Voters so far have only one potential choice for the open seat for Common Council District 4 in November’s election.
As of April 1, local author, businessman, and political organizer Khalid Bey is the only candidate to express interest to the county Democratic party in running for the seat. And, Bey said, he’s not yet certain he’ll run.
“At this point I have to determine it as I go,” said Bey.
The current councilman, Democrat Tom Seals, has reached his term limit and cannot run for re-election. The Onondaga County Republican Committee declined to comment on its potential candidates.
The Democrats will designate its candidates for the fall election on May 15. The general election will be Nov. 8.
District 4 covers downtown; Syracuse University; the north, west, and south neighborhoods around Thornden Park and part of the city’s South and East sides. It has 12,392 registered voters. Democrats outnumber Republicans about eight to one. Of the registered voters, 8,019 are registered Democrats while only 1,111 are registered Republicans.
If he decides to run, this would be Bey’s third campaign for the Common Council. Bey, 40, ran unsuccessfully for the District 4 seat in 2005 and for a Common Council at-Large seat in 2009.
Now Bey works as a regional coordinator for the New York State Senate, acting as a liaison between senate members and the local communities.
In mind-March, Bey recalled, he decided to look into the possibility of running again for the Common Council. He submitted a letter of interest to the county Democratic party so that he could be invited to the customary party interviews with potential candidates, he said.
Bey’s main concerns are the economy and the lack of dialogue between elected officials and their constituents.“Our problem is an economic one,” he said. “Time and energy need to be put into ideas for increasing skills training, to support small business, all in the effort to create jobs.”
Bey was born in Syracuse. He majored in social work at Virginia State University. He also studied psychology at Empire State College in Saratoga Springs. He has written two books, “The African American Dilemma,” and “The Key to Character.”
If elected, Bey promises to stay engaged with his constituency. “You have to keep your ear to the ground,” he said, “and stay in touch with people to have a sense of what’s happening from month-to-month or even year-to-year.”
(Chari Bayanker is a graduate student in magazine, newspaper, and online journalism.)
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