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{{Short description|American mayor}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2011}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2011}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox_Mayor | [[Donald Plusquellic]]
| image= Mayor Don Plusquellic.jpg
| image = Mayor Don Plusquellic.jpg
| order= 57th [[List of mayors of Akron, Ohio|Mayor of Akron]], [[Ohio]]
| order = 59th [[List of mayors of Akron, Ohio|Mayor of Akron]], [[Ohio]]
⚫
| term_start = January 1, 1987
| office =
| term_end = May 31, 2015
⚫
| term_start=1987
⚫
| predecessor = [[Thomas C. Sawyer]]
| term_end=
| successor = Garry Moneypenny ([[Acting (law)|interim]])
⚫
| predecessor=[[Thomas C. Sawyer]]
| office1 = 62nd [[President of the United States Conference of Mayors]]
| successor=Incumbent
| term_start1 = 2004
⚫
| birth_date={{birth date and age|1949|7|3}}
| term_end1 = 2005
| birth_place=
⚫
| Deputy1 =
⚫
| alma_mater=[[Bowling Green University]]
| predecessor1 = [[James Garner (politician)|James Garner]]
⚫
| profession=Management
| successor1 = [[Beverly O'Neill]]
⚫
| residence=
| birth_name = Donald Lee Plusquellic
| spouse=
⚫
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|7|3}}
⚫
| religion=
| birth_place = [[Akron, Ohio]]<ref name=whowho>{{cite book|title=Who's Who in the Midwest, 1996-1997|location=Wilmette, Ill.|publisher=Marquis Who's Who|date=1996|page=504|isbn=9780837907260}}</ref>
⚫
| party=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| alma_mater = [[Bowling Green University]] ([[Bachelors of Science|BS]]) [[University of Akron]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
⚫
| profession = Management
⚫
| residence =
| spouse =
⚫
| religion =
⚫
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
}}
}}


'''Donald L. Plusquellic''' (born July 3, 1949) is the current mayor of [[Akron, Ohio|Akron]], Ohio. First elected in 1987, he became the 59th Mayor of Akron after previously serving 13 years on Akron City Council. Plusquellic is currently serving his sixth term, making him the longest-serving mayor of the city.
'''Donald L. Plusquellic''' (born July 3, 1949) is the former mayor of [[Akron, Ohio|Akron]], [[Ohio]]. First elected in 1987, he became the 59th Mayor of Akron after previously serving 13 years on Akron City Council. Plusquellic has served his seventh term, making him the longest-serving mayor of the city. Plusquellic announced his resignation effective May 31, 2015,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2015/05/akron_mayor_don_plusquellic_to_1.html|title=Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic to step down May 31|last=Harper|first=John|work=Cleveland Plain-Dealer|date=May 8, 2015|access-date=May 8, 2015}}</ref> citing unfriendly coverage from the ''[[Akron Beacon Journal]]'' as his primary motivation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2015/05/akron_mayor_don_plusquellic_al.html|title=Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic alludes to Beacon Journal coverage in resignation letter|last=Johnston|first=Laura|work=Cleveland Plain-Dealer|date=May 8, 2015|access-date=May 8, 2015}}</ref>


