Common Council Endorsements At large: Hawkins; Ryan or Joy
Five candidates are running for two councilor-at-large seats. The Post-Standard endorses Howie Hawkins, the Green Party candidate, for one of the seats.
Hawkins is a familiar name in local and state politics. But because he has run as a minor-party candidate in so many races and has never won, some might wonder whether he is a "legitimate" candidate. In fact, Hawkins is one of the more credible people running for local office this year.
He has substantive ideas that have provoked discussion even among his opponents - including proposals on public power and a commuter tax. He has a community-based perspective that is largely lacking on the council, critically viewing such proposals as a curfew and a parking "boot" through the lens of less well-to-do residents. His many ideas - including establishing a community hiring hall, creating a municipal bank and developing a green tech training center - could spark more progressive, out-of-the-box thinking in City Hall.
For the second available seat, voters would be well-served by either Bill Ryan or Kathleen Joy, both Democratic incumbents. Both are congenial, smart and hard-working.
Ryan joined two of his colleagues in a trip to Rochester recently to talk to officials about that city's curfew, even though he has been opposed to it. He backs a much-needed unified economic development office and believes quality-of-life issues are key to the city's success.
Joy is capable of bringing groups together to solve problems - such as her efforts to meet with tenants, landlords and neighborhood groups to develop rental property standards. She has taken a lead in promoting green-building standards.
Republican Bill Harper and Conservative Bob Teachout also are on the ballot. Harper believes businesses must be supported, especially in downtown, and that the city should explore alternative energy sources.