AKRON, Ohio — The two remaining candidates for Akron mayor met each other face to face on the debate stage for the first time Tuesday.
Incumbent Mayor Dan Horrigan (D) and challenger Josh Sines (R) debated at the Akron Press Club starting at noon. Ideastream streamed the debate live, and you can watch it again below:
Horrigan, Akron's first full-time mayor since Don Plusquellic's abrupt retirement in 2015, is seeking a second term. The 56-year-old is considered the favorite in the heavily Democratic city, and is touting (in his words) an increase in jobs, a decrease in crime, and better transparency over the last four years.
Sines, manager of a pub on West Hill, says he doesn't want to be "fine with mediocrity" and that Akron "needs an infusion of bright, young minds that will fight for the citizens." He says his campaign will focus on still-relatively high crime rates, economic growth, social inclusion, and drugs and addiction.
