Monroe County Legislature primaries could significantly reshape its future
Primaries are often little more than preludes to the general election contests that really matter. Then, sometimes, they can matter a lot.
For the Monroe County Legislature, with its narrow margin between Democrats and Republicans, this could be a primary that matters a lot.
For one, Legislature President Sabrina LaMar is facing a challenge from Rose Bonnick, an aide to state Sen. Jeremy Cooney. Though a Democrat, LaMar has caucused with Republicans, giving the GOP a 15-14 majority even though Democrats have the numerical control.
LaMar is the candidate designated by the Democratic Party in the contest. Meanwhile, this year brought a highly challenged redistricting plan that might not greatly alter the overall Democratic-Republican numbers in the Legislature but could leave some incumbents at risk. As well, the Monroe County Democratic Party did not designate four candidates who have been incumbents in the current legislature.
The Republican Party is largely quiet with the primary, but does have one contest in the Gates-centered Fourth District.
The Democrat and Chronicle reached out to primary candidates with questions about pressing issues in their district and county and how they would respond if elected. Their answers follow, with some condensed and edited. All candidates except Democrat Nadja Justice responded. The first candidates listed are those who are party-designated.
All primaries, except for the Fourth Legislative District, are Democratic primaries.
Fourth District
Virginia McIntyre lives in Gates. She is a language professor.
"The most important issue facing District 4 is creating and retaining jobs," she said. "I have released my Five Point Plan to address job creation and retention, specifically supporting Monroe County initiatives like RochesterWorks! and the Monroe Community College Precision Tooling and Machining Program, just to mention two of the five.
"The most important issue in Monroe County is public safety," McIntyre said. "What could improve public safety is to restructure the state bail reform laws and I join my colleagues in the State Assembly and Senate who are advocating for these changes."
Rita Pettinaro of Gates is a local real estate agent.
"The most important issues are keeping our town safe, our property taxes up, and our real estate taxes down," she said. She said what is necessary is to "make sure law enforcement has the resources they need to keep our citizens safe; to boost funding for struggling small businesses; to expand programs and tax breaks for veterans, seniors, police and first responders; to increase support for young adult mental health services; and to fight against dangerous bail reform.
"As a county legislator our main responsibility is the oversight of the county budget process," Pettinaro said. "Not only the economic impact on our county real estate taxes, but how the budget items we approve directly impact theeveryday life of our citizens. My professional background as a realtor, as well as a business owner will serve asan asset to the legislator."
17th District
Allan Richards is a legislative aide to Assemblyman Harry Bronson.
He said, "Public safety, workforce/economic development, access to health care – including mental health care, as well as ensuring that our seniors and able to stay in our community are issues that are of concern to the families of the 17th L.D. as well as Monroe County.
"I will support County Executive Adam Bello’s public safety platform and investments in anti-violence initiatives, law enforcement, mental health programming, and combating substance use," he said. "We need to feel safe – to be safe – in our homes and on our streets. That is why I am committed to working with local law enforcement, social workers, and other experts to identify effective steps to ensure community safety.
"Working with Assemblymember Bronson, we now have more mental health care workers that are able to diagnose and treat families, especially children, with emotional challenges. I am committed to working with labor, educational institutions and Greater Rochester Enterprise to expand Monroe County’s public and private partnerships to ensure that all businesses understand the benefits of locating in our community.
"We need to increase funding for child care to relieve parents from choosing between a job and caring for their children. The state needs to step up so we can increased pay for child care workers to encourage people to enter the field so that child care facilities can serve more children. Additionally, early intervention services must be expanded and an increase in state reimbursement will reduce the waiting list for the services needed to enable all children to learn and start on the road to educational and personal success.
"Finally, to help our seniors stay in their homes; I am proposing easier access to Enhanced Star Program. Property taxes make it harder for those on a fixed income to stay in their homes."
Rachel Barnhart is a current Monroe County legislator and a former local journalist. She identifies the most important issues as "public safety, property taxes in Irondequoit as a result of the reassessment, pedestrian and cyclist safety, opioid addiction and the attacks on reproductive rights and LGBTQ individuals.
"My record in the County Legislature includes drafting Carrie’s Ray Law to make cycling safer by requiring drivers to give cyclists at least 3 feet of space," she said. "I am working with colleagues on legislation to mandate the county adhere to a strict 'complete streets' model when designing roads in order to make them safe for all users. I also have supported Sheriff funding requests, and would like to see a harm reduction approach taken for opioid addiction.
"To deal with rampant car thefts and other crimes, I have proposed a Task Force for Youth and Family Support to provide services to youth in crisis. As for property taxes, homeowners deserve clear information on the impact of reassessments on their finances, and seniors in particular should have access to resources that can allow them to stay in their homes.
