thank you, Akron for the honor of serving you.”