Who is running in the Rochester City Council primary? Here's what they value.

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7 hours ago

The Monroe County's primary elections is approaching as it takes place on June 24. And early voting has already begun.
Rochester has a slate of city council candidates running for this year's primary coming out to a total of 15, with three of the candidates being incumbents. Five seats are open on city council.
As part of the Democrat and Chronicle's effort to introduce voters to their City Council candidates, we reached out to each nominee for their input and opinions on the issues most important to them.
The answers of candidates who responded are presented in their entirety and have been lightly edited only where necessary for clarity.
What makes you a qualified candidate?
I am an incumbent Councilmember and Chair of the Finance Committee. I have overseen annual budgets that are on-time, balanced and do not raise taxes. I also ensured that our COVID relief funding (ARPA) went towards vital infrastructure, like replacing more than 80% of our lead service lines. In the last year, I spearheaded Roc Vision Zero – a commitment to eliminating traffic fatalities – and increased our ability to produce renewable energy like solar and geothermal. I also serve as a Vice President at Foodlink (the regional food bank) and I teach local government to University students. These two jobs reflect who I am as a Councilmember. My work at Foodlink makes me necessarily collaborative, partnering with organizations across Rochester. And my class demonstrates that I understand the mechanics of government. Finally, my wife and I are raising two young boys and sending them to the Rochester City School District.
What would be your primary area of emphasis in office?
I am committed to making our streets safer for those that walk, bike and drive. Rochester has particularly high rates of crashes and fatalities. It is in our control to fix that and we cannot rely on old strategies and tactics. Last year I spearheaded the creation of Roc Vision Zero, a commitment and plan to eliminate traffic fatalities in our community. Vision Zero is a 10-point plan that focuses on education, engineering and enforcement to make our streets and sidewalks safer for all that use them. Because of our Vision Zero plan, the federal government awarded us nearly $25M for planning, design and buildout of a robust pedestrian safety plan. This is one example of progress, but there is a long way to go still. This will be a primary emphasis for me in a 3rd term.
What's a change in direction you would work toward in office?
The most important function of the upcoming City Council is the adoption of a new zoning code. Most cities only update the zoning code every 3 decades or so and it is time for Rochester's to modernize. The planning for this new code has been underway for a few years and it is time to get it to the finish line. This new code should make it substantially easier, quicker and cheaper to build homes and businesses. It should also allow us to be more creative when thinking about business opportunities. In Rochester right now there are hardly any new ranches, townhouses or coops. The updated zoning code should make these types of buildings easier and cheaper to build. The result will be more building and as the supply of houses go up the costs of rents and ownership will come down.
What makes you a qualified candidate?
With a long-time dedication to community care, I served as a Mental Health Counselor for incarcerated people and led a NY State funded substance use recovery center, providing holistic health and wellness support to people and their loved ones. In response to the 2020 police killings of George Floyd, Daniel Prude and the systemic disinvestment in Black and working-class communities, I co-founded Free The People Rochester—a civil rights organization implementing a care-based vision of safety that prioritizes investments in housing, healthy food, healthcare, education and youth leadership. As a Council Member, I fought alongside residents to change housing laws and expand tenants' rights, ban tear gas and chemical weapons on protestors, and funded life-affirming services including home repairs for seniors, replacing lead pipes and LGBTQIA+ supports. I hold a Master's degree in Community Mental Health Counseling from UR, grounding my leadership in the practice of hope, humility and compassion.
What would be your primary area of emphasis in office?
Over the next four years, I will continue to relentlessly defend and expand the rights of all Rochester residents facing threats from the Trump administration. Just this month, our Progressive Caucus introduced a Sanctuary City Ordinance, codifying and strengthening protections for immigrants and LGBTQIA+ communities. Now, as we face federal cuts to health care and essential services, we must focus on being united and working together to address urgent needs. To that end, I will continue to partner with allies from all levels of government, community stakeholders, and impacted communities to identify issues, and mobilize resources to ensure that our neighborhoods, our schools and our healthcare institutions receive the support necessary to provide essential services to residents.
What's a change in direction you would work toward in office?
