Andy Westbay and Scott Hawrysiak

Some people say Gary Flakes deserves a second chance.

When he was 16 years old, Flakes and his friend gunned down two teen-age boys who were walking home at night on Valentine’s Day 1997.

The victims — Andy Westbay, 13, and Scott Hawrysiak, 15 — were shot with a 12-guage shotgun.

Flakes was tried as an adult and served more than 12 years in prison. His co-conspirator, Jeron Grant, then 17, also served time behind bars.

But neither was convicted of pulling the trigger. Instead, they were convicted in separate trials as accessories to murder.

Though authorities alleged, based on confessions and witness testimony, that Grant was the trigger man, neither Grant nor Flakes has owned up to it.

Now, Flakes, who says he’s a reformed man, is running for City Council District 4.

His candidacy has opened old wounds for the victims’ families and outraged people in the community.

Among them is City Council President Scott Hente.

“I listened (Wednesday) to a former state representative’s beliefs that this guy should be given a second chance,” Hente said, referring to former state Rep. Dennis Apuan.

“He didn’t give those two kids a second chance back in 1997, did he?”