"The most important issue countywide is poverty. From that issue stems almost all other issues, including those related to housing, public safety, mental health, education, and employment. Poverty is a policy choice. We have made choices at the federal, state and local level to limit the opportunities and choices available to people with lower incomes. Examples include zoning laws regulating housing, the lack of affordable housing, a banking system that charges big fees for overdrafts, requiring a car to get to work because of an underfunded transit system, and the lack of affordable childcare.
"As Albany failed to deliver on a housing package, I am proposing a housing voucher pilot for people with low incomes. Yes, we need to build units, but people need help now. My proposal would give direct aid to people to prevent evictions and provide stability to families. If successful, it can be used to change policies at the state and federal level, and perhaps be expanded here in Monroe County."
21st District
Santos Cruz is a Rochester firefighter who is now the city's community risk reduction firefighter, an educational role.
He identifies public safety as the most important issue. "We need to bring back community policing, having officers who have lived in and understand our communities.
"The opioid epidemic has taken a hold of our communities and in many areas it may not show . I’ve been to a lot of great-looking neighborhoods for overdoses and have rendered aid to professionals as well as homeless individuals. Many individuals may be going through some tough mental health problems and as a result turn to harsh drugs. Others get prescription medication that is too strong and it becomes a gateway.
"We should continue to fund mental health as well as addiction programs in our county. We should fund law enforcement investigations units so we can crack down on local sales of harsh drugs in our community, and have organizations that provide Narcan hand out fentanyl test strips as well as a proactive measures."
Oscar Brewer is a tenant organizer with Citizen Action of New York. He identifies the most important issue as "housing injustice."
"Absentee landlords buy up properties and don’t fix them up." he said. "They just want to collect rent without keeping their properties up to code. This makes it hard for renters to find a safe place to live. At the same time, homeowners see their property values go down because absentee landlords don’t take care of their properties. When renters do speak up about dangerous code violations, we risk getting evicted as a form of retaliation.
"We need strong tenant protection legislation. I support Good Cause Eviction protections. Right now, a landlord can evict you for any reason. That’s not fair. With Good Cause, a landlord would have to show a good reason in court for evicting a tenant.
"Monroe County is not investing in youth like it should. Our young people are the future, but the county government consistently fails to set young people up for success. Time and time again, the county spends millions to police and jail our young people instead of investing in youth recreation and education. This fuels the school-to-prison pipeline.
"The county budget is a statement of values. I believe in setting young people up for success by giving them the resources they need to thrive. That’s why we should create opportunities for youth to learn and grow, interrupting the school-to-prison pipeline. It means ensuring children can access affordable recreation activities and expanding county library programs. It means funding violence prevention programs like Advance Peace, which intervene to prevent violence before it happens."
22nd District
Jessie Parson is a supervising court assistant in Rochester City Court's criminal division. He identifies the most important issue in his district and the county as public safety.
" In 2021, the city of Rochester experienced 84 murders, the majority being in the Northeast Quadrant and 76 murders in 2022," he said. "It is my top priority to ensure that residents feel safe and we are making decisions that will prevent crime.
"In order to address public safety it is important to create and maintain a strong partnership with the city of Rochester to support all prevention efforts and programs. It is also important that the county provides resources for the programs that will mitigate the issues that our community is having as it relates to public safety."
Mercedes Vazquez-Simmons is a current legislator and assistant minority leader in the legislature. She is a licensed combat sports promoter.She identifies the most important issue in her district as "crime, guns, and drugs on the streets of our city.
"It remains an issue that has been largely ignored for decades, growing exponentially post-pandemic and creating an impact on our city, county, state and nationwide and has reached epidemic proportion," she said. "The problem is addressed by healing the root causes of what creates criminal activity and substance abuse. Deep rooted poverty, lack of housing, employment, job training and resources are the ways to solve the problem from within.. As a county, we have been aggressively addressing these issues without raising taxes or creating economic instability.
"Housing inequality remains a countywide issue and has created a large racial wealth gap countywide. The disparity in the quality of housing creates economic inequality that has plagued the separation between the city and the suburbs in Monroe County. The public and political will to implement remedies necessary to create a more just future is critical to rectifying the years of unjust housing policies that continue to impact families today. Access to down payment assistance and affordable credit to underserved low income and minority homebuyers is a start."
25th District
Nadja Justice, the designated Democratic candidate, did not respond.
Carolyn Delvecchio Hoffman is a current county legislator and community organizer whose work includes the Flower City Noire Collective She identifies the most important issue in the district as poverty.
"Not only is it unhealthy and unsafe for those it impacts, it is unhealthy and unsafe for anyone who is part of a community where the basic needs of any of us go chronically unmet," she said. "I believe in a guaranteed basic income, living wage jobs, and better working conditions for those who want to work. I am passionate about organized labor and tenant unions and believe it’s time for a global labor movement to usher in the peace and abundance of which humanity is more than capable.
"On a more micro level, we need to get generous with housing subsidies and pass 'Good Cause' eviction protections. The constant housing instability contributes to violence and economic fragility."
