Reports of Andrew Anderson’s political demise have been greatly exaggerated.

The former Student Association president announced his intention to enter the DeKalb mayoral race Mondaynight at the Holmes Student Center’s Lincoln Room during an NAACP meeting.

“This was not an easy decision for me,” Anderson said. “But I’ve never believed in something as I believe in this now.”

He is expected to file his election packet today.

Anderson said the biggest reason he decided to join the race is because many DeKalb residents don’t feel their voices are being heard. Already running toward the April election are incumbent Bessie Chronopoulos and former mayor Greg Sparrow, the 16-year officeholder she defeated by 48 votes in 1997.

“I’m tired of seeing the local government of DeKalb look at the problems of the privileged and people with political clout rather than the majority,” Anderson said. “So many people want change. There could be more business, better water and more community support of the [NIU] convocation center.”

Anderson was impeached and removed as SA president in fall 1999 for alleged abuse of power and misappropriating state funds. He has maintained consistently that he was a political target.

“I stood up for what I believed in, and that is why I was impeached,” he said. “My opponents came after me not for what I may have done wrong, but out of simple vengeance for my ideas.”

He claims to support the enactment of a landlord-tenant law in DeKalb, but opposes its current draft.

“I believe that the landlord-tenant ordinance in its current form will probably only increase litigation and cause more problems than it solves,” Anderson said. “I believe a more effective and fair ordinance could be found that will create a balance of power between landlords and tenants.”

Anderson is the only candidate who expressed support of the ordinance. Sparrow opposes the proposal, and Chronopoulos has not indicated whether she would stand behind the ordinance until more information is gathered.

Anderson addressed the NAACP on Monday and asked members what they would like to see improved in DeKalb. One question raised was why DeKalb still lacks a mall. He said a mall proposal failed three years ago because Chronopoulos opposed its construction.

Also filing for the mayoral race Monday was Keith Justice, of 511 Normal Road Apt. 302. Repeated attempts to reach Justice were unsuccessful Monday.

DeKalb city clerk Donna Johnson confirmed that an NIU student picked up an election packet at city hall Monday. Although she wouldn’t reveal the name of the person, she said it was a serious inquiry.

“He came in and said he was a student from NIU and that he decided that he wanted to run for mayor,” Johnson said. “I asked him if it was a joke or not, and he said that it wasn’t and that he was serious.”