Shammas Malik announces transition team
Two weeks after decisively winning the Akron mayoral primary and becoming the presumptive next mayor of Akron, Shammas Malik today announced first steps in the expected transition between Mayor Dan Horrigan’s outgoing administration and the incoming Malik administration. These steps include naming transition co-chairs and staff and unveiling a new transition website.
Four community leaders will provide formal advice and perspective as transition co-chairs, Malik said at a press conference today:
Tracy Carter, Director of Government Relations at Summa Health System
Jeremy Lile, Executive Director of Heart to Heart Leadership
Robert DeJournett, Senior Pastor of St. Ashworth Temple Church of God in Christ and DeJournett Consulting
Tony O’Leary, of Du & Associates, former Executive Director of Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, former City of Akron Deputy Mayor for Administration, and former City of Akron Planning Director
Together, Carter, Lile, DeJournett, and O’Leary will help guide a seven-month transition period aimed at setting up Malik’s administration to “hit the ground running on January 1st,” Malik said.
“These four individuals are folks I have immense respect for, and whom I have turned to for advice throughout our campaign,” he said. “They have a deep love and commitment for this city, and I’m incredibly thankful for their service.”
Also on the team are Malik’s campaign staffers and a former member of Mayor Horrigan’s cabinet:
Maria Duvuvuei, formerly Malik’s campaign manager, will serve as transition strategic director
Ellen Lander-Nischt, formerly press secretary and senior strategic counsel for the Horrigan administration, will serve as a strategic advisor for the transition
Julie Caruso, formerly Malik’s deputy campaign manager, will serve as transition operations director
Arell Tee, formerly the campaign’s organizing director will serve as transition deputy director
The team will be focused on four key areas, Duvuvuei said: strategy, staffing, culture, and communication.
“Our goal is to put a plan in place to execute our Together for Akron vision,” she said, referring to Malik’s four part plan for safe neighborhoods, quality schools, affordable housing, health equity, good jobs, and environmental sustainability for all Akron residents. “Then, to have a way we can track and communicate progress on reaching these goals out to the community on an ongoing basis, so that we have a transparent and accountable process to the people of Akron.”
As a first step, the team today launched a new website, www.togetherforakron.com.
“We’re going to continue rolling out ways folks can get involved,” Malik said. “Anyone can visit the website any time, and you can sign up to be added to our email list to get regular updates from us.”
Malik stated the importance of moving deliberately and thoughtfully through this process.
“We have more than seven months,” he said. “We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves, and it’s important for the folks in our city to know we have one mayor at a time. We’re going to use this time to set ourselves up to hit the ground running on January 1st.”