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Monroe County and Rochester: Rochester
Mayor - Robert Duffy (D, I - Open Seat) Mr. Duffy is the former Rochester Chief of Police. He appointed Rochester Police Department's first LGBT liaison officer, and LGBT representatives on other Police Department advisory groups. He has a strong record of enforcement of bias-related crimes as Chief of Police. He has attended numerous rallies and press conferences on issues of concern to the LGBT community, and encouraged others to participate. He was the honorary Chair of the Third Annual Pride Agenda Spring Dinner in 2002. He answered every question on our questionnaire correctly except the marriage question, instead stating his support for domestic partnerships and civil unions over marriage. He said, "The hallmark of my campaign and that of my future administration is that I will bring the entire community together to set a shared agenda and accomplish our goals. Rochester has the great distinction of historic early support for LGBT initiatives and ideals. I feel that Rochester is poised to be a great example to lawmakers in both Albany and Washington DC of a community that is not only open, but supports and is working towards rights for every member in the community." The Empire State Pride Agenda is pleased to endorse Robert Duffy's candidacy for Rochester Mayor. Mr. Duffy is facing Republican John Parrinello, WFP candidate Tim O. Mains, and Red, White, and Blue candidate Chris Maj, all three of whom returned a questionnaire seeking our endorsement. Rochester
City Council, At Large (1 of 5 seats) - Carolee Conklin (D - Open
Seat) Carolee Conklin, the City Clerk for Rochester, is seeking one of five open seats on the Rochester City Council. Ms. Conklin has attended and spoken at rallies and events in support of the LGBT community. She answered every question on our questionnaire correctly, adding: "I have been a strong supporter of LGBT rights for over 20 years and will continue to [be]." The Empire State Pride Agenda is proud to endorse Carolee Conklin's candidacy for Rochester City Council. Rochester
City Council, At Large (1 of 5 seats) - Dana Miller (D - Open Seat)
Dana Miller, a Manager at Xerox Corporation, is seeking one of five open seats on the Rochester City Council. He answered every question on our questionnaire correctly, adding: "As an African American man, I live in Rochester's most diverse neighborhood and value the diversity found in my 'Urban-by-Choice' neighborhood." Mr. Miller said he would continue to be highly visible at LGBT events, and will "sponsor legislation that would advance the agenda of the LGBT community." The Empire State Pride Agenda is proud to endorse Dana Miller's candidacy for Rochester City Council. Rochester
City Council, At Large (1 of 5 seats) - Bill Pritchard (D - Incumbent)
Bill Pritchard, an openly gay member of the Rochester City Council, is seeking his second term. Before being elected, he worked with the City Council to pass a Human Rights ordinance to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. In addition, Mr. Pritchard led the community coalition that successfully advocated for a domestic partner registry as well as domestic partner benefits for city employees. He answered every question on our questionnaire correctly, adding: "I would also hope that Rochester GLBT voters choose to support my candidacy because of the many other issues that I have been championing over the past two years since being appointed to the City Council." Mr. Pritchard is a champion of LGBT issues and the Empire State Pride Agenda is proud to endorse his re-election to the Rochester City Council. NYS Supreme
Court Justice, 7th District - Ellen M. Yacknin (D, WFP - Open Seat)
Judge Yacknin is currently a Rochester City Court Judge. She is also a past Board member of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley (GAGV) and the Pride Agenda. In those roles, she worked on passage of Rochester's human rights ordinance. Although Judge Yacknin is prohibited by the Code of Judicial Conduct from responding to the specific issue questions on our questionnaire, she points out that if elected, she will be only the third woman justice among the 15 Supreme Court trial justices in the district, the only openly lesbian justice in the district, and probably the only openly lesbian Supreme Court Justice west of New York City. While the Pride Agenda traditionally does not make endorsements in judicial races, we believe that the election of Ellen Yacknin would be an important victory for our community. Judge Yacknin is a champion of LGBT issues and has a long history supporting our community. The Empire State Pride Agenda is proud to endorse Judge Ellen Yacknin's candidacy for NYS Supreme Court Justice, 7th District. Also running for the two positions are Democrat Kirk M. Miller, WFP candidate Kevin Finnegan, and Republican/Conservative/Independent candidates Matthew Rosenbaum and John Owens, none of whom returned a questionnaire seeking the Pride Agenda's endorsement. Town of Brighton
Supervisor - Sandra L. Frankel (D, WFP - Incumbent) Ms. Frankel was Chair of the NYS Democratic Party Task Force on Domestic Partnership and Civil Unions and was instrumental in the passage of two resolutions by the state party addressing LGBT relationships, one in support of marriage for same-sex couples. She helped win approval of Brighton's sexual orientation human rights policy, and domestic partner benefits for town employees. In addition, Ms. Frankel put Brighton on record as one of the first localities in the state to say it would fully respect marriages of same-sex couples from other jurisdictions. She answered every question on the questionnaire correctly. Ms. Frankel is a champion of LGBT issues and has a proven record supporting our community as an elected official. The Empire State Pride Agenda is proud to endorse Sandra Frankel's re-election as Town of Brighton Supervisor. Ms. Frankel is being challenged by Republican Wes McAllister, who did not submit a questionnaire seeking the Pride Agenda's endorsement. Greece Town
Board, 3rd Ward - Giuseppina Jo Meleca (D, WFP, I - Challenger)
Ms. Meleca is a teacher and an active and visible member of the LGBT community. She answered every question on the questionnaire correctly, adding: "I believe in the inherent rights of all individuals.… I will continue to be active, to be visible and to be a voice for our community." The Empire State Pride Agenda is proud to endorse Giuseppina Jo Meleca's candidacy for Greece Town Board, 3rd Ward. Ms. Meleca is challenging Republican Jerry Helfer, who did not submit a questionnaire seeking the Pride Agenda's endorsement. Henrietta
Town Council, At-Large - Shawn Trapp (D - Open Seat) Mr. Trapp works for Verizon. He answered every question on the questionnaire correctly, