Anti-poverty activist Jean Swanson seeks seat on Vancouver city council

To the cheers of her supporters, Jean Swanson announced Tuesday she's running for city council — saying she wants to bring a political revolution to Vancouver city hall.

Swanson has been an anti-poverty and social justice advocate for over 40 years in Vancouver and across the country.

She plans on running as an independent — and says if elected she will introduce a motion to freeze rents in Vancouver.

"I want to be an activist-councillor working with tenants and using city powers and facilities to push as hard as we can for a four-year rent freeze for all tenants." she said

Swanson is seeking election to the seat left vacant last month after councillor Geoff Meggs resigned to work with Premier John Horgan as his chief of staff.

"I want to be the kind of councillor who will really open up city hall to people who are working for social and environmental justice," said Swanson

If elected, Swanson says she will keep roughly half of her $85,000 salary — and will donate the rest to groups working for justice.

Swanson became a member of the Order of Canada last summer — one of the country's highest civilian honours for "her long-standing devotion to social justice, notably for her work with the residents of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside."

The byelection is expected in October.