==Personal life and early career==
==Personal life and early career==
Plusquellic was born in Akron, Ohio, on July 3, 1949.<ref name=whowho>{{cite book|title=Who's Who in the Midwest, 1996-1997|location=Wilmette, Ill.|publisher=Marquis Who's Who|date=1996|page=504|isbn=9780837907260}}</ref> He graduated from [[Kenmore High School]] in Akron,<ref name=citymayors>{{cite web| url=http://www.citymayors.com/mayors/akron_mayor.html| title=Mayor of Akron (Ohio)|website=City Mayors.com|access-date=February 2, 2009}}</ref> and enrolled at the [[Swanson School of Engineering]] at the [[University of Pittsburgh]]<ref name=citymayors /> before switching to the [[Bowling Green State University College of Business Administration]], where he received his [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in 1972.<ref name=whowho /> He played football at Bowling Green.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/article/20150530/NEWS/305309496|title = Bob Dyer: Plusquellic was a football stud}}</ref> He later received his [[Juris doctor|JD]] from the [[University of Akron School of Law]] in 1982,<ref name=whowho /> and went into private practice. He continued to practice law after being elected to the Akron City Council, but ceased after being elected Mayor of Akron in 1987.<ref name="Citybio">{{cite web| url=http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/mayor/bio.htm| title=Office of the Mayor (Bio)| website=City of Akron, Ohio| access-date=February 2, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220232252/http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/mayor/bio.htm| archive-date=December 20, 2008| url-status=dead}}</ref>
He graduated from Akron's [[Kenmore High School]], studied at the [[University of Pittsburgh]]'s [[Swanson School of Engineering]], and graduated from [[Bowling Green State University]] [[Bowling Green State University College of Business Administration|School of Business]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.citymayors.com/mayors/akron_mayor.html| title=City Mayors.com: Mayor of Akron (Ohio)|accessdate=2009-02-02}}</ref>


Plusquellic married the former Mary Goffee in 1972, and they had a son, David, and a daughter, Michelle. The couple divorced in 2007. Mary Plusquellic, a drug and alcohol counselor, died of cardiac problems at her home in July 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/mary-plusquellic-dead-from-apparent-natural-causes-1.414346| title=Mary Plusquellic dead from apparent natural causes|work=Akron Beacon Journal|date=July 19, 2013|access-date=May 8, 2015}}</ref>
He later received his [[Juris doctor|JD]] from the [[University of Akron School of Law]], and went into private practice until he was elected Mayor in 1987.<ref name="Citybio">{{cite web| url=http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/mayor/bio.htm| title=Akron: Office of the Mayor (Bio)|accessdate=2009-02-02}}</ref>

He has a son named David, a daughter Michelle, as well as four grandchildren.


==Mayor of Akron==
==Mayor of Akron==
He was the President of the [[United States Conference of Mayors]] during 2004. Plusquellic currently serves as vice president of the International Mayors for Peace organization. He is well known as an architect of the [[Joint Economic Development District]] (JEDD) program in Ohio, and he is a member of the [[Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition]],<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/about/members.shtml| title=Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members|accessdate=2007-06-12 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070306180747/http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/about/members.shtml <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-03-06}}</ref> a [[bi-partisan]] group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." Like a typical leftist douchenozzle, Plusquellic fails to realize that criminals, not guns, cause crime. The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston, Massachusetts Mayor [[Thomas Menino]], New York City Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]], and [[Columbus, Ohio]] Mayor [[Michael B. Coleman]].
Plusquellic was the President of the [[United States Conference of Mayors]] during 2004. Plusquellic currently serves as vice president of the International Mayors for Peace organization. He is well known as an architect of the [[Joint Economic Development District]] (JEDD) program in Ohio, and he is a member of the [[Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/about/members.shtml |title=Coalition Members |website=Mayors Against Illegal Guns |access-date=June 12, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070306180747/http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/about/members.shtml |archive-date=March 6, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref> a [[bi-partisan]] group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston, Massachusetts Mayor [[Thomas Menino]], New York City Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]], and [[Columbus, Ohio]] Mayor [[Michael B. Coleman]].


Throughout his tenure as mayor, Plusquellic often suggested bold, outsize ideas which energized his supporters. He proposed leasing the city water system to a contractor and using the payments to pay college tuition cost for Akron residents, suggested forming a city-owned construction company to bid on projects and generate revenue for the town, and advocated construction of a baseball stadium at a time when there was little to no support for it. (This stadium, [[Canal Park (Akron, Ohio)|Canal Park]], was completed in 1997.)<ref name=naymik />
Critics have also accused Plusquellic of abusing his power; in July 2005, he argued with a downtown Akron parking attendant, and threatened to revoke the business license of the attendant's employer if the attendant was not fired (the company complied).<ref>''PARKING LOT WORKER ENRAGES PLUSQUELLIC'', Akron Beacon Journal, July 25, 2005, p. B1</ref><ref>''VALET FIRED AFTER ROW WITH MAYOR'', Akron Beacon Journal, July 27, 2005, p. B1</ref><ref>[http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/News_Releases/2005/0808.html Akron: News Releases 2005: An Open Letter to the Public From Mayor Don Plusquellic<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


