Fran Wilson says that they hate the word “politician,” even though they are one of Akron’s City Council candidates. Wilson, who has now won the democratic spot after the May 6 special primary, says that the word “politician” feels too permanent. 

Wilson is proud to share that their family has lived in Akron for four generations. Wilson is running to represent Ward One of Akron, where they grew up – which consists of many neighborhoods including Highland Square, Downtown Akron and the University of Akron. 

They described a moment in college that altered their political identity: watching as people actively voted against their protections and civil liberties. Wilson has previously volunteered with a movement to help increase protections for queer renters, who “didn’t have those protections, and they still don’t. They kept voting it down.”

When Wilson returned to Akron, they knew they wanted to make change and have a voice in local politics. They began getting involved with city council, attending weekly meetings and was even appointed to serve as Akron Civil Rights Commissioner. 

“People want something different,” they said. Wilson notes that they might be different from other candidates in a few ways. The average age of council members is 63, Wilson said, which they are not. 

Wilson also identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, which is unlike most officials Akron has seen.

“We’ve only had one out elected official,” Wilson said regarding other officials identifying with the LGBTQ+ community. “We’ve had two in our entire history.”

Although there are some differences, they are similar to other candidates and city officials in that they love their city and want to advocate for its communities. 

Right now, Wilson is still campaigning. See a more in-depth overview of Wilson’s policy initiatives and advocacy here. 

They have secured the Democratic seat but may face a challenger from the Independent party in the next election. Ohio has an upcoming election: Nov. 4, 2025 (register by Oct. 6). 

Remember to register and make a voting plan!