William Sherer wants to keep Canton moving forward

William V. Sherer II is ready to move from the legislative to executive branch of city government.

After more than four years as council president, the 53-year-old said he wants to "give back to the community that has given my family and me so many opportunities." Sherer said the city where he was born and raised has been good to him and provided him with a career in the Ironworkers union.

"I understand the power and importance of opportunities, and I want to help provide those opportunities to the citizens of Canton," Sherer said in a Canton Repository mayoral candidate questionnaire. "The City of Canton has made great progress in recent years, but we have so much more that we can do."

Meet William Sherer II

Sherer has been a lifelong Canton resident and lives in the city's northwest Ward 8 with his wife Carrie. They have three daughters and two grandchildren.

He graduated in 1988 from McKinley High School and completed the Ironworkers Local 550 Apprenticeship Program. For nearly 18 years, Sherer has been the business manager, financial secretary and treasurer for Ironworkers Local 550 ― a role his father and grandfather also held.

"Serving as the business manager/FST with Ironworkers Local 550 has made me appreciate how good-paying jobs with benefits can positively impact our community," he said.

Sherer is vice chairman of the Stark County Democratic Party and formerly was a board member for the Stark County Board of Elections, J. Babe Stearn Community Center, Greater Stark County Urban League, and United Way of Greater Stark County.

He was appointed in December 2018 to fill the unfinished term of longtime Council President Allen Schulman Jr., who died the prior month after a long-term illness.

Read more:Democratic, labor leader ready for Canton City Council presidency

The following year, Sherer faced former city law director Joseph Martuccio in the May primary election. He received 61% of the vote and was unopposed in the general election.

The president serves for two-year terms and conducts City Council meetings, only voting to break a tie. After his election, Sherer said he wanted to help improve the city's streets, safety forces and job opportunities.

He's since presided over numerous routine and several heated council meetings, including one where three council members walked out in solidarity with people protesting the grand jury decision not to indict a Canton police officer in the shooting death of James Williams.

While some of the other mayoral candidates have more political experience, Sherer said his work ethic sets him apart. Being mayor would allow him to make a bigger impact on the city.

"I think I definitely got a lot more to offer Canton," he said.

Julie Hrabak, who is treasurer of Sherer's campaign, has worked for Sherer the past 12 years as office manager of Ironworkers Local 550. She also helped with his council president campaign.

"He's dedicated to his work, to the members of our Local, he's very dedicated to them," she said. "He's the first one here in the morning and the last one to leave, and there's a lot of times he comes up and does things after hours on weekends."

Hrabak said Sherer has resolved issues that members have with their medical or pension plans. His passion to do the best for union members extends to the city, and she's eager to see how Sherer will make Canton a growing, safe city.

"I mean, he truly believes in the city of Canton and wants to see the best for the city that ... he grew up in and still resides in," Hrabak said. "That's kind of unheard of nowadays for a person to reside in the same city that they grew up in."

Political goals

Sherer's top priorities as mayor would be to improve the city's safety and neighborhoods and listen to resident concerns "to determine how we can move our city forward."

"We need to ensure that Issue 13 dollars are invested in our neighborhoods, starting with paving and infrastructure," he said. "The City of Canton must take advantage of all federal dollars, ARPA, and grants available through tax credits for green energy for our community."

Sherer said he has learned a lot from participating in the mayor's Neighborhood Commission the past four years and would initiate annual "listening tours" in each city quadrant if elected. He'd also work with Police Chief John Gabbard to coordinate more neighborhood events and ensure the department is adequately staffed.

The city adopted "8 Can't Wait" reforms while Sherer was council president, and he'd support continued efforts to improve police training and recruitment so that officers can best represent and serve the city.

"We have made great strides to continue our professional training and identify best practices for serving our community," he said. "I believe that under the leadership of Chief Gabbard, the men and women of the police department have a passion to protect and serve our community."

Sherer also proposes to pave more roads as early as 2024 and would like more organizations like the Community Building Partnership to work with homeowners to improve Canton's housing stock.

To keep youth from leaving Canton, Sherer said he would establish a steering committee to evaluate their "needs and wants." Other components include high-paying jobs and opportunities to be involved in local government or nonprofits.

"Canton needs to be a city where we can live, work, and play," Sherer said. "To keep our youth in Canton, we need a strong arts community, vibrant schools, affordable housing, community events/activities, and a powerful economic engine providing jobs for our young people."

As mayor, Sherer said he would continue to collaborate with ArtsinStark, the Canton City School District and Hall of Fame Village to benefit the city.

Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.comOn Twitter: @kbyerREP

Mayoral forums

The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Canton Repository, and the League of Women Voters of the Canton Area are hosting public forums with the mayoral candidates in advance of the May 2 primary:

• The chamber and Repository will host The Future of Canton: 2023 Mayoral Primary Forum at 6:30 p.m. April 4 on the main stage of the Cultural Center Theater at 1001 Market Ave. N. The doors open at 5:30 p.m., and there will be a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres. The event will feature the only Democratic candidates because the Republican candidate is unopposed in the primary. Registration is required and $20 tickets can be purchased through the chamber's website: https://www.cantonchamber.org/2023-mayoral-primary-forum. The ticket revenue will cover the site rental and any excess will be donated. The event will be recorded and available afterward to the general public.

• The League of Women Voters of the Canton Area will host a forum for all mayoral candidates at 7 p.m. April 13 in the Timken Commons, 521 Tuscarawas St. W. The event is free and open to the public. For more details, go to: https://cantonlwv.org.

Meet the candidates

The Repository also will profile the five Democratic candidates this week. Republican Roy Scott DePew is unopposed in the primary. The profiles will appear in the newspaper and at CantonRep.com as follows:

• Monday: Kimberly D. Bell

• Tuesday: Willis Gordon

• Today: William V. Sherer II

• Thursday: Bill Smuckler

• Friday: Thomas West

This article originally appeared on The Repository: William Sherer II wants to lead more than City Council