Syracuse Common Councilor Pat Hogan has officially announced that he'll join the primary for mayor of Syracuse.
Hogan says this election will paint a clear difference between him and Mayor Stephanie Miner, who's running for re-election.
"It's a choice between collaboration or combativeness, constituents or cronyism, community or concentration of power and transparency or closed door deals," he said.Hogan has criticized the mayor in the past, most notably about the closing of a downtown senior center and the recent shut down of an Eastside fire station as part of budget tightening. It was the shuttering of the station that pushed him into the race. Hogan, who can't run for reelection on Common Council due to term limits, says it's a decision that puts neighborhoods at risk.
"Because it strikes at the very heart of what I believe in as far as the viability of the city. We have to make sure that people feel safe and comfortable in their neighborhoods."
And he believes neighborhoods have been taking the back seat recently, to things like construction of a creek walk and bike lanes.
"Those things are great. But those things, when we face fiscal problems like we face, those amenities have to be put aside to what really matters to people of this city. And what really matters is the quality and condition of their neighborhoods. So I guess you'd have to say I have a different set of priorities."
There were several firefighters on hand for Hogan's announcement. He was also joined by Common Councilor Lance Denno, who announced he'll join the primary for the councilor at large seat, and attorney Lou Lavine, who will force a primary in the race for city court judge. The Syracuse Democratic Committee is backing other candidates in those races. And in the mayoral primary, Alfonso Davis is the third Democrat in mayoral race.
Republicans haven't found a candidate to run in the mayor's race yet.
