Anton Konev announced today via e-mail his candidacy for Common Council in the 11th Ward. The 25-year-old Konev, who lost a 2007 campaign for Albany County Legislature, is the executive director of the Coalition for Change PAC and has previously worked with the Albany for Obama campaign and the Coalition to Save Albany.
Konev seems to have an open playing field at this point. Rumors have it that the current 11th Ward Councilman Glen Casey may run for council president.
The 11th is in the heart of Pine Hills. In his e-mail, Konev outlined the priorities of his platform with a primary focus on safety, a hot issue for the Pine Hills neighborhood.
"We need to bring back community policing," Konev wrote, "and ensure that youth and college-age students have healthy entertainment after school in a way that does not disturb their neighbors - sports, arts, music, affordable internet and computer games, not just bars."
The Pine Hills neighborhood has been plagued with a number of muggings and robberies as of late, and the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association hosted a Public Safety Forum late last month. Konev first became involved with safety in Pine Hills when he started the Midtown Neighborhood Watch after being attacked on Washington Avenue in 2005.
Konev, who previously worked with mayoral candidate Corey Ellis, has not indicated whether he will seek the endorsement of any political parties. He ran as an independent in his 2007 legislature race.
He will be hosting a fundraiser May 18 at Elda's on Lark Street from 8-10 PM. For more information, contact konevforcouncil@gmail.com.
UPDATE: Konev said that he is entering the Democratic Party primary and last weekend interviewed for Working Families Party and Independence Party lines.
IS this the same Anton Konev that was arrested for urinating in public?
Posted by: Nathaniel Merriweather | June 05, 2009 at 02:16 PM
yes, it is, how this Brooklynite can improve Albany's quality of life I have no idea...
Posted by: Gerrymander Jennings | July 25, 2009 at 06:34 PM