After submitting 915 signatures on December 2 to the city authorities, Lyons was informed that the socialist campaign was 41 short of the 500 signatures required to get on the ballot.

In response, supporters of the SWP campaign talked to friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family members to get the needed signatures within 48 hours.

Many workers at the Farmer John meatpacking plant where Lyons works were happy to hear the news. Some made victory signs when they heard Lyons was on the ballot. “It’s good one of us is running,” said one co-worker.

The Socialist Workers campaign is the only working-class alternative to the capitalist candidates running in this race. Ten other candidates will appear on the ballot. Democratic mayor James Hahn, the incumbent, is running for reelection. The vote will take place March 8, 2005.

The SWP campaign calls for mobilizing union power to fight the employers’ attacks on wages, benefits, and working conditions, and for workers to organize unions to defend themselves. Lyons is also campaigning for building a labor party, based on the unions, that defends the interests of workers and farmers. Lyons is campaigning against Washington’s war in Iraq, calling for an immediate withdrawal of all imperialist troops from there, and is a defender of the Cuban Revolution.

“This week,” Lyons said in a December 10 interview, “I will be campaigning in support of the Teamsters drivers who are fighting for their first contract at 99 Cents Only Stores and who are preparing a strike.” The 65 drivers voted to join the union earlier this year. The drivers are paid minimum wage with no benefits.

Campaigners plan to go wherever there is working-class resistance—from picket lines, to fights against police brutality, to social protests in opposition to cuts in healthcare. The socialists are campaigning at plant gates and in working-class communities. A key part of the campaign is speaking to students on campuses.

For further information contact laswp@sbcglobal.net or call (323) 233-9372.  
 
 
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