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Green Party candidate for Syracuse council continues trend of young people seeking office

Tom Magnarelli
/
WRVO News
Serena “Rahzie” Seals (center) poses for pictures with supporters.";s:

In one council district in Syracuse another candidate is stepping into a race that has already seen four other candidates fight for the Democratic Party’s endorsement. It is continuing the trend of young people entering politics.

At the Green Party office in Syracuse, Serena “Rahzie” Seals, 33, candidate for the city’s fourth district, posed for pictures with supporters. Seals is trying to follow in her father’s footsteps, who once held the same seat. Seals said she is excited for the election because so many people in her generation are standing up to do something in the city.

“People are tired of complaining, because I know that’s what I am," Seals said. "I’m tired of complaining. I’m tired of being on Facebook and going into debates and watching things in the city not get done. I think that’s why a lot of people are starting to run for political office, because in political office, that’s where you can make the most change.”

She is an activist for Black Lives Matter. She is for higher wages, more local businesses and a stronger Citizens Review Board. She said hers will be a grassroots campaign going door-to-door.

“Even going on the buses and being like, hey, what are the issues that you see in our city?” Seals said.

She said she switched from the Democratic to the Green Party so she could speak her mind more freely. Four younger candidates were in a four-way battle of their own for the Democractic Party’s endorsement. Latoya Allen came out the winner.

“I’ll just continue to do what I’ve been doing," Allen said. "All this time, making sure I’m out in my community active, making sure that I’m making the connections I need to make.”

Michael Greene came in second and said he will challenge Allen in September’s primary.

“I was encouraged by the committee vote and I’m excited to go out and meet more people in the community and go for it,” Greene said.

It is a very diverse community in Syracuse’s fourth district, including minorities on the south side, high-income downtown residents and University Hill.

Tom Magnarelli is a reporter covering the central New York and Syracuse area. He joined WRVO as a freelance reporter in 2012 while a student at Syracuse University and was hired full time in 2015. He has reported extensively on politics, education, arts and culture and other issues around central New York.