Democrats dominated Monroe County on Election Day, flipping long-held leadership positions and extending Mayor Malik Evans’ run as Rochester’s mayor by a remarkable margin.
“Winning is great and we have won,” Evans said to families, friends, and other supporters of the Democratic hopefuls gathered at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Rochester to celebrate election night’s results with the Monroe County Democratic Committee. “Delivering is another thing, and we have an obligation to deliver for the people of Rochester and Monroe County.”
The ballroom was bustling with excitement. People were decked out in merchandise of nominees’ faces and mottos. Members cheered and danced with their “Malik Evans for Mayor” signs as Evans addressed the crowd.
Evans was reelected for his second term with a whopping 86% of the votes, a wide margin of support reflected in the approximately $700,000 in contributions towards his campaign.
Evans beat conservative challenger Louis Sabo, a first-time candidate who ran on a platform of creating a “thriving business community” and affordable housing for single-income families. Sabo has yet to file any campaign finance disclosures with the New York State Board of Elections.
Throughout Evans’ campaign, he trumpeted his record of lowering crime and building affordable housing during his first term. He plans on continuing efforts to solve these issues during his second-term.
Much of his agenda will have to be approved by the Rochester City Council, which remains entirely Democratic and largely intact. Chiara “Kee Kee” Smith and Dr. Lashunda C. Leslie-Smith are the two new members to join the council.
Smith is the founder of the 14621 Food Stands Initiative, the Program Officer for theGreater Rochester Health Foundation, and a member of the National Collaborative on Gun Violence. She centered her campaign on mental health, gun violence, and affordable housing. She received the most votes out of all the nominated council members, a total of almost 17,000.
Leslie-Smith is the founder of Successful Pathways and Sent One Consulting, LLC, the Executive Director of Connected Communities, and launched the EPIC Women’s Conference. Her campaign focused on affordable housing, community-driven development and trust, and economic empowerment.
“We need to fight the federal government to make sure that the policies that are harming our families locally are eliminated,” said Leslie-Smith. “We can’t just put a Band-Aid on a major issue. We have to fight through legislation.”
Mitch Gruber, Stanley Martin, and City Council President Miguel A. Melendez Jr. will be returning to the council. Kim Smith and Willie Lightfoot, current City Council members, did not seek reelection.
“County-wide, Democrats showed up,” said Melendez. “It sends a message to our country. It sends a message to our state.”
The towns of Monroe County had historic wins, including Jeff McCann as Greece’s first Democratic supervisor in 120 years, and Jennifer Townsend who will serve as Perinton’s first Democratic supervisor since the Civil War.
“We have had an amazing night in Monroe County tonight,” said Monroe County Democratic Committee chairman Stephen DeVay. “We have sent a message that the politics that are happening at the national level will not happen here.”