We need a change in direction focused on creativity and building the political will to be more responsive to the needs of residents. A 2025 audit of RG&E echoed residents' concerns and highlighted disturbing facts, including significant issues with billing, customer service and tensions between meeting the needs of residents and corporate shareholders. Neighbors have proposed a solution: fund a study to determine whether it's feasible for municipalities to take over RG&E to provide better rates and experiences for residents. Though Council has allocated $500,000 for the study, a majority of Council has decided not to move forward with the study because the County legislature has refused to support the initiative. This is a general theme within City Council—when there are roadblocks, plans are halted and residents suffer the consequences. Over the next four years, I will work with my colleagues to change into a more responsive, innovative body.
What makes you a qualified candidate?
I am a leader who listens, I am deliberate and I care deeply about this city. My background in community development, experience in grassroots community organizing and collaborative spirit uniquely position me to create opportunities for our residents in our city. As a Rochester native, husband and father of three, I have deep roots in this community. I am a product of RCSD schools and graduated from St. John Fisher University with my degree in psychology. I started as a part-time grassroots organizer at Ibero and worked my way up to the executive leadership team. As a Councilmember, I was first appointed in September 2020 and elected to my first term in 2022. I became President of the Council in my first term and have worked to lead this city with decency and collaboration. It would be my honor to continue this journey as one of your at-large councilmembers.
What would be your primary area of emphasis in office?
As a Councilmember, I have focused on safer neighborhoods, quality housing and equitable access to opportunities for our residents - core pillars of my record. I have approved significant investments in public safety to include resources to reduce gun violence and improve violence prevention, increasing the PIC team and new funds to start a new ACTION team in the fall. I have invested in your public health by approving over $75M in lead line replacements across our community, with more to come. I increased our investments in affordable housing, utilizing council underruns from the PAB to support gaps in projects that bring more units to our community, to include units for home ownership. I helped develop our workforce development initiatives by bringing employment opportunities directly to residents through the Roc the Block employment fairs. There is so much more to say, I am committed to this work.
What's a change in direction you would work toward in office?
I would like to continue my focus on improving public safety and addressing housing through the zoning alignment project. Creating safer neighborhoods requires partnership. I would work towards enhancing our neighborhood service centers to respond to quality of life requests by investing time and energy into our strategy. With the new Neighbors in Action grants, which I helped develop, we are bringing residents together with small amounts of resources. I would like the NSCs to be developed as hubs for safety, community development, and future planning. The zoning alignment project will set the stage for housing development for decades to come. ZAP will define land uses, housing types, what we do with short-term rentals, and the development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) among many other strategies. I believe we need people who understand these issues in office to support the growth and development of our city.
What makes you a qualified candidate?
I'm an artist, mom, small business owner and community organizer who's spent years bringing people together to solve problems creatively and collectively. I played a key role in organizing against the privatization of downtown, helping stop the proposed BID (for now) and keeping our public spaces in public hands. As a legislative aide for the East District, I've worked behind the scenes researching, supporting policy development and helping residents with everything from housing issues to navigating basic city services. I believe leadership means listening to the people who live here and making decisions that reflect their needs, not just the bottom line. I bring creativity, compassion and a strong grasp of how local government works. I recognize the value of our community beyond dollars and cents and I'm committed to making life better for everyday Rochesterians by putting people at the center of every decision.
What would be your primary area of emphasis in office?
My primary focus will be building community resilience by preparing Rochester for the challenges we face now and those on the horizon. That includes investing in affordable housing, local food systems, public infrastructure, and the care economy. These are the foundations that support working families and help neighborhoods thrive. I will also prioritize making local government more transparent and accessible. That means including residents early in the decision-making process, not as an afterthought. Whether it's pushing for public power, protecting tenants or ensuring city services reach those who need them most, I will work to make sure Rochester serves the people who live here.
What's a change in direction you would work toward in office?
I want to shift decision-making away from top-down planning and toward community-led solutions. Too often, policies are shaped by developers or outside consultants instead of the people who actually live here. I would work to create real, ongoing opportunities for residents to shape city policy, especially those who are most impacted. When we trust our communities and invest in their leadership, we make better, more lasting decisions.
What makes you a qualified candidate?
I've worked for Monroe County for 30 years, I am the past president of the 19th Ward Community Association, and I have been involved in a variety of community initiatives like the Rochester Food Policy Council and the Pharmacy Access Coalition. I currently serve as Chief Community Engagement Officer, touching every corner of this city and county. I've built relationships and collaborated with many community-based organizations-I understand the challenges our city faces. With all I've learned in these roles and the insight I have in the community, I believe that I am the most qualified candidate for City Council to be able to bridge the gap between city and county to work together on making positive changes for the community.
