Shammas Malik

Shammas Malik
Born	Shammas Iqbal Qammar Malik 10 4, 1991
Birthplace	Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Lawyer, politician
Title	Mayor of Akron
Known for	63rd Mayor of Akron, Ohio
Education	Harvard Law School (JD)
Spouse(s)	Alice Malik
Children	1
Website	[https://www.malikforakron.com/ Official site]

Shammas Iqbal Qammar Malik (born April 10, 1991) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 63rd mayor of Akron, Ohio, a position he has held since January 1, 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, Malik previously served as the Akron City Council representative for Ward 8 from January 1, 2020, to November 7, 2023, and worked as an assistant director of the Akron Law Department from 2016 to 2018. Born and raised in Akron, Malik attended Ohio State University before earning his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. He won the 2023 Akron mayoral primary in May of that year, positioning him to succeed Dan Horrigan as mayor. Malik became the first person of color to serve as mayor of Akron upon taking office. His administration has focused on public safety, gun violence prevention, policing reform, and municipal infrastructure investment. At the time of his election, Malik was among the youngest mayors in the city's history, bringing what observers described as a younger perspective to Akron's civic leadership.

Early Life

Shammas Iqbal Qammar Malik was born on April 10, 1991, in Akron, Ohio. He grew up in the city and has deep roots in the Akron community. His mother served as a university professor, while his father was incarcerated during a portion of Malik's upbringing, an experience that shaped his perspective on the criminal justice system and public service.

Malik's background as a Pakistani American contributed to the historic nature of his later election as mayor, making him the first person of color to hold the office in Akron's history. Growing up in Akron provided Malik with firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing the city, including issues related to economic development, public safety, and community investment, themes that would later define his political career.

Education

Malik attended Ohio State University for his undergraduate studies. He subsequently enrolled at Harvard Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. His legal education at Harvard prepared him for a career in municipal law and public service, and he returned to Akron after completing his studies to begin working in the city's law department.

Career

Akron Law Department

After completing his legal education, Malik returned to his hometown and joined the City of Akron's Law Department. He served as an assistant director of the Akron Law Department from 2016 to 2018. In this role, Malik gained experience in municipal governance and legal administration, working on matters pertaining to city operations and policy. His time in the law department provided him with an understanding of the inner workings of Akron's city government, which would inform his subsequent career in elected office.

Akron City Council (2020–2023)

In 2019, Malik ran for the Akron City Council seat representing Ward 8. He won the primary election held in May 2019 and subsequently won the general election in November 2019. He took office on January 1, 2020, and served as the Ward 8 council member until November 7, 2023, when he resigned to prepare for his transition to the mayor's office.

During his time on city council, Malik was noted for bringing a younger perspective to Akron's legislative body. As a council member, he engaged with constituent concerns related to neighborhood development, public safety, and city services. His tenure on the council allowed him to build relationships with fellow council members and city administrators, and to develop policy positions on the issues facing Akron.

2023 Mayoral Campaign

Malik entered the 2023 Akron mayoral race to succeed Dan Horrigan, who did not seek reelection. The race drew significant attention as Akron, Ohio's fifth-largest city, sought new leadership. Malik competed against multiple candidates in the Democratic primary, including Marco Sommerville and Tara Mosley.

On May 2, 2023, Malik won the Democratic mayoral primary election decisively. Given Akron's strong Democratic lean, winning the primary effectively positioned Malik as the presumptive next mayor. His primary victory was historic, as it set the stage for Malik to become the first person of color to serve as mayor of Akron.

Following his primary victory, Malik moved quickly to establish a transition team to prepare for his administration. On May 18, 2023, he announced the members of his transition team, which included a range of community leaders and policy experts to help plan the incoming administration's priorities.

Malik won the November 2023 general election, securing his position as the 63rd mayor of Akron.

Mayor of Akron (2024–present)

Shammas Malik was sworn in as the 63rd mayor of Akron on January 1, 2024, succeeding Dan Horrigan. Upon taking office, he became the first person of color to serve as Akron's mayor, a milestone in the city's 198-year history.

First Year and State of the City

In June 2025, ahead of his first State of the City address, Malik discussed his administration's first-year priorities in an interview with Signal Akron. The outlet had solicited feedback from readers about the mayor's progress, and Malik addressed the areas where his administration had focused its early efforts.

On June 3, 2025, Malik delivered his 2025 State of the City address, in which he announced new programs aimed at addressing public safety concerns. The speech focused on steps to tackle gun violence and increase trust in policing, two issues that had been central to his campaign and early tenure.

Public Safety

Public safety has been a defining issue of Malik's tenure as mayor. In his 2025 State of the City address, he outlined new initiatives to combat gun violence and announced measures aimed at rebuilding public trust in the Akron Police Department.

In October 2025, following a fatal shooting in the Highland Square neighborhood, Malik announced increased safety measures for the area. The response included enhanced city efforts to address violence in the neighborhood and improve security for residents and businesses.

In early 2026, Malik and at-large Councilman Eric Garrett Sr. had a public exchange over policing policy. A poster shared on social media by Garrett drew the ire of Malik and led to a tense discussion about police reform and the direction of the city's public safety strategy. The exchange highlighted ongoing debates within Akron's political leadership about the appropriate approach to policing and community safety.

Budget and Infrastructure

In January 2026, Malik introduced his administration's proposed $341 million capital budget for 2026 to city council. The budget proposal included changes to the Akron Police Department's personal gun policy, among other allocations for city infrastructure and services.

In February 2026, the Akron City Council passed the 2026 capital budget as proposed by the Malik administration. The passage of the budget represented a significant legislative accomplishment for the mayor's second year in office.

Immigration Policy

In February 2026, Malik submitted an emergency resolution to Akron City Council asking the body to oppose four immigration enforcement bills being considered at the Ohio statehouse. The resolution reflected the mayor's position against state-level measures that he argued could affect Akron's immigrant communities and the city's relationship with federal immigration enforcement agencies such as ICE.

Personal Life

Shammas Malik is married to Alice Malik. On November 17, 2025, Alice gave birth to the couple's first child, a daughter. The announcement of the birth was reported by the Akron Beacon Journal on November 24, 2025.

Malik has maintained his residence in Akron throughout his career in public service. He is of Pakistani descent and has spoken about how his heritage and family experiences, including his father's incarceration and his mother's career as a university professor, shaped his commitment to public service.

Recognition

Malik's election as mayor of Akron in 2023 was recognized as a historic achievement. He became the first person of color to serve as mayor of Akron, a city with a population of approximately 190,000 and the fifth-largest municipality in Ohio. His primary victory and subsequent general election win drew coverage from regional and statewide media outlets, including Ideastream Public Media, the Akron Beacon Journal, and others.

At the time of his election to city council in 2019, Malik was recognized as one of the younger members of the Akron City Council, and his candidacy was noted for bringing a different generational perspective to local governance.

Legacy

As of early 2026, Malik is in his second year as mayor of Akron and continues to shape his administration's policy agenda. His historic election as the first person of color to lead Akron marked a significant moment in the city's political history. His administration's focus on public safety, including gun violence prevention and policing reform, as well as municipal budgeting and infrastructure investment, has defined his early tenure.

Malik's trajectory from assistant director of the Akron Law Department to city council member to mayor represents a career built within the civic institutions of his hometown. His willingness to engage on contentious issues, including policing reform and immigration policy, has placed him at the center of several ongoing policy debates in Akron and the broader Ohio political landscape.