A familiar face in Youngstown will soon be kicking off his campaign for mayor.

Youngstown Flea founder Derrick McDowell tells 21 News he will be running as an independent candidate for Mayor of Youngstown in 2025 with a platform of reclaiming the city's identity through entrepreneurship of small businesses, the arts and entertainment community and academic responsibility.

McDowell says he decided to run after hearing outcry from the city's community, which he says has been ignored. He says the city is at a point where it needs to resolve that despair and bring hope to the residents of Youngstown, listen to their voices and try to solve those challenges together.

McDowell went on to say he's looking for ways to solve poverty and improve the quality of life in the area.

"Reclaiming Our Identity encompasses a deep sense of community pride and a sense of self that exists throughout the entire City Of Youngstown and beyond. Once embedded into our community policy, process and planned agenda it will tap into the ambitions and potential of the City Of Youngstown. It’s out of a well-defined Youngstown Identity that we will reinvigorate Youngstown Industry," McDowell said in a press release

McDowell will be hosting a campaign kickoff event at the Youngstown Flea site at 365 East Boardman Street in Downtown Youngstown on Tuesday, November 12. The time for this event is to be determined.