Hadash MK Dov Khenin announces candidacy in Tel Aviv mayoral race

Hadash MK Dov Khenin announced his candidacy on Monday for mayor of Tel Aviv. During a news conference, Khenin told reporters he intends to run on behalf of the Ir L'kulano faction.

"In order to give this city back to its residents and to offer an environmental and social-friendly alternative, I am presenting my candidacy for mayor of Tel Aviv-Jaffa," Khenin said.

MK Khenin said he "wants the city to remain a home for older segments of the population, young people and young couples who struggle to get by due to higher housing costs."

"From a public transportation standpoint, the city is clogged up and it suffers from a form of atherosclerosis," Khenin said. "Pollution is a serious problem, especially due to transportation."

The faction will hold primaries on Thursday to decide on candidates for mayor and city council. The list of candidates will be closed as of midnight on Monday.

Khenin, who announced his candidacy to reporters gathered at Meir Garden in downtown Tel Aviv, is one of the movement's founders. Ir L'Kulano was formed as an opposition party which seeks to replace incumbent mayor Ron Huldai. The party opposes the Huldai administration's policies on matters related to public transportation, the environment, and building and planning.

In recent weeks, Khenin has been inundated with calls from those within the faction as well as others to join the mayoral race. Khenin, 50, is a married father of three children who was born and raised in Tel Aviv. After completing his law studies, Khenin worked as an attorney who specialized in constitutional and public law. He subsequently finished his doctoral studies in political science and devoted his energies to environment policy.