Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins speaks on stage of the former Wescott Theatre to an audience last year during his run for governor.Veteran activist and political organizer Howie Hawkins today said he plans to run as the Green Party candidate for 4th District Common Councilor in Syracuse.
Hawkins, 58, of 410 W. Beard Ave., has scheduled a news conference at 11 a.m. Wednesday to announce his candidacy. The event will be at the corner of South Salina and Colvin Streets.
Hawkins received 41 percent of the vote when he ran for the same seat in 2009 against incumbent Councilor Tom Seals, who is not running this year because of term limits. Hawkins’ opponent in November will be Democrat Khalid Bey, an author, businessman and political organizer.
Hawkins ran for governor last year, his 18th unsuccessful bid for election to a variety of offices. He finished third in the governor’s race, winning more than 50,000 votes, enough to make the Green Party a recognized political party under New York election law.
Hawkins has lived on the South Side of Syracuse since 1991. He is a Teamster who works at UPS unloading trucks.