Plusquellic also focused on more mundane issues, such as encouraging large employers to stay in Akron and successfully advocating for an income tax increase to boost school renovation and construction.<ref name=naymik />
⚫
President [[Barack Obama]] selected Plusquellic to work with a team of Mayors from across America to work on solving the [[Global financial crisis of 2008–2009]] at the local level. In February 2009, Plusquellic was one of 20 mayors sent to DC to discuss committing stimulus money to go directly to city governments to fund infrastructure.<ref>http://www.ohio.com/news/39127177.html</ref>


Critics accused Plusquellic of abusing his power. In July 2005, he argued with a downtown Akron parking attendant, and threatened to revoke the business license of the attendant's employer if the attendant was not fired (the company complied).<ref>{{cite news|title=Parking Lot Worker Enrages Plusquellic|work=Akron Beacon Journal|date=July 25, 2005|page=B1|postscript=none}}; {{cite news|title=Valet Fired After Row With Mayor|work=Akron Beacon Journal|date=July 27, 2005|page=B1|postscript=none}}; {{cite web|url=http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/News_Releases/2005/0808.html|title=Akron: News Releases 2005: An Open Letter to the Public From Mayor Don Plusquellic|website=City of Akron, Ohio|date=August 8, 2005|access-date=May 8, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215182157/http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/News_Releases/2005/0808.html|archive-date=February 15, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Plusquellic later apologized, and surrendered a day's pay to the city.<ref name=naymik>{{cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/naymik/index.ssf/2015/05/akron_mayor_don_plusquellics_d.html|last=Naymik|first=Mark|title=Plusquellic's departure is long overdue|work=Cleveland Plain-Dealer|date=May 9, 2015|access-date=May 9, 2015|page=A8}}</ref> ''[[The Plain Dealer|Cleveland Plain-Dealer]]'' columnist Mark Naymik criticized Plusquellic for engaging in "ego-driven politics" that won him re-election and notice from the press but which did little for Akron, allowing the city's finances to decline.<ref name=naymik />
A campaign to [[Recall election|recall]] the mayor was initiated in March 2009. Akron attorney Warner Mendenhall argued that Plusquellic had "dramatically misdirected the city in the last decade," indebted Akron to "an extent it cannot afford," and called his personal behavior "appalling." According to Mendenhall, the mayor was abusive to city employees, his opponents and others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/34610924.html| title=Ohio.com Attorney launching effort to recall Akron mayor|accessdate=2009-02-02}}</ref> In a special election in June 2009, Plusquellic was kept by a vote of 20,500 to 7,200.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=116394&catid=45|title=Akron voters decide to keep longtime Mayor Don Plusquellic|publisher=[[WKYC-TV]]|date=2009-06-23|accessdate=2009-06-23}}</ref>


⚫
President [[Barack Obama]] selected Plusquellic to work with a team of mayors from across America to work on solving the [[global financial crisis of 2008–2009]] at the local level. In February 2009, Plusquellic was one of 20 mayors who went to Washington, D.C., to discuss committing stimulus money to go directly to city governments to fund infrastructure.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/12/akrons_don_plusquellic_adds_vo.html|last=Johnston|first=Laura|title=Akron's Don Plusquellic adds voice to mayors' plea for economic stimulus money|work=Cleveland Plain-Dealer|date=December 8, 2008|access-date=May 8, 2015}}</ref>
Plusquellic's term is set to expire at the end of 2011.

