2003 Akron mayoral election

none January 2025 May 2023 2003 Akron mayoral election Ohio presidential no 1999 Akron mayoral election 1999 November 8, 2003 2007 Akron mayoral election 2007 150x150px Don Plusquellic Democratic Party (United States) 26,967 70.71% 150x150px Bryan C. Williams Republican Party (United States) 11,171 29.29% Mayor Don Plusquellic Democratic Party (United States) Don Plusquellic Democratic Party (United States) The 2003 Akron mayoral election was held on Tuesday November 4, Incumbent Democratic Mayor Don Plusquellic ran for re-election to a fifth term. He was challenged by State Representative Bryan C. Williams, the Republican nominee. Plusquellic defeated Williams in a landslide, winning 71 percent of the vote to Williams's 29 percent,Wallace Julie Plusquellic staying put: Akron mayor easily defeats Republican Bryan Williams Akron Beacon Journal November 5, 2003 Akron, Ohio A1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal/177417816/ July 25, 2025 as voters simultaneously rejected a ballot measure to establish mayoral term limits.Abraham Lisa A. Voters soundly reject term limits in Akron Akron Beacon Journal November 5, 2003 Akron, Ohio A6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal/177417783/ July 25, 2025 Democratic nomination Incumbent Mayor Don Plusquellic announced that he would run for re-election.Wallace Julie Akron mayor makes it official Akron Beacon Journal June 17, 2003 Akron, Ohio B1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal/177417594/ July 25, 2025 He was the only Democratic candidate to file and won the nomination unopposed.Wallace Julie Races largely uncontested Akron Beacon Journal June 27, 2003 Akron, Ohio B1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal/177418032/ July 25, 2025 Republican primary Candidates Bryan C. Williams, State RepresentativeWallace Julie Republican runs for Akron mayor Akron Beacon Journal March 30, 2003 Akron, Ohio B1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal/177417867/ July 25, 2025 Katarina Cook, attorneyFor Akron mayor: We recommend Bryan Williams in the Republican primary Akron Beacon Journal September 1, 2003 Akron, Ohio B2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal/177417907/ July 25, 2025 William John Price, attorneyLuttner Steve Sheldon Stephanie Williams wins Akron primary; Broadview Hts. race narrow The Plain Dealer September 10, 2003 Cleveland, Ohio B4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer/177417672/ July 25, 2025 Campaign Williams announced that he would run for Mayor on March 29, 2003, and attacked Plusquellic for his heavy-handed management of the city. He referred to Plusquellic as a "dictator," and argued in favor of mayoral term limits. He faced two-little known opponents in the primary, and won a lukewarm endorsement of the Akron Beacon Journal, which noted that though Williams had "compil[ed] an undistinguished record in the Ohio House" and his term-limits proposal was "misguided," he was "the only real choice for Republican voters." Primary results Republican primary resultsPrimary Election - Summit County, Ohio - September 9, 2003 September 19, 2003 Summit County Board of Elections https://www.boe.ohio.gov/summit/c/elecres/elec0903.txt July 21, 2025 Bryan Williams Republican Party (United States) 1,104 75.98% Katarina Cook Republican Party (United States) 211 14.52% William John Price Republican Party (United States) 138 9.50% 1,453 100.00% General election Campaign In the general election, Williams attacked Plusquellic's record and governance of the city, posing one of the most serious threats to his re-election since he was first elected in 1987.Wallace Julie Mayor's race hardest in years Akron Beacon Journal October 19, 2003 Akron, Ohio A1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal/177418448/ July 25, 2025 In the closing days of the campaign, Williams shifted his focus from attacking Plusquellic to laying out his own proposals.Wallace Julie Williams to back off Plusquellic Akron Beacon Journal October 2, 2003 Akron, Ohio B4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal/177418354/ July 25, 2025 He laid out a serious of proposals to increase spending on public services, including hiring more firefighters, and to cut taxes, but did not identify how the new services would be paid for.Luttner Steve Akron mayoral hopeful outlines plans The Plain Dealer October 2, 2003 Cleveland, Ohio B4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer/177418388/ July 25, 2025 Both the Akron Beacon Journal and the Plain Dealer endorsed Plusquellic over Williams. The Beacon Journal praised his "capacity to grow, driven by his curiosity, his refreshing decisiveness, his vision and passion for the city," and "strongly recommend[ed]" his re-election.For Akron mayor: We recommend the re-election of Don Plusquellic Akron Beacon Journal October 17, 2003 Akron, Ohio B2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal/177418336/ July 25, 2025 The Plain Dealer noted that "Plusquellic is one reason why Akron, which is bleeding jobs like most cities in this region, has refused to give up. He simply won't surrender."Akron mayor The Plain Dealer October 13, 2003 Cleveland, Ohio B6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer/177418273/ July 25, 2025 The Beacon Journal criticized Williams for his "skimpy" record in the legislature, noting that he had "accomplished little" and "[h]is analysis of city affairs has been misinformed." The Plain Dealer likewise noted that, despite Williams's "bruising campaign," it was "hard to make the charges stick." Results 2003 Akron mayoral electionGeneral Election - Summit County, Ohio - November 4, 2003 November 24, 2003 Summit County Board of Elections https://www.boe.ohio.gov/summit/c/elecres/elec1103.txt July 21, 2025 Don Plusquellic (inc.) Democratic Party (United States) 26,967 70.71% Bryan C. Williams Republican Party (United States) 11,171 29.29% 38,138 100.00% Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) References Akron Akron Category:Mayoral elections in Akron, Ohio