Dan Horrigan
62nd Mayor of Akron
In office
January 1, 2016 – January 1, 2024
Preceded byJeff Fusco
Succeeded byShammas Malik
Personal details
Born1963 (age 60–61)
Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDeanna
EducationKent State University (BA)
University of Akron (BEd)

Dan Horrigan (born 1963) is an American politician and educator who served as the 62nd mayor of Akron, Ohio from November 3, 2015 to January 1, 2024. Horrigan previously served eight years as the Clerk of Summit County's Common Pleas Courts.[1][2]

Early life and education

Shortly after earning his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Kent State University, Horrigan returned to school to earn an additional degree in Education from the University of Akron. Horrigan then taught social studies at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School from 1996 to 1998.[3]

In 1999, Horrigan left his position with the school to successfully run for Akron City Council. Horrigan represented Akron's Ward 1, including Highland Square and North Hill, from 1999 to 2007.[4] In his time as Ward 1 Council representative, he chaired the Public Utilities Committee and was a senior member of the Planning Budget & Finance and Parks & Recreation Committees.[5] In 2001, Horrigan brought together business leaders and residents to develop a comprehensive plan for the Highland Square neighborhood. The plan's vision led to a new library, new school, and new grocery store.[6][7]

Career

Summit County Clerk of Courts

In 2007, the Democratic Party of Summit County selected Horrigan as the Clerk of Summit County's Common Pleas Courts, where he oversaw an office of 87 public employees.[8][3]

2015 mayoral election

Horrigan announced his candidacy for mayor on June 9, 2015.[9][10] In addition to economic revival, his campaign focused on a number of local issues such as finding affordable solutions to the city's sewage system issues, union contracts, downtown development, and increased citizen engagement. Following his victory on November 3, 2015, Horrigan became Akron's first newly-elected mayor in 28 years.[11][12]

September 8, 2015 primary Election
Candidate Total Votes
Daniel Horrigan 10,647
Michael D. Williams 8,088
November 3, 2015 general election
Candidate Total Votes Percentage of Votes
Daniel Horrigan (DEM) 29,436 72.33%
Eddie Sipplen (REP) 9,732 23.91%
William N. Melver 1,528 3.75%

Tenure

Blue Ribbon Task Force

Following his election, Horrigan appointed a "Blue Ribbon Task Force" composed of local business and community leaders, to "look under the hood" of City government and make recommendations for its management.[13]

Early initiatives and policies

During Mayor Horrigan's first year in office, he led a variety of successful initiatives including: rebuilding relationships with the United States EPA; and working closely with Huntington Bank as it acquired FirstMerit Corporation.[14] Mayor Horrigan also followed through on a recommendation to appoint the City of Akron's first ever Human Resources Director, which required an amendment to the City's charter.[15]

Other successes for Mayor Horrigan during his first year in office included: hosting six town hall meetings within the community and meeting with every high school senior class within the Akron Public Schools, implementing cost-saving reform of retiree supplemental health benefits, securing approval of First Consent Decree Amendment resulting in $56.7 million in CSO savings; securing nationally competitive $5 million TIGER grant to redevelop Main Street and leading successful effort to bring Stark State Community College campus to Akron.[14]

Additionally, Horrigan was recognized by Cleveland Magazine's Community Leader Power 100 – List of most influential leaders in Northeast Ohio.[16] He joined the coalition of Mayors across the U.S. in the Mayors Against Illegal Guns.[17] In order to further his goal of improving the health of the community, Mayor Horrigan he partnered with Akron Children's Hospital-Akron Marathon Race Series, County of Summit and Summit County Public Health to launch a citywide 100 Million Steps Walking Challenge.[18][19]

2019 election

May 7, 2019 primary election
Candidate Total Votes Percentage of Votes
Daniel Horrigan 10,993 78.50%
Greg Harrison 3,011 21.50%

This was the first May primary in Akron in 70 years due to a voter-approved change in primary dates.

2023 election

Horrigan announced that he would not seek a third term in 2023, instead endorsing deputy mayor Marco Sommerville for the seat.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Dan Horrigan preparing to take over as Akron's first newly elected mayor in 28 years". Akron Beacon Journal.
  2. ^ "Executive - Mayor's Office : City of Akron". www.akronohio.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-18.
  3. ^ a b "Dan M. Horrigan Biography". Summit County Clerk of Courts. Archived from the original on 2016-02-19.
  4. ^ "Akron mayoral debate preview: What you need to know about Dan Horrigan, Mike Williams". cleveland.com. Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  5. ^ "Akron Roundtable, Dan Horrigan, City of Akron Mayor". Akron Kiwanis.
  6. ^ "Mayor Daniel Horrigan — City of Akron, Ohio | CEOs for Cities". ceosforcitiesnationalmeeting.org. Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  7. ^ "Daniel M. Horrigan Biography|". Archived from the original on 2016-02-19. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  8. ^ "Biography". Dan Horrigan for Mayor. Archived from the original on 2016-01-15.
  9. ^ "New Akron Mayor admits inappropriate behavior". USA Today.
  10. ^ "Summit County Clerk of Courts Dan Horrigan running for Akron mayor". Cleveland Plain Dealer.
  11. ^ "Summit County Board of Elections November 3, 2015 General Election Results". www.summitcountyboe.com. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  12. ^ "Summit County Board of Elections 2015 Primary Results". www.summitcountyboe.com. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  13. ^ "Akron's Blue Ribbon Task Force releases findings, makes recommendations to new mayor". Crain's Cleveland Business. 2016-02-01. Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  14. ^ a b "Executive - Mayor's Office : City of Akron". www.akronohio.gov. Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  15. ^ bjstaff. "Better city management through consolidating human resources". www.ohio.com. Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  16. ^ "Northeast Ohio's Power 100: Find out Who's on the List". Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  17. ^ rarmon. "Akron community rallies against gun violence". www.ohio.com. Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  18. ^ "Akron wants residents to walk 100 million steps". cleveland.com. Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  19. ^ "Summit County Board of Elections 2019 Primary Election Results". www.summitcountyboe.com. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  20. ^ Becka, Megan. "Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan endorses Marco Sommerville for mayor in 2023". cleveland.com. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
Political offices Preceded byJeff Fusco Mayor of Akron, Ohio 2016–2024 Succeeded byShammas Malik
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