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Longtime anti-poverty advocate Jean Swanson is throwing her hat into Vancouver municipal politics.

Swanson is seeking to run for the councillor seat left vacant by former Vision Vancouver councillor Geoff Meggs, who resigned earlier this month after accepting a job in Victoria as NDP premier John Horgan’s chief of staff.

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A by-election is expected to be called for October.

Swanson, who will run as an independent, promises to bring a “political revolution,” to city hall. The statement on Monday announcing her candidacy highlighted soaring rental rates and growing homelessness as issues facing the city.

In an interview with Postmedia in April, Swanson talked about the need for new blood in politics. “We need an uprising from people to get different politicians, politicians who don’t believe in austerity, who believe in humanity,” she said.

Swanson has been recognized with an Order of Canada for her work as a social justice advocate for the impoverished and homeless.