Weeks after Nancy Holland’s surprise resignation from Akron City Council, Ward 1 has its new representative.
City Council voted unanimously on Monday evening to appoint veteran City Hall employee Samuel DeShazior to the role. He was selected from a pool of 15 candidates who applied for the job after Holland resigned on Jan. 5. Council interviewed all of the candidates last week.
DeShazior served in the mayoral administrations of both Don Plusquellic and Dan Horrigan. His most recent position listed on the nine-page resume he submitted for the job was director of business retention and expansion for the City of Akron, a role that ended when Mayor Shammas Malik was sworn in on Jan. 1.
He also lists time spent as deputy mayor in Horrigan’s office of economic development (2014-2019), deputy planning director in Plusquellic’s office of economic development (2006-2014), and senior director of business development at the Greater Akron Chamber (2004-2006), among other roles.
“For years, when I labored long in the bowels of city hall, to produce and market the products of our toil of Akron, Ohio, I always thought of this as a special place,” DeShazior said, addressing his council colleagues and a packed City Council chambers shortly after he was sworn in and took the empty seat.
“Ward Number One is a special place with a lot of special people. We represent all of the multi-ethnic and cultural diversities that this nation has to offer, and some of the best and brightest ideas come from places like that,” DeShazior said. “We are a place that will lead in innovation, and I want to get to know people that I haven’t met.”