She said there is a "lack of maturity in leadership. Our system creates competition over collaboration to thepoint where there is such fear of loss of power and resulting division that some folks are aggressively and ruthlessly choosing themselves over the community. We need to heal and grow as a people so that leaders can emerge who are wise, willing, and able to sacrifice themselves for the greater good."
27th District
Sabrina LaMar is the current president of the Monroe County Legislature.
"The most important issue in the 27th LD is crime," she said. "Crime is beginning to cripple our once safe neighborhood. Parents are scared to send their children out to play, residents are scared to sit on their front porches, and cars are being stolen and car jacked at an alarming rate.
"This is also true for the entire county. The way to combat these issues is collaboration between local law enforcement agencies, youth outreach programs, strengthening school-based interventions andparental involvement and education, community partnerships, restorative justice programs, education and awareness campaigns, and supportive mental health services."
Rose Bonnick is the community services coordinator for state Sen. Jeremy Cooney.
She identified the most pressing issue in the district as LaMar's caucusing with Republicans.
"Despite running as a Democrat and representing the overwhelmingly Democratic 27th Legislative District, my opponent chose to organize with the Republicans, allowing them to maintain control of the County Legislature since 2021," she said. "If I am elected to the Monroe County Legislature, I am committed to working with County Executive Adam Bello and fellow Democrats to address the very serious issues facing my district. That’s what citizens deserve and should expect: representatives who are motivated, not by personal gain, but by a genuine commitment to work together to help solve problems.
Countywide, she said, "quality affordable housing is a key foundational pillar to set a family up for success. Everyone deserves to feel safe and have a roof over their head. The City of Rochester is beginning to make some important inroads in addressing code enforcement, foreclosures and improving education to encourage responsible homeownership and better relationships between landlords and tenants. But much remains to be done. Increasing the supply of safe, affordable housing must be a priority because although these problems are concentrated in the City, they exist in every town and village in Monroe County. Through a variety of creative subsidies, incentives and infrastructure improvements, we must develop more affordable rental and home ownership opportunities for low and moderate-income individuals and families that allow them to locate nearer good schools and jobs."
29th District
Candice Lucas is the senior vice president for equity and advocacy at the Urban League of Rochester. She identifies the district's most important issue as "inequity."
"There are many problems that plague my district: crime and violence, substance abuse, lack of affordable housing, and the paucity of resources and services to maintain a satisfactory quality of life," she said. "Consequently, these issues are symptoms of an inequitable system that fuels economic instability, concentrates poverty, drives poor health outcomes, and produces the public health and safety issues that my community deals with on a daily basis.
"Decades of discriminatory laws and practices through redlining, disinvestment, and unfair policies have led to the conditions that cause residents in my districts zip codes, 14613 and 14621, to live sicker, die younger, and experience a poorer quality of life than our suburban neighbors, regardless of race, educational attainment, or socioeconomic status.
"We need more funding, resources, and services in the city of Rochester. Rochester in comparison to Buffalo and Syracuse has received considerably less state funding per capita. We must work alongside elected officials at both the city and state levels to lobby for adequate funding for Rochester, and specifically my district, which includes ZIP code 14621 and 14613.
"Monroe County is a thriving community that's ranked the best place to live in the Northeast since COVID. The cost of living is low in comparison to like-size cities. It has excellent schools, a highly educated adult population, and a welcoming business environment. Yet, the city of Rochester, where poverty is concentrated, is ranked the second worst place to live in the nation for African Americans, ranks third in overall poverty, and has a school district that consistently ranks amongst the worst in the state based on math and reading proficiency. This stark difference between the city and county is one that must be acknowledged, addressed and transformed.
"Through the legislature, we have the opportunity to work together for the betterment of the county. As a body, we must acknowledge that issues in the city of Rochester affect everyone regardless of where they live. The legislature must be deliberate about investing in the city to increase business development, provide affordable, quality housing, and mandating an 'equity in all policies' approach to all future programs and services."
William Burgess is a current county legislator and social worker with at-risk youth.
"There are many pressing issues in the community in which I represent and narrowing it down to just one is difficult," he said. "As I connect with residents the topic that continues to arise is 'public safety.'
"Addressing this issue will take a connected effort between the citizens, public officials and law enforcement. Increased police presence in 'hot spot' areas to help deter crime. Identifying and connecting the most vulnerable population with services, improved social services, addressing homelessness, drug addiction and mental health will also reduce crime and improve safety in the community.
"Supporting community groups by encouraging people to join neighborhood programs, empowering them to increase ownership of their neighborhood. Supporting the youth by connecting them to supports, activities and role models within their neighborhood to help break generational traumas and they are more likely to grow into positive, contributing members of society.
"One of the hot topics in the county is whether to fund an implementation study" for a public utility which could replace Rochester Gas & Electric, he said. "I believe this study is instrumental because it will give the community an in-depth look to see if this will help give relief to taxpaying citizens that are already experiencing economic hardships."
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Monroe County NY Legislature primaries could reshape its future
