Akron Mayor-Elect Shammas Malik announces who's staying from Horrigan's administration

Akron Mayor-elect Shammas Malik announced Tuesday that six members of mayor Dan Horrigan's administration will be staying on in their current roles.

Chris Ludle, Steve Fricker, Frank Williams, Eufrancia Lash, James Aitken and Michael Wheeler will all be joining Malik's administration.

"I have worked with Chris Ludle, Steve Fricker and Frank Williams for many years as a city lawyer and as a city councilperson,” Malik said. “The experience, dedication to service, and deep care that these men have for the city of Akron and our employees will be invaluable to my administration.

"Eufrancia Lash, Jim Aitken, and Mike Wheeler also bring a depth of experience to these roles and to my administration that will provide dependability and reliability for our city. I’m excited to continue building on the exemplary work that has been done in both Public Service and Finance with these leaders at the helm.”

Director of Public Service Chris Ludle

In 2004, Ludle, a lifelong Akronite, began working for Akron as a mechanical inspector in the building inspection division. In the years since, he's worked in several other positions before being promoted to deputy service director in 2015. In 2020, he succeeded former Service Director John Moore.

The office of the director of public service oversees the Engineering Bureau, the Public Works Bureau, the Sewer Bureau and Water Bureau.

Under his guidance, Akron has tackled dozens of consent decree sewer projects — including the Ohio Canal Interceptor Tunnel — paved hundreds of roads, revamped Akron's snow an ice response plan and managed the city's watershed and water infrastructure network.

Ludle also collaborated with Akron Energy System to modernize Akron's utility system and reduce Akron's carbon footprint. His efforts saved millions of dollars, millions of gallons of recycled water, and maintained a high rate of operational reliability.

Director of Finance Steve Fricker

Fricker, a lifelong Akron resident and Firestone High School graduate, began serving the city in 1991 as an accounts analyst in Akron's Audit and Budget Division. Since, he has served in multiple roles in the finance department including deputy tax commissioner and city treasurer.

He earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Miami University in Oxford.

Since 2016, he has served in the mayor's cabinet, and in 2019, he began serving in his current role.

Fricker oversees the seven Finance Department divisions. He helped grow the general fund cash balance from $5 million at the end of 2015 to over $25 million at the beginning of 2023.

Deputy Director of Finance Mike Wheeler

As deputy director of finance, Wheeler oversees the annual budgets, audits, and the seven departments in the Finance Department.

In 2022, he was named deputy finance director. Wheeler, a licensed certified public accountant, has more than a decade of experience in Akron's Audit and Budget Division, where he served as audit and budget manager.

Wheeler graduated from Akron’s Firestone High School in 2003. In 2008, he graduated from the University of Akron.

Director of Labor Relations Frank Williams

Williams resides in Akron with his wife and their five children. He joined Horrigan's administration in 2019 as assistant to the mayor for labor relations and was promoted to deputy mayor for labor relations in 2022.

Williams brings with him more than 30 years of public service experience, leadership skills, community relations, and collective bargaining knowledge to his role.

Deputy service directors Eufrancia Lash and James Aitken

Lash, a graduate of both Central-Hower High School and the University of Akron, joined the mayor’s cabinet in 2019 as deputy director of public service and neighborhood assistance.

He also has worked as a consultant with his company, The Akropolis Group, and has served on various boards and commissions within the community. Lash is a graduate of Leadership Akron Class 32.

Aitken began serving Akron in 1986 as a sewer maintenance worker in the sewer division, eventually becoming acting sewer superintendent. In this role, he managed day-to-day operations of the city sewer collection system.

In February 2021, Aitken was promoted to deputy director of public service – operations. In this role he is responsible for the Public Works Bureau, Sewer Bureau and Water Bureau.

Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com or 330-541-9413

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron mayor-elect Shammas Malik announces more administration picks