Mayoral candidate Joshua Schaffer says he'd be an accessible, progressive voice for Akron

Of the many things that Joshua Schaffer loves about Akron, diversity comes first.

"I live in a neighborhood with Pakistani and Nepalese families and refugees and immigrants from all corners of the globe," Schaffer said.

Schaffer, 36, is one of seven Democratic candidates running in this year's Akron mayoral race. One of the lesser-known candidates, he does not have the political experience or community visibility enjoyed by most of his opponents in the primary.

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Despite this, Schaffer believes he can connect to Akron residents in a way that the others can't.

"I just want people to know that I'm genuine," he said. "I feel where people are at, and if you want someone to represent you that is like you, well, that's me."

What drove Schaffer to run for Akron mayor

Chief among Schaffer's concerns is accessibility to elected officials by their constituents. He said a lack of such availability drove him to consider a life in the political arena.

The seed for his bid for elected office was planted a few years ago, he said, "when I was trying to meet with the mayor to discuss issues of environmental deforestation and residential development." Schaffer said he grew frustrated with the lack of response.

"I vowed to do things differently if I were ever elected to a position of power; that idea of wanting more accessible leadership and being frustrated with being stonewalled by local government led me on this path."

Schaffer said he wants to help Akron become a progressive beacon for Ohio politics.

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"Right now we have a Democratic mayor, a Democratic council, but we don't have a progressive city, and how did that come to be?"

He said his business acumen and managerial experience combined with the political experience of the City Council will help him to "get things done."

Educational and employment background

Schaffer grew up in Cuyahoga County and attended the University of Akron, where he spent five years working toward his bachelor's degree, double majoring in political science and criminal justice while double minoring in psychology and criminal justice.

"I moved back here five years ago; this wasn't intended to be my place, but — long story short — my grandpa died and I was living with him and helping him, and I needed a place to move."

He asked his real estate agent to help him find a historic house in Akron. Between his time at UA and his return to the city, Schaffer said, "I've lived here in Akron for about 10 or 11 years."

Schaffer serves as a retail manager for a Cricket Wireless in the Akron area. Prior to that role, he held a variety of responsibilities for 14 years at Business Research Services, according to his campaign website. He's also worked as an environmental activist.

Schaffer says crime, police reform are Akron residents' top concerns

Schaffer said residents have told him that crime and police reform are their most pressing concerns, and he has plans to tackle these issues.

"It seems as if every time I speak with residents, I'm always asked if I've heard of the robberies on their street or any other number of criminal activities occurring within Akron neighborhoods," he said.

"We haven't been able to get a handle on crime through many Democratic administrations over the last 40 years. I'm trying to bring a new approach to crime control, a very progressive approach to crime," Schaffer said.

"I'd like to enhance police reform, starting with the police review board, and having people elect their own police review board officials and with no police officers allowed on the review board," said Schaffer. "I'm also going to decriminalize marijuana; it will be my direction to the police department that we are not going to make stops for minor misdemeanor marijuana possession or paraphernalia and to use our discretion, while not just letting everyone drive around while high," he said.

Schaffer also said he'd invest in mental health and drug addiction care, using the money from the "war on drugs" to treat addiction as a mental health issue instead of a criminal issue.

"We're going to stop locking up nonviolent drug offenders or people with mental illness," he said.

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@gannett.com or on Twitter, @athompsonABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Joshua Schaffer aims to win Akron mayor as 'genuine' voice for city