A campaign to [[Recall election|recall]] the mayor was initiated in March 2009. In a special election in June 2009, Plusquellic was kept by a vote of 20,500 to 7,200 with almost 99 percent of precincts reporting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2009/06/24/metrobrfs24_0624_ART_06-24-09_B3_OJE9918.html| title=Voters reject recall; mayor can keep his job|work=Columbus Dispatch|date=June 24, 2009|access-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref>

Plusquellic led a delegation from Akron to meet with representatives of [[Mekorot]], the Israeli water company, in 2012. The meeting led to an announcement that Mekorot would be opening its first U.S. office in Akron through Akron's Global Business Accelerator. The office will coordinate information exchange relating to [[water security]], [[water technology]] and [[energy technology]], with an ultimate objective of commercializing joint ventures, creating jobs, and developing the economy.<ref>{{cite news|last=Downing|first=Bob|title=Israeli water company to open first U.S. office in Akron|url=http://www.ohio.com/news/local-news/israeli-water-company-to-open-first-u-s-office-in-akron-1.266769|access-date=February 26, 2012|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|date=February 24, 2012}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|2}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/mayor/bio.htm Mayor's Biography at Official Akron Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081220232252/http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/mayor/bio.htm Mayor's Biography at Official Akron Website]
*{{C-SPAN|53418}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Thomas C. Sawyer]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Mayor of Akron, Ohio]]|years=1987–2015}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Garry Moneypenny]]}}
{{s-end}}


{{Bowling Green Falcons quarterback navbox}}
{{Ohio cities and mayors of 100,000 population}}
{{United States Council of Mayors Presidents}}
{{United States Council of Mayors Presidents}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
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| NAME =Plusquellic, Don
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =1949-07-03
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Plusquellic, Don}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Plusquellic, Don}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:1949 births]]
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[[Category:Mayors of Akron, Ohio]]
[[Category:Mayors of Akron, Ohio]]
[[Category:Ohio Democrats]]
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[[Category:Ohio city council members]]

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[[Category:Bowling Green State University alumni]]

[[Category:University of Akron alumni]]
[[de:Don Plusquellic]]
[[Category:Presidents of the United States Conference of Mayors]]
[[Category:Bowling Green Falcons football players]]

Latest revision as of 20:27, 30 November 2024

Don Plusquellic
59th Mayor of Akron, Ohio
In office
January 1, 1987 – May 31, 2015
Preceded byThomas C. Sawyer
Succeeded byGarry Moneypenny (interim)
62nd President of the United States Conference of Mayors
In office
2004–2005
Preceded byJames Garner
Succeeded byBeverly O'Neill
Personal details
Born
Donald Lee Plusquellic

(1949-07-03) July 3, 1949 (age 75)
Akron, Ohio[1]
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materBowling Green University (BS) University of Akron (JD)
ProfessionManagement

Donald L. Plusquellic (born July 3, 1949) is the former mayor of Akron, Ohio. First elected in 1987, he became the 59th Mayor of Akron after previously serving 13 years on Akron City Council. Plusquellic has served his seventh term, making him the longest-serving mayor of the city. Plusquellic announced his resignation effective May 31, 2015,[2] citing unfriendly coverage from the Akron Beacon Journal as his primary motivation.[3]

Personal life and early career

[edit]

Plusquellic was born in Akron, Ohio, on July 3, 1949.[1] He graduated from Kenmore High School in Akron,[4] and enrolled at the Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh[4] before switching to the Bowling Green State University College of Business Administration, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1972.[1] He played football at Bowling Green.[5] He later received his JD from the University of Akron School of Law in 1982,[1] and went into private practice. He continued to practice law after being elected to the Akron City Council, but ceased after being elected Mayor of Akron in 1987.[6]

Plusquellic married the former Mary Goffee in 1972, and they had a son, David, and a daughter, Michelle. The couple divorced in 2007. Mary Plusquellic, a drug and alcohol counselor, died of cardiac problems at her home in July 2013.[7]

Mayor of Akron

[edit]

Plusquellic was the President of the United States Conference of Mayors during 2004. Plusquellic currently serves as vice president of the International Mayors for Peace organization. He is well known as an architect of the Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) program in Ohio, and he is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition,[8] a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston, Massachusetts Mayor Thomas Menino, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Columbus, Ohio Mayor Michael B. Coleman.

