Shammas Malik

Shammas Malik
Malik in 2023
63rd Mayor of Akron
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2024
Preceded byDan Horrigan
Member of the Akron City Council-Ward 8
In office
January 1, 2020 – November 7, 2023
Personal details
Born (1991-04-10) April 10, 1991 (age 33)
Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationOhio State University
Harvard Law School (JD)
ProfessionLawyer
Websitewww.togetherforakron.com

Shammas Iqbal Qammar Malik (born April 10, 1991) is an American lawyer and politician who is currently serving as the 63rd mayor of Akron, Ohio since January 1, 2024. He previously served as the city councilor of Ward 8 from January 1, 2020, until November 7, 2023. He was an assistant director of the Akron Law Department from 2016 to 2018.

Life

Shammas Iqbal Qammar Malik was born and raised in Ward 8, Northwest Akron, Ohio in a Muslim family.[1][2] He is of Pakistani descent.[3] His mother, Helen Qammar, was a chemical engineering professor at the University of Akron.[1] Brandon Choi is an uncle-in-law. In 2009, he graduated from Firestone High School with an International Baccalaureate Diploma.[4] He earned dual bachelor's degrees in political science and international studies from the Ohio State University in 2013.[4] Malik completed a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 2016.[1] During law school, he completed several summer internships in Washington, D.C., including at The Pentagon.[1][4]

Career

Akron Law Department

From 2016 to 2018, Malik was an assistant director of the Akron Law Department.[5][4] For almost a year, he worked as an associate at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease.[4]

Akron City Council

Malik in 2021

In the 2019 Akron City Council Ward 8 Democratic primary on May 7, 2019, Malik won the nomination, prevailing over Curtis T. Walker, Sr.[1][4] On November 5, 2019, Malik was elected, defeating Republican Brian N. Fortney.[4] He started his term on January 1, 2020, succeeding Marilyn Keith.[1][4] In the role, he advocated for a civilian oversight board for the Akron Police Department.[1] He served on four council committees, Public Safety, Budget and Finance, Parks and Recreation, and Rules.[6]

May 7, 2019 primary-City of Akron Ward 8 Council[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shammas Malik 2,058 80.64
Democratic Curtis T. Walker, Sr. 494 19.36
November 5, 2019 general election- City of Akron Ward 8 Council[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shammas Malik 3,815 73.37
Republican Brian N. Fortney 1,385 26.63

2023 mayoral election

In the 2023 Akron mayoral Democratic primary on May 2, 2023, Malik won the nomination, prevailing in a field of seven candidates. In May, he announced his transition team.[5] In the 2023 Akron mayoral election on November 7, 2023 he was duly elected as the mayor of Akron.

May 2, 2023 primary[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shammas Malik 8,303 43.15
Democratic Marco Sommerville 4,944 25.70
Democratic Tara Mosley 3,361 17.47
Democratic Jeff Wilhite 1,549 8.05
Democratic Mark Greer 816 4.24
Democratic Keith Mills 143 0.74
Democratic Joshua Schaffer 124 0.64
Total votes 19,240 100.00
November 7, 2023 general election[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shammas Malik 12,603 96.73
Write-in 426 3.27
Total votes 13,029 100

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Mills, Emily (May 3, 2023). "Who is Shammas Malik? Meet Akron's new presumptive mayor". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  2. ^ "How Shammas Malik's Akron upbringing shaped the city's". Akron Beacon Journal. May 11, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  3. ^ Huntsman, Anna; Marshall, Abbey; Bottar, Abigail (2023-05-03). "Shammas Malik wins Akron mayoral primary, in line to be the first person of color as mayor". Ideastream Public Media. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Smith, Cassaundra (2020-01-09). "Malik bringing younger perspective to City Council". Akron.com. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  5. ^ a b Livingston, Doug (May 18, 2023). "Most of presumptive Mayor Shammas Malik's transition team didn't work his campaign". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  6. ^ "Shammas Malik | Akron City Council". www.akroncitycouncil.org. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  7. ^ "May 7, 2019 Primary/Special Election Results". Summit County Board of Elections. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  8. ^ "November 5, 2019 General Election Results". Summit County Board of Elections. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  9. ^ "May 2, 2023 Primary/Special Election Results". Summit County Board of Elections. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  10. ^ "November 7, 2023 General Election Results (Unofficial)". Retrieved November 8, 2023.
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Akron
Assumed office January 1, 2024 		Incumbent