March 5, 2009

Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris has announced he's running for re-election to City Council.

Incumbent Mayor Norris says the biggest reason he wants to serve another term is to finish several projects he's started. Those include revitalizing public housing, getting more homes and businesses to go green, and developing more programs.

This campaign marks a big change in how Democratic City Council members are elected. For the first time ever, voters will cast votes during a primary election on May 9th to decide who will fill the seat. Until now a small closed Democratic convention chose candidates. Norris says the voting process definitely changes how he'll run his campaign.

So far, Norris's only competition is from Kristin Szakos--the democrat announced her candidacy in February.

Szakos is a community activist and was the volunteer coordinator for the Charlottesville Obama campaign.

Norris's campaign officially kicks off with a party next Thursday (3/12) at South Street Brewery on the Downtown Mall from 7-9 pm.