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The Daily OrangeAfter expected loss, third-party candidate Hawkins preaches progress
By Andy McCullough
Posted: 11/5/08, 6:16 AM EST Section: News
Hawkins had little money or organizational support for the campaign. He had raised around $5,400 as of Oct. 24. Meanwhile, Maffei raised more than $2 million, and Sweetland raised more than $365,000, according to campaign finance reports. Hawkins joined the race late, after a Democratic Onondaga County ward chairman challenged Hawkins' candidacy.
Michael Donnelly, a 34-year-old lawyer from Dewitt, represented Hawkins' appeal to the New York State Board of Elections.
"It's hard to get a lot done without the massive organizations that these other campaigns have," Donnelly said. "It's a testament to how much people believe in what we're for."
Hawkins first ran for office in 1993. He ran for mayor of Syracuse in 2005, U.S. Senate in 2006 and Syracuse councilor-at-large in 2007. Like this year, he lost.
But Hawkins said he will probably run again in 2009. He mentioned both the mayor's office and the two open councilor-at-large seats as targets.
"If we can break through in local election, we're not the people that can't win," Hawkins said. "We're a bit of an alternative."
ramccull@syr.edu
Michael Donnelly, a 34-year-old lawyer from Dewitt, represented Hawkins' appeal to the New York State Board of Elections.
"It's hard to get a lot done without the massive organizations that these other campaigns have," Donnelly said. "It's a testament to how much people believe in what we're for."
Hawkins first ran for office in 1993. He ran for mayor of Syracuse in 2005, U.S. Senate in 2006 and Syracuse councilor-at-large in 2007. Like this year, he lost.
But Hawkins said he will probably run again in 2009. He mentioned both the mayor's office and the two open councilor-at-large seats as targets.
"If we can break through in local election, we're not the people that can't win," Hawkins said. "We're a bit of an alternative."
ramccull@syr.edu
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