What would be your primary area of emphasis in office?
My primary focus area will be access to resources and public safety. I want to expand our outreach to underserved communities and bring county and city resources to the community in the forms of events, workshops and public forums (HUBS). The city and county have different strengths and collaboration between these two municipalities is how we can help as many people as possible. I also want to expand on mentorship and youth employment programs, focus on health and food access in neighborhoods and address the systemic issues around education. If we can find a way to take care of those in need by working towards employment, addressing health concerns and keeping them in stable environments, we will see less crime and violence. Law enforcement is important but it can't be our only focus. I believe if we heal together, we can thrive together.
What's a change in direction you would work toward in office?
Something I want to do on City Council is put an emphasis on funding Trade Schools. While a University education is wonderful, there are other ways that our residents can achieve success, we should be investing in these programs as well. We can get youth and adults signed up for trade schools so they can develop skilled trades like carpentry, electrical, masonry, plumbing and machinery. From there, our unions can enlist them making them accessible to big contracted jobs. This will address the shortage in trades workers and provide for young people entering the working world who know that University just isn't for them.
What makes you a qualified candidate?
I believe a City Council member should have a balance of qualifications and experience. A council member should be an advocate for the community. I have been an advocate since coming out at the age of 16, starting with advocating for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. My advocacy has only expanded over the years; I have worked and advocated for policy focused on housing, healthcare access, safer streets, and environmental justice, among several other social justice initiatives. Advocating isn't enough if you can't pull other members together and work within the system to get policy approved. A City Council member also needs to be able to govern and understand governance in this role. I have served on several boards, including the city's Preservation Board. This has helped me understand the role of a governing body and how to work collectively with others to move forward policies and strategic plans for the betterment of the organization.
What would be your primary area of emphasis in office?
I believe that all our challenges are interconnected; the overarching challenge is the poverty in the community. There isn't a single solution to solve this problem, but we can take steps to tackle it. We can work on expanding jobs and creating opportunities through job training and apprenticeship programs. One of the challenges with employment or meeting basic needs is access and transportation. We need to improve our transportation system and work on ensuring that work opportunities are in the city and not going to the outskirts of the county, so that everyone can get to them. We should also look at increasing the wages of city workers and increasing the minimum wage. The other main challenge is our public safety challenges. We need to invest in intervention programs and address the root causes of the crime, especially focusing on our youth.
What's a change in direction you would work toward in office?
Shortage of safe and affordable housing. The city is taking some steps to address this through improving the zoning code, which will help create more housing options in broader parts of the city. The affordability will continue to be a challenge if not addressed correctly. However, the city needs to create an intentional and comprehensive housing plan. We need to create a plan that can help bring someone from homelessness to home ownership. I believe that supporting community-controlled models/community land trusts is a way of creating sustainable, affordable housing.
What makes you a qualified candidate?
I am a qualified candidate because I bring lived experience, proven results and a deep commitment to equity. As a Program Manager for New York State's SNUG program, I achieved a homicide-free year in one of Rochester's most violent neighborhoods through grassroots partnerships and innovative prevention strategies. I founded the 14621 Food Stands during the pandemic to provide essential resources, expanding into the underserved 14605 community. Currently, I serve as a Program Officer at a local foundation, where I co-designed its Racial Health Equity strategy. I hold a master's degree from the University of Oklahoma (summa cum laude) and a Diversity & Inclusion certificate from Cornell. I come from a rich legacy of advocates, organizers, and activists, and I pay honor to those who came before me—my great-great uncle Rocky Simmons and my great aunt Audrey Smith. I am committed to carrying forth our legacy of service to empower all Rochesterians to thrive.
What would be your primary area of emphasis in office?
My primary area of emphasis in office would be community safety rooted in prevention, mental health and housing stability. As someone who has led successful community violence prevention efforts, I know firsthand the power of the credible messenger model—employing trusted community leaders who share lived experience to mediate conflicts and build relationships that break cycles of violence. For mental health, I will prioritize barrier-free, culturally competent services that recognize trauma and provide accessible care, ensuring no one is left behind. In housing, I will champion affordable, safe and stable options that allow families to thrive without the constant fear of eviction or displacement. Together, these pillars form a comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes of violence and poverty, ensuring every Rochesterian has a fair shot at a safer, healthier future.
What's a change in direction you would work toward in office?
