Bill Ryan wanted to make his bid for re-election to the Syracuse Common Council the talk of the town. And he says he succeeded.
“I wanted to create a bit of a buzz.” [Ryan]
Ryan, a Democract, is running for his second term as one of the two at-large seats on the Council. He and fellow Democrat, Kathleen Joy, are the incumbents. They are running against Republican candidate Bill Harper, Conservative candidate Robert Teachout, and Green candidate Howie Hawkins.
To get attaention, Ryan’s campaign he posted eight billboards around the city of Syracuse. The billboards say Ryan is a “Street Fighting Man.”
Ryan says the idea for the billboard came from an article in the Syracuse New Times alternative newspaper. He says he was featured in the New Times after he helped pass legislation to tear down an “unsightly” building on Butternut Street.
Joe Romanelli is the president of Romanelli Communications, the firm responsible for the billboards. In an e-mail interview, Romanelli said he chose the “Street Fighting Man” slogan for Ryan, because he knew it would get Ryan some attention.
And it did just that. Ryan says people have had all kinds of reactions to the billboards.
“Some people say I should have a curfew because I’m a fighter. One person asked me today where my black eye was.” [Ryan]
The election is November 6th.
For Democracywise, I’m Ted Johnsen
(Ted Johnsen is a graduate student in broadcast journalism)
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