On try No. 14, Howie Hawkins eyes Congress
Syracuse Post-Standard
Mike McAndrew
July 1st, 2008
http://www.syracuse.com/poststandard/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-1/121490250491660.xml&coll=1
On try No. 14, Howie Hawkins eyes Congress
Syracuse Post-Standard, Tuesday, July 01, 2008
By Mike McAndrew Staff writer
With 13 elections behind him, Howie Hawkins thinks his bad luck is about to change.
This morning, Hawkins will announce he's running for Congress as an independent Green Populist candidate in the 25th Congressional District, his third bid for that seat.
He's hoping his 14th ballot appearance will result in his first victory.
"Our message can beat the big money that the corporate parties have. We will raise enough money to get our message out. We are in it to win it," said Hawkins, who has scheduled an 11 a.m. news conference outside the Federal Building.
He is calling for a total withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan - and from Iran, too, where he says America is fighting a covert war.
He's also pushing for national health insurance for all through a single public payer.
In the past 15 years, Hawkins has run for everything from Syracuse Common Council to U.S. Senate.
Since 1993, he's appeared on the ballot every year except in 1996 and 2003, when opponents successfully challenged his petitions to run for Congress, and Syracuse Common Council, respectively.
But Hawkins said he's not worried that voters will view him as "that guy who runs for everything."
"I think people take the message seriously. Most people encourage me to keep running," said Hawkins, a founder of the national Green Party.
Hawkins has never come close to winning. He got 20,106 votes, or 10 percent of the vote, running as the Peace and Justice Party candidate against incumbent Republican Rep. James Walsh in 2004. That marked the highest percentage of the vote Hawkins has ever received.
In the 25th Congressional District race four years earlier, running against Walsh and Democrat Francis Gavin, Hawkins got 3,830 votes, or 2 percent.
This time, Hawkins won't have to challenge Walsh, who is retiring after 10 terms.
He will join a field of 25th District candidates that includes Dan Maffei, the endorsed Democrat and Working Families Party candidate; Dale Sweetland, the endorsed Republican and Conservative candidate; David Gay, who hopes to force a Republican Party primary; and Christina Rosetti, a Working Families Party member who hopes to get on the primary ballot.
"Assuming a high 70 percent turnout of around 270,000 voters and a close three-way race, 100,000 votes could win it," Hawkins said.
"I think I have a plausible shot. I can't guarantee a win. I can't even guarantee it will be competitive," said Hawkins, 55, who resides at 303 Warner Ave.
He said his entry into the race will force the major party candidates to address issues.
"Regardless of the race he enters, Howie Hawkins always elevates the tone and tenor of the debate," Sweetland said. "I expect his entrance in this campaign will do no less."
Maffei campaign spokesman Michael Whyland said, "Regardless of his opponent, Dan Maffei will continue to talk to voters about his message of change and a new direction for Central New York. Voters know Dan Maffei is the person who can help us bring good paying jobs to the region, end the war in Iraq and lower energy costs."
Hawkins must collect 3,500 signatures on a nominating petition between July 8 and Aug. 19 to get on the ballot.
Because he's not running for the nomination of one of the five recognized parties in New York, Hawkins has to collect twice as many signatures as the other candidates.
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