Mayor Mark Smith officially jumpstarts his effort to keep his job as the city’s chief executive with his inaugural 2014 campaign rally on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m. at The Chandelier Restaurant, 1081 Broadway.
Smith’s slate of city council candidates is scheduled to be announced at the event, according to the mayor’s campaign.
The mayoralty and five council seats (one each in the city’s three wards and two at-large seats) are up for grabs in the May 13 nonpartisan election.
Smith’s current City Council consists of President Terrence Ruane, at-large; Agnes Gillespie, First Ward; Joseph Hurley, Second Ward; Raymond Greaves, Third Ward; and Debra Czerwienski, at-large.
Two candidates, Police Capt. James Davis and local bowling-alley manager Anthony Zanowic, announced early—in the fall—their intentions to run against Smith for the mayor’s seat. Both are putting together tickets to run against Smith’s ticket.
Zanowic’s is almost complete, with only a Second Ward candidate waiting to be chosen. Zanowic filled one open at-large position when independent Leonard Kantor joined his team.
Davis is also rumored to be close to completing his slate. He recently opened his campaign headquarters at 16th Street and Broadway.
Neither mayoral candidate has announced an individual to oppose popular Second Ward Councilman Joseph Hurley for his spot in the council chambers.
The First Ward is a different case altogether, with at least five candidates expected to vie for that seat. There had been six, but Kantor lowered that number when he agreed to join Zanowic in at at-large bid. Besides the three tickets’ First Ward candidates, independents Richard McCarthy and John Dolan have announced their intention to run for First Ward.
Smith, mayor since 2008, is seeking his second full term in office.
Joseph Passantino may be reached at JoePass@hudsonreporter.com.