2015 Akron mayoral election

Last updated

2015 Akron mayoral election
Flag of Ohio.svg
  2011 November 3, 20152019 
  Horrigan.jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Dan Horrigan Eddie Sipplen
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote29,4369,732
Percentage72.33%29.51%

Mayor before election

Jeff Fusco (interim)
Democratic

Elected Mayor

Dan Horrigan
Democratic

The 2015 Akron mayoral election was held on November 3, 2015. On May 8, 2015, Mayor Don Plusquellic announced that he would not seek an eighth term and that he would resign from office on May 31, [1] which elevated City Council President Garry Moneypenny to serve as interim Mayor.

Contents

Moneypenny planned to run for a full term in the election, but shortly after he took office, he admitted to inappropriate contact with a female city employee and announced that he would not run, [2] and ultimately resigned from office. Newly elected City Council President Jeff Fusco then became interim Mayor, and declined to run for a full term. [3]

Dan Horrigan, the County Clerk of Courts, won the Democratic primary over City Councilman Mike Williams, Plusquellic's 2011 primary challenger, and advanced to the general election. He was opposed by Republican nominee Eddie Sipplen, a criminal defense attorney, and independent William Melver, a retired engineer. Horrigan won the general election in a landslide, receiving 72 percent of the vote to Sipplen's 24 percent and Melver's 4 percent. [4]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Dropped out

  • Frank Comunale, County Councilman [7]
  • Tom Sawyer, State Senator, former Congressman, former Mayor of Akron [8]

Declined

Primary results

Democratic primary results [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Dan Horrigan 10,647 56.83%
Democratic Mike Williams8,08843.17%
Total votes18,735 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Primary results

Republican primary results [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Eddie Sipplen 1,227 100.00%
Total votes1,227 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

2015 Akron mayoral election [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Dan Horrigan 29,436 72.33%
Republican Eddie Sipplen9,73223.91%
Independent William Melver1,5283.75%
Total votes40,696 100.00%
Democratic hold

References

  1. 1 2 Harper, John (May 11, 2015). "Akron mayor Plusquellic leaves power vacuum". The Plain Dealer . Cleveland, Ohio. p. A9. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Miller, Marilyn; Warsmith, Stephanie (June 6, 2015). "City hall upheaval". Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio. p. A1. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Warsmith, Stephanie (June 9, 2015). "Moneypenny resigns". Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio. p. A1. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  4. "Horrigan is the overwhelming choice in Akron". Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio. November 4, 2015. p. A13. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  5. Warsmith, Stephanie (June 10, 2015). "Race is growing for Akron mayor". Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio. p. B2. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  6. Warsmith, Stephanie (May 28, 2015). "Williams set to run again". Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio. p. A1. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  7. Warsmith, Stephanie (August 11, 2015). "Comunale exits race, now backer of Horrigan". Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio. p. A1. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  8. Warsmith, Stephanie (June 30, 2015). "Sawyer drops out of Akron mayor's race". Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio. p. A1. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  9. Warsmith, Stephanie; Schleis, Paula (September 7, 2015). "Women fall behind men in helming local cities". Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio. p. A1. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Summit County, Ohio - Official Count - 09/08/15 Primary Election". Summit County Board of Elections. September 23, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  11. Warsmith, Stephanie (June 6, 2015). "African-American lawyer Sipplen to run for mayor". Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio. p. A1. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  12. Warsmith, Stephanie (October 25, 2015). "Local independent seeks voice in Akron". Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio. p. A4. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  13. "Summit County, Ohio - *Amended Official Results - 11/03/15 General Election". Summit County Board of Elections. December 28, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2025.