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Fourth candidate jumps into crowded race for Syracuse mayor

Syracuse City Hall. 2/14/22. (Photos by Max Mimaroglu)
Max Mimaroglu
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Max Mimaroglu for WAER
Syracuse City Hall. 2/14/22. (Photos by Max Mimaroglu)

The field of candidates for Syracuse Mayor continues to grow even before the new year begins. Councilor-at-large Chol Majok publicly declared his candidacy Sunday. In an interview with WAER News, he says his wide-range of political experience over the past twelve years makes him a good fit for Mayor.

“I have been have had jobs with state representatives, two of them. I have had a job with a former mayor," Majok said. "My four years on the council, being a district councilor dealing with constituent issues. Now at-large looking at city from a larger lens. I'm prepared for this.”

Majok, a Democrat, says his experience in the manufacturing and non-profit fields gives him another perspective. He arrived in Syracuse nearly 25 years ago as one of the “Lost Boys” of South Sudan, and is the first refugee to be elected to public office in Syracuse. Majok says he wants to restore dignity to those suffering from homelessness.

“One of the most shameful things is to live in a first world country, yet children and vulnerable people are in the cold homeless. That is a problem for me," Majok said. "There is no dignity in that, not even as a city, as a country, there's no dignity in that.”

Majok says his plan is to stabilize families and improve housing. Syracuse.com reports three others have either announced their candidacies for mayor or registered a campaign. Fellow common councilor Pat Hogan has been in office 13 non-consecutive years, and previously served more than three decades in the city’s parks department. Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens launched her campaign in September. And, Director of Community Engagement with the Syracuse Police Department Jimmy Oliver has formed a campaign committee.

Councilor-at-large Chol Majok stands in Van Robinson Council Chambers in city hall, where he's served since 2020.
Scott Willis
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WAER News
Councilor-at-large Chol Majok stands in Van Robinson Council Chambers in city hall, where he's served since 2020.

Scott Willis covers politics, local government, transportation, and arts and culture for WAER. He came to Syracuse from Detroit in 2001, where he began his career in radio as an intern and freelance reporter. Scott is honored and privileged to bring the day’s news and in-depth feature reporting to WAER’s dedicated and generous listeners. You can find him on twitter @swillisWAER and email him at srwillis@syr.edu.