One major change in direction I would work towards is transforming how we approach violence prevention in Rochester. Too often, our city has relied on crisis response rather than investing in the root causes of violence. I would champion a comprehensive approach that centers credible messengers—community leaders with lived experience—who mediate conflicts, build trust and connect individuals to essential supports. At the same time, I would work to expand safe, affordable housing options so families have the stability they need to build healthy lives. Finally, I would prioritize accessible, trauma-informed mental health services that meet people where they are, without stigma or barriers. This holistic approach recognizes that violence prevention, housing, and mental health are interconnected—and that real safety means investing in our communities before crises happen.
What makes you a qualified candidate?
I'm a lifelong Rochester resident, licensed clinical social worker and Executive Director of Connected Communities, where I've led efforts that brought over $75 million in housing and economic investment to city neighborhoods. I've spent my career tackling poverty, advocating for equitable policies and empowering residents to lead change from within. I understand how city systems work—and where they fall short for families. I bring both lived experience and proven leadership, having grown from a teen mom to a CEO and now a City Council candidate. I'm ready to bring my deep community ties, policy knowledge and results-driven approach to City Hall to ensure every Rochester resident has the opportunity to thrive.
What would be your primary area of emphasis in office?
My primary focus will be economic justice and neighborhood investment—ensuring that every Rochester resident, regardless of zip code, has access to good jobs, stable housing and strong community infrastructure. I will champion policies that support small businesses, increase access to affordable housing, and invest in youth and workforce development. As a licensed social worker and nonprofit leader, I know that poverty is policy-driven—and I'm committed to shifting how resources are distributed, especially in historically underinvested neighborhoods. I'll also prioritize community voice in decision-making, working alongside residents to co-create solutions that are both practical and equitable.
What's a change in direction you would work toward in office?
I would work toward a shift to person-centered policymaking—an approach that puts people, not just systems or numbers, at the heart of city decisions. Too often, policies are created without understanding how they impact everyday lives, especially for those navigating poverty, housing insecurity or systemic barriers. As a licensed clinical social worker, I've spent my career listening to and advocating for those most impacted by policy gaps. In office, I'll push for community-informed solutions that prioritize dignity, access and equity—whether it's in housing, public safety or economic development. Government should work with people, not just for them.
What makes you a qualified candidate?
I am a third generation Christmas tree farmer with a triple bachelor's degree from the University of Buffalo and have been advocating for community needs for fifteen years. As a founding board member of 490 Farmers and a leader in the urban agriculture community I have grown and donated more than 10,000lbs of fresh, organic produce to local pantries and have supported over 40 gardens across every neighborhood of the city. For the last several years, while working as a Legislative Aide for Councilmember Martin, I helped to advocate for progressive legislation and a budget that aligns with our city's needs, until October '24 when I accepted a position at the PAB. I believe that my community focused work ethic, combined with my technical knowledge and experience make me uniquely qualified to represent our community as a City Councilmember.
What would be your primary area of emphasis in office?
My primary focus is creating strong local food systems and a green city that ensures not a single person goes hungry in the city of Rochester. We currently have an eight ZIP code area where a third of the people are struggling to put food on their table. This is especially unacceptable since our region grows 45% of the fruits and vegetables for the entire state of NY. By working with local growers and distributors, returning local grocers to our neighborhoods and building urban farms throughout Rochester's 3,000 vacant lots we can solve hunger in our community. I believe my experience as a farmer, as a food security program manager and as a leader in the urban agriculture community will allow me to address this basic need in our city.
What's a change in direction you would work toward in office?
Rochester's budget this year (not including RCSD) is $680 million. Despite being in the midst of a housing crisis and seeing homelessness double in the last few years, we are spending less than $1 million on housing. Despite having some of the highest child poverty in the country, we are cutting funding to Youth Services, Community Library services and Rec Centers. If elected to City Council, I will ensure that we invest in our young people by giving families safe spaces to exist and that our housing crisis is addressed with the resources and urgency it deserves. Lastly, I am committed to funding a feasibility study that explores our options for a public utility. RG&E has been forcing our community to choose between keeping their lights on or keeping a roof over their head, and I believe it's time for City Council to take action.
— Kerria Weaver works as the Government and You reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, with a focus on how government actions affect communities and neighborhoods in Rochester and in Monroe County. Get in touch at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester City Council primary 2025: What the candidates stand for