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Ithaca City Common Council Alderperson Svante Myrick (D-4, Ithaca) announced he will formally kick-off his campaign for Mayor of Ithaca on May 3, 2011, 12:00pm, at the Bernie Milton Pavilion on the Commons.

Svante (pronounced suh-von-tay) is beginning this campaign with $10,000 in contribution commitments, the endorsements of members of Common Council (Dan Cogan, Deborah Mohlenhoff, & Eddie Rooker), and the current and former Budget Committee Chairs of the Tompkins County Legislature (Jim Dennis & Nathan Shinagawa). In the next several weeks, more endorsements from respected members of the community will be released.

“I love this city and believe my service as Mayor will make a difference. Ithaca has a vibrant non-profit community that actively contributes to our quality of life.  Ithaca is home for local businesses that have a stake in the success of our community. The city also has a dedicated staff that strives to deliver excellent service to their neighbors.  I have a record of bringing together the many perspectives of Ithaca to maximize our strengths as a city,” said Myrick.

Elected in the fall of 2007 at the age of 20, Myrick became one of the youngest elected officials in the country.  Svante is a passionate youth advocate and, in 2008, Myrick chaired the committee to create the Ithaca Youth Council.  Myrick has also chaired the Collegetown Vision Implementation Committee, which led to the creation and endorsement of a master plan that protects surrounding neighborhoods from student housing sprawl and promotes greener transportation. He serves on the boards for the Greater Ithaca Activities Center and Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Dan Cogan, Ithaca City Common Council Alderperson from the fifth ward, states “Svante has what it takes to be mayor: he is extremely smart and articulate, he has excellent people skills, he is thoughtful and deliberate in his decision making. Some people may be worried that Svante is too young, but having served in city hall for ten years and with Svante for three and a half, I can say without hesitation that he will make an excellent mayor.”

Deb Mohlenhoff, Ithaca City Common Council Alderperson from the fifth ward also commented, “The City of Ithaca needs someone with integrity, vision, and passion to lead us soundly into the future. I support Svante Myrick for Mayor of Ithaca because he will bring energy balanced with strategic thinking to our community. In his current role as Alderperson for the 4th Ward, he has firsthand knowledge of the details of city operations as well as experience with important initiatives already under way. I look forward to a bright future for our city under his leadership.”

Jim Dennis, Tompkins County Legislator and Legislature Budget Chair said, “I am confident in Svante Myrick’s ability to lead the City of Ithaca into a new era of fiscal responsibility, thoughtful action and sustainable growth. The City of Ithaca and Tompkins County need to work together with other towns and villages to streamline services and reduce property taxes. Svante is the candidate for Mayor that understands and will take action on this important, money-saving issue.”

“Ithaca needs to invest in its future through better fiscal management and investments in programs for children. We need to expand our tax base, not our tax burden. We need more open access and accountability in city government. We need to save money and streamline services through inter-municipal cooperation. As Mayor, I plan to listen, learn and lead on these important issues,” said Myrick.

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