Don Plusquellic
Don Plusquellic | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 59th Mayor of Akron, Ohio | |
| Assumed office 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas C. Sawyer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Donald Plusquellic July 3, 1949 |
| Died | Donald Plusquellic |
| Resting place | Donald Plusquellic |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Parent | |
| Alma mater | Bowling Green University |
| Profession | Management |
Donald L. Plusquellic (born July 3, 1949) is the current 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 is currently serving his seventh term, making him the longest-serving mayor of the city.
Personal life and early career
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 School of Business.[1]
He later received his JD from the University of Akron School of Law, and went into private practice until he was elected Mayor in 1987.[2]
He has a son named David, a daughter Michelle, as well as six grandchildren.[3]
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,[4] 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.
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).[5][6][7]
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.[8]
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% of precincts reporting.[9]
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.[10]
References
- ^ "City Mayors.com: Mayor of Akron (Ohio)". Retrieved February 2, 2009.
- ^ "Akron: Office of the Mayor (Bio)". Retrieved February 2, 2009.
- ^ "Mary Plusquellic Found Dead At Home". Retrieved September 20, 2013.
- ^ "Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members". Archived from the original on March 6, 2007. Retrieved June 12, 2007.
- ^ 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
- ^ http://www.ohio.com/news/39127177.html
- ^ "Voters reject recall; mayor can keep his job". Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ Downing, Bob (February 24, 2012). "Israeli water company to open first U.S. office in Akron". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved February 26, 2012.