'Just Walking in the Rain,' Choolokian Gets Signatures, Makes New Friends Everywhere

Councilman Glenn Choolokian is running in the Democratic Primary for mayor and he is known for his love of walking door to door.

Four years ago when he ran for council, he went to more than 5,000 doors.

That may be because he knows it is an effective method of campaigning.

It may also be because he feels an affinity with the people he connects with as if they are his own people.

In any event, he walks even when it rains.

Last Saturday Choolokian was out getting wet and getting signatures in the rain in LaSalle.

“The people of this city are my neighbors – I enjoy seeing old friends and meeting new friends, that’s why I like going to door to door,” Choolokian said.

Choolokian said he expects to visit about 15,000 doors this season.

He said he already has about 900 signatures he got personally at hundreds of doors.

"I will be waking all the way until September," he said. "I walk every day. I meet people and hear their problems. You hear a lot of things when you walk. You get common sense perspectives. You hear good things and bad things too.

“Personally I like to go to every neighborhood. It's nice to hear everybody's neighborhood voices.

“There are still so many good people left in this city. If only we put them first and not outside consultants and out of town developers.

"Our people - the ones I meet - from day to day - at their beautiful homes. And remember the beauty of a home is the people who live in it and the friends who visit it. "In this respect Niagara Falls has the most beautiful homes anywhere.

“Let us not forget this ever again and forget to put our people first."