Throughout his tenure as mayor, Plusquellic often suggested bold, outsize ideas which energized his supporters. He proposed leasing the city water system to a contractor and using the payments to pay college tuition cost for Akron residents, suggested forming a city-owned construction company to bid on projects and generate revenue for the town, and advocated construction of a baseball stadium at a time when there was little to no support for it. (This stadium, Canal Park, was completed in 1997.)[9]

Plusquellic also focused on more mundane issues, such as encouraging large employers to stay in Akron and successfully advocating for an income tax increase to boost school renovation and construction.[9]

Critics accused Plusquellic of abusing his power. In July 2005, he argued with a downtown Akron parking attendant, and threatened to revoke the business license of the attendant's employer if the attendant was not fired (the company complied).[10] Plusquellic later apologized, and surrendered a day's pay to the city.[9] Cleveland Plain-Dealer columnist Mark Naymik criticized Plusquellic for engaging in "ego-driven politics" that won him re-election and notice from the press but which did little for Akron, allowing the city's finances to decline.[9]

President Barack Obama selected Plusquellic to work with a team of mayors from across America to work on solving the global financial crisis of 2008–2009 at the local level. In February 2009, Plusquellic was one of 20 mayors who went to Washington, D.C., to discuss committing stimulus money to go directly to city governments to fund infrastructure.[11]

A campaign to recall the mayor was initiated in March 2009. In a special election in June 2009, Plusquellic was kept by a vote of 20,500 to 7,200 with almost 99 percent of precincts reporting.[12]

Plusquellic led a delegation from Akron to meet with representatives of Mekorot, the Israeli water company, in 2012. The meeting led to an announcement that Mekorot would be opening its first U.S. office in Akron through Akron's Global Business Accelerator. The office will coordinate information exchange relating to water security, water technology and energy technology, with an ultimate objective of commercializing joint ventures, creating jobs, and developing the economy.[13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Who's Who in the Midwest, 1996-1997. Wilmette, Ill.: Marquis Who's Who. 1996. p. 504. ISBN 9780837907260.
  2. ^ Harper, John (May 8, 2015). "Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic to step down May 31". Cleveland Plain-Dealer. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  3. ^ Johnston, Laura (May 8, 2015). "Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic alludes to Beacon Journal coverage in resignation letter". Cleveland Plain-Dealer. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Mayor of Akron (Ohio)". City Mayors.com. Retrieved February 2, 2009.
  5. ^ "Bob Dyer: Plusquellic was a football stud".
  6. ^ "Office of the Mayor (Bio)". City of Akron, Ohio. Archived from the original on December 20, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2009.
  7. ^ "Mary Plusquellic dead from apparent natural causes". Akron Beacon Journal. July 19, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  8. ^ "Coalition Members". Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Archived from the original on March 6, 2007. Retrieved June 12, 2007.
  9. ^ a b c d Naymik, Mark (May 9, 2015). "Plusquellic's departure is long overdue". Cleveland Plain-Dealer. p. A8. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  10. ^ "Parking Lot Worker Enrages Plusquellic". Akron Beacon Journal. July 25, 2005. p. B1; "Valet Fired After Row With Mayor". Akron Beacon Journal. July 27, 2005. p. B1; "Akron: News Releases 2005: An Open Letter to the Public From Mayor Don Plusquellic". City of Akron, Ohio. August 8, 2005. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  11. ^ Johnston, Laura (December 8, 2008). "Akron's Don Plusquellic adds voice to mayors' plea for economic stimulus money". Cleveland Plain-Dealer. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  12. ^ "Voters reject recall; mayor can keep his job". Columbus Dispatch. June 24, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  13. ^ Downing, Bob (February 24, 2012). "Israeli water company to open first U.S. office in Akron". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Akron, Ohio
1987–2015 		Succeeded by
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