When Akron announced in May that Mark Williamson was no longer going to be the city’s spokesman and was assuming a different role with the city, he garnered an outpouring of support from media representatives and others in the community.
The same was true Monday when Williamson, who served as Akron’s spokesman for 15 years, announced in a Facebook post that he had resigned.
“It has been an exciting 15-plus years serving the mayor, the people, the media and our small business community,” Williamson wrote.
Within minutes, he had a few dozen replies wishing him well, including several from current and former journalists he worked with during his spokesman years.
“You easily were one of the best press representatives I’ve ever dealt with,” wrote Julie Wallace, a former Beacon Journal City Hall reporter who is now managing editor of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram.
Greg Korte, another former Beacon Journal reporter who now works for USA Today, said 15 years was a long time to serve as a spokesman, especially when dealing with reporters like him — and a boss like Mayor Don Plusquellic.
Eric Mansfield, a reporter with Channel 3 in Cleveland, said Williamson “gave me my first job and has forever been a friend, mentor and colleague.”
Plusquellic, who shifted Williamson in mid-May from spokesman to the city’s liaison to the Greater Akron Chamber, said he told Williamson Friday that he was considering making changes. Afterward, he said, Williamson decided to resign.
“I said after the election that I would look at this as a new mayor coming in,” said Plusquellic, who was re-elected in November. “There are other things I’m working on that will unfold in the next few months — organizational and personnel.”
Plusquellic said he appreciates the work Williamson “did for the citizens of Akron for almost 16 years.” The mayor said he felt he “needed to make a change.”
Plusquellic said Akron’s association with the chamber will continue. “This is not in any way any kind of statement about our partnership with the chamber,” he said.
Stephanie York, an assistant law director, took over as Akron’s new spokeswoman.
Williamson, 54, became Akron’s spokesman in 1996 after a career in broadcasting, including as the news director and anchor at Channel 23. His relationship with Plusquellic is rumored to have soured over the past several years, with some saying the two rarely spoke.
Williamson’s salary remained the same when he switched jobs with the city, where he was making $98,342 annually. With his resignation, he will receive any leave he had accrued during his time with Akron, just as all city employees are entitled to when they leave their jobs, said Deputy Mayor Dave Lieberth.
‘Pursue new avenues’
Williamson said in a short statement sent by email Monday that he is “continually interested in finding new ways to serve our community” and he plans to “pursue new avenues.”
“I have extended my sincere thanks to the mayor,” he said. “Working in our city government has given me greater depth and capacity to use my experience in another new and exciting way.”
Williamson thanked those who had posted nice messages to him on Facebook and showed his characteristic humor by putting in a plug for someone to hire him.
“Thanks for so many wonderful thoughts,” he wrote. “I want to make it clear that I AM LOOKING for a cool job ...
so. ...”
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.