Post-Standard Political Notebook
Power to the people.
That's one idea espoused by Green Party mayoral candidate Howie Hawkins that seems to be making it's way onto the agenda of Syracuse's major party candidates.
Hawkins, whose platform includes non-mainstream ideas like a commuter tax and the creation of dozens of neighborhood assemblies, wants to create a public power utility in Syracuse that could offer low-cost electricity to residents. Given the sky-high price of oil and gasoline, Hawkins says he feels the time is right.
Both Democratic Mayor Matt Driscoll and Republican challenger Joanie Mahoney last week seemed to agree. Both said they would explore the possiblity if given the mayor's office.
The concept is also favored by staunch conservative Kurt Schmeling, the Republican councilor-at-large candidate who sits at the opposite end of the political spectrum from Hawkins.
"I think Howie Hawkins has it right," Schmeling said Tuesday. "Look at Solvay, they have power that's so cheap they heat their houses with electricity."