Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz - Democratic Mayors

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz gave his State of the City address titled ‘For the Betterment of Toledo,’ highlighting the city’s growth and goals for 2022. Some of Mayor Kapszukiewicz’s top priorities include public safety, affordable housing, improving city parks, universal pre-K and workforce, and economic development.

Mayor Kapszukiewicz shared the city’s plans for its ARPA dollars through the Toledo Recovery Plan, which prioritizes safe and livable neighborhoods, youth recreation and parks, job creation and economic impact, avoiding cuts to city services, and green and healthy housing. Through this plan, the city will add 100 new police officers, expand youth programming and mentoring, replace lead service lines, construct 600 new housing units, fight blight, plant trees, and more.

“We have faced adversity before in this city, and we’ve always bounced back. Sure, we’ve been knocked down. If there is anything good about being knocked down as often as we have, is that we know how to get back up. We know how to dust ourselves off and fight back. There is a togetherness in this city that most other communities don’t have,” said Mayor Kapszukiewicz.

Watch Mayor Kapszukiewicz’s address here.

More State of the City Addresses

Detroit, Michigan

Mayor Mary Sheffield

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield delivered her first State of the City Address, outlining a vision centered on lowering the cost of living, expanding homeownership, investing in families, and improving city services. She framed her agenda around making Detroit a more affordable, safer, and more opportunity-filled city, with a focus on growing population, supporting working families, and strengthening neighborhoods.

Lima, Ohio

Mayor Sharetta Smith

Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith delivered her State of the City Address in a new format, transforming her traditional remarks into a community-centered conversation that brought residents, city leaders, and local partners together to answer the questions that matter most. Her address was built around questions submitted by residents, covering topics including public safety, infrastructure, housing, economic development, and family stability.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Mayor Cavalier Johnson

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson delivered his State of the City Address under the theme “The Year of Housing,” centered on a simple belief that everything begins at home. He framed his agenda around three core priorities: housing affordability, housing availability, and housing quality, emphasizing that safe and stable homes are foundational to strong families, neighborhoods, and a thriving city.