Mayor William Robertson: 20 Years of Steady Leadership and Collaboration in Rittman, Ohio

When William Robertson was first elected Mayor of Rittman in December 2005, the city was at a crossroads. A generation earlier, Rittman’s economy had revolved around its paper mill and manufacturing base. But by the mid-2000s, the city faced economic uncertainty, aging infrastructure and a need for renewed direction.

Over the next 20 years, Robertson’s leadership would help guide Rittman through transformation and renewal. His calm, steady approach, with a focus on collaboration, fiscal discipline and long-term planning, helped shape a period of stability and civic pride that he hopes will continue under the next mayor of Rittman.

Before entering public office, Robertson built a career that reflected his connection to Rittman. Having earned a Bachelor's degree from Baldwin Wallace College and a Master’s degree from the University of Akron, he valued being a lifelong learner and spent many years as an educator and administrator. These experiences would later inform his leadership style. His background in education gave him a natural focus on communication, community engagement and the importance of consensus.

He served multiple terms on the Rittman Board of Education, including as board president, during which he learned to manage public budgets, navigate differing opinions and keep the community’s long-term interests in mind. Those experiences would later prove essential in city government.

“I always believed the role of local leadership is to bring people together,” Robertson said. “It’s about listening first, finding common ground and staying consistent even when decisions are difficult.”

Robertson’s first challenge as mayor came almost immediately. In early 2006, barely a month into his first term, Rittman’s largest employer announced it would close. The Ohio Boxboard plant, once employing over 2,400 workers, had been the largest employer of a city of ~6,400 people for generations. Its closure marked a defining moment for Rittman’s identity and future.

For some communities, such a loss might have deepened decline. Robertson saw it differently. He recognized that while the economic impact would be felt for years, the site represented an opportunity for reinvention. Rather than allowing the property to sit idle or fall into disrepair, he pushed for a long-term vision that combined redevelopment potential with community benefit.

Part of the former industrial land eventually became a 200-acre nature preserve, later named the William J. Robertson Nature Preserve in recognition of his role in its creation. Beginning as an environmental restoration project, the nature preserve became a symbol of Rittman’s resilience and capacity for reinvention.

Transforming a portion of the former industrial site into a regional recreational asset required patience, partnerships and persistence. Robertson worked closely with state and regional partners, private property owners and volunteer groups to secure funding, coordinate planning and manage environmental restoration.

Robertson’s time as mayor was guided by a clear commitment to fiscal responsibility. He was known for asking detailed questions, weighing options carefully and ensuring the city lived within its means. Under his leadership, Rittman maintained a strong financial footing while investing in infrastructure, safety services and community amenities.

Early in his tenure, he helped lead the development of a Strategic Plan to guide city priorities. The plan established long-term goals for infrastructure upgrades, economic growth, recreation and public safety. This plan became a working roadmap that helped various departments align and be accountable.

Robertson often credited the city’s success to teamwork. Teamwork between council members. Collaboration with department heads and staff who all shared his focus on efficiency and transparency. He viewed local government as a service organization with measurable outcomes.

“Good government is about doing what needs to be done, even when it’s not flashy,” Robertson said. “If you focus on the fundamentals of safety, infrastructure and fiscal health, the rest will follow.”

Few relationships mattered more to Robertson than the one between the City of Rittman and its schools. Having served on the school board, he had a keen understanding of how municipal and educational priorities often overlap. With shared facilities and recreation programs, economic development and community engagement, they all supported the same goals, just in different ways.

During his administration, the city and school district established stronger communication and mutual support. City resources helped improve shared-use spaces, while school leaders collaborated on community initiatives and local events. The partnership helped build civic pride and a stronger sense of unity across generations.

Robertson often pointed to this collaboration as one of his proudest accomplishments. “When the schools and the city are on the same page, the community wins,” he noted in one of his weekly mayoral columns. “That cooperation creates opportunities for our youth and stability for our families.”

In nearly two decades of public service, Robertson witnessed a dramatic shift in how residents engage with local government. When he first took office, news traveled through local newspapers and word of mouth. By the 2010s, social media had transformed the pace and tone of public dialogue.

Robertson approached that change with a commitment to transparency. Recognizing the potential for misinformation and misunderstanding, he made direct communication a cornerstone of his leadership.

His weekly newspaper column, A Moment with the Mayor, became a fixture of civic life. Over 575 installments provided residents with updates on city projects, budget discussions and local events. He strived to write the same way he spoke: clear, inviting and conversational.

In addition, he recorded 25 video versions to reach residents online during the COVID-19 pandemic. The series reinforced his belief that accessibility builds trust. “People may not always agree with every decision,” he said, “but they deserve to understand how and why those decisions are made.”

Robertson’s tenure also brought steady investment in Rittman’s physical and social infrastructure. Key projects included the development of the Rittman Recreation Center, improvements to the public library and expanded access to the Rails-to-Trails system.

Each project reflected his belief that a strong community depends on both essential services and shared spaces that bring people together. As mayor, he prioritized maintaining roads, utilities and emergency services while supporting amenities that would improve the quality of life for the people of Rittman.

He took pride in projects that quietly improved residents’ experience with modernized facilities, new playgrounds and updated safety equipment. These investments reflected his steady, incremental approach: progress measured not in headlines, but in tangible improvements visible across the city.

After 20 years in office, Robertson hopes to leave behind a legacy defined by how he led and what he accomplished.  Not only by what he built, but by how he led. A methodical, collaborative approach rooted in community values can be a strong blueprint for future mayors of Rittman.

As he prepares to step down, Robertson encourages the city to continue pursuing redevelopment of the former Boxboard property, which he sees as Rittman’s most significant opportunity for future industrial and commercial growth. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining strong partnerships with regional agencies and sustaining investment in the city’s workforce and infrastructure.

His advice to future leaders remains simple but powerful: stay grounded, communicate often and focus on what benefits residents over the long term.

Mayor William Robertson’s impact on Rittman can be measured in both tangible and intangible ways. You can see it through improved infrastructure and new public amenities, but feel it through the trust, civility and stability that characterized his leadership.

He took office at a moment of uncertainty and helped Rittman emerge stronger, more confident and more cohesive. His twenty-year tenure stands as a reminder that progress in small cities often comes through consistent effort and principled service, not sweeping or aggressive change.

As he transitions out of office, Robertson plans to remain active in the community he’s served for most of his life. His next focus will be spending more time with family while staying engaged in local initiatives. His influence will continue to shape Rittman’s direction for years to come, carried forward by a generation of leaders inspired by his example.