17 Apply for Open Akron Council Seat as Decision Looms. Who will council pick?

Akron City Council is set to vote Monday on a new at-large member.

The chosen candidate will take over the seat recently vacated by longtime council member Jeff Fusco, who stepped down at the end of March after 40 years in public service.

According to a news release, seventeen people applied for the position.

“Council leadership expressed gratitude for the robust community interest and civic engagement demonstrated by the volume of applicants,” council spokesperson Joan Williams wrote in the release. “The breadth of applications reflects the community’s commitment to active participation in local governance.”

Ward 6 Councilmember Brad McKitrick initially submitted his application but later withdrew his name from consideration, Williams added.

A council screening committee interviewed applicants in executive session last week and will announce its selection Monday morning.

Several city leaders are among the applicants, including Tara Mosley Weems, who represented Ward 5 for 10 years and ran for mayor in 2023. Former at-large council member Ginger Baylor also applied, along with Akron200 executive director and 2023 mayoral candidate Mark Greer.

Other applicants come from a wide range of backgrounds, including church leadership, former city staff, educators, and community organizers. Ideastream Public Media obtained their names and resumes through a public records request.

The full list of candidates and their recent employment can be found below.

N.J. Akbar: Administrative lead, Akron Legacy Building Project; president and senior principal consultant, B4U Services, LLC
Ginger Baylor: At-large council member from 2020-2023
Catey Breck Scanlon: Director of economic development, inSITE Advisory Group
Rodney Dennis: Founder, Levels Barber College
Mark Greer: Chief development and engagement officer, Development Finance Authority of Summit County
Maria Golden: Freelance photographer and artist
George Johnson: Labor and government liaison, Mendenhall Legal Group
Maurea Lollar: Community outreach coordinator, Patricia Ann Cargill Charities
Tara Mosley Weems: Court navigator, Akron Municipal Court
Charley Nelson: Retired and substitute teacher, Akron Public Schools
Eric Nevins, Jr.: Youth programming coordinator, Red Oak Behavioral Health
Johnny Osby II: Prevention specialist, Minority Behavioral Health Group
Denane Pollard, Sr.: No resume provided
Acacia Reynolds: Community advocate and organizer
William Reynolds, Sr.: Rideshare driver for Uber, Lyft
Kevin Thomas: Retired regional president, AAA Auto Club Associates