By Ed Somers
January 12, 2004

Akron Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic was presented the Municipal Leader of the Year Award by American City and County Magazine during National League of Cities Congress of Cities in Nashville.

Plusquellic, who is Vice President of The U.S. Conference of Mayors, was honored for his leadership in raising local funds to improve school facilities. As a result of his efforts, Akron schools will receive state matching grants to complete an $800 million project to rehabilitate or reconstruct every school in the city by 2017.

The mayor was also credited for helping to convert the city's economy from one based on rubber manufacturing to one that promotes polymer technology.

Plusquellic thanked American City and County and said, "I am proud to be a local government leader and to have been chosen for this award."

Plusquellic was just recently re-elected to an unprecedented fifth term with a 71 percent vote.