Who is running in the Rochester mayoral race? Here's what to know
The three candidates going up against each other for the upcoming primary are incumbent Mayor Malik Evans, City Councilmember Mary Lupien and IT Executive Shashi Sinha.
This election comes at a time when residents are concerned about the city's sanctuary policy, the cost of living, transparency efforts and the overall future of Rochester.
As part of the Democrat and Chronicle's effort to introduce voters to their mayoral 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 have served as mayor for the past four years. Prior to serving as mayor I spent over 20 years in the Financial Services Industry helping people build a strong financial future. I have a long record of service to the Rochester community. As mayor I have expanded housing access, launched the Office of Violence Prevention and the Office of Financial Empowerment.
What would be your primary area of emphasis in office?
We would continue to expand a broad array of housing options for residents, expand economic opportunity, continue to make public safety a priority, focus on mental health and address the opioid crisis.
What's a change in direction you would work toward in office?
We would expand our Ambassador Program related to the opioid epidemic. The opioid epidemic has been ravaging communities across the country and Rochester-Monroe is no different. We will expand this direction to stop the scourge of the opioid epidemic which has become a silent killer.
What makes you a qualified candidate?
I'm a single mom, a teacher and a city councilmember who's been on the frontlines of Rochester's biggest challenges. I've spent the last 20 years working in housing, food security and education and the last five years passing bold policies that invest directly in our people like the Person in Crisis Team, tenant protections and violence prevention. I live in a working-class neighborhood, my daughter attends the RCSD and I know firsthand how our systems fail our families. I'm not backed by wealthy donors or political insiders. I'm backed by neighbors who are tired of broken promises. I've proven I have the courage to stand up to powerful interests and the passion to co-govern with our people. I'm running for mayor because Rochester needs leadership rooted in lived experience, not status quo politics. We deserve a city that works for all of us and I'm ready to deliver on that vision.
What would be your primary area of emphasis in office?
My primary focus as mayor will be investing directly in our people. For too long, our city has prioritized developers and flashy projects while our neighborhoods go underfunded and underserved. I will launch an Affordable Housing Action Plan that ends encampment sweeps, accelerates Housing First strategies, and breaks down barriers to homeownership. I'll create a Public Safety Transformation Team to expand community responders so residents get the right help in a crisis and police can focus on serious crime. I'll expand youth programming like jobs, mentoring, arts and sports so every young person sees a future for themselves in Rochester. And I'll push to replace RG&E with a public utility and launch a public bank so our city's money works for us. These are not just policies they are investments in the people who make Rochester home.
What's a change in direction you would work toward in office?
A key change I'll bring is reimagining the role of mayor from a gatekeeper of the status quo to a true advocate for the people. In times of crisis, residents shouldn't face punishment for being poor. No more encampment sweeps. No more waiting for outside investment to trickle down. Our community deserves a mayor who stands up for our most vulnerable, puts people before profit and demands accountability from every system that serves us. I will also fight for democracy in all its forms-protecting voting rights, defending our sanctuary status and making government more accessible and responsive. That means co-governing with the people of Rochester. We'll make decisions together, through participatory processes that center those most impacted. It's time to raise the bar for leadership with transparency, compassion and the courage to act boldly for the common good.
What makes you a qualified candidate?
I am not a career politician. I am a small business owner and a technology leader in corporate world where I define strategy and manage large budget. I have been living in Rochester for 14 years, raising my family and investing in the resurgence of old buildings other people gave up on. I am an immigrant, so I know firsthand the challenges. Now I am prepared to apply my experience to implement bold, actionable solutions that will address housing, crime, education and grow our economy. Others are managing decline. I am going to reverse it and lead this city forward.
What would be your primary area of emphasis in office?
My priority is fixing Rochester's public safety, housing crisis and education. These three foundational need are tightly interconnected and we can not get out of the current decline without addressing all three at the same time. My focus will also be growing our economy. I will build 4,000 affordable houses for ownership, not rent, with the city earning some revenue in the process. Property taxes would be gradually reduced by 40% over four years to relieve the burden of working families and seniors. I plan to drastically reduce crime. While no other mayoral candidate is talking about RCSD, I will not take a back seat. I am all about delivering results, not more studies or ribbon cuttings. I bring a bold, common-sense plan for the people, putting Rochester back on the map as a place families can call home again.
What's a change in direction you would work toward in office?
Rochester needs to stop managing decline and start building a future. I would shift the city's focus from reactive programs to bold proactive investment. My city run building effort to create 4,000 affordable homeownership units without any subsidies. So that residents can gain stability and wealth. I intend to cut property taxes by 40% over the next four years as a means of making it easy for families to keep going and stay here. I will also restore accountability in city government; enough ribbon cuttings with our streets still unsafe and our schools still underperforming. I will work instead of talk. This is what Rochester needs.
— 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 kweaver@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester 2025 mayoral primary race: Here's who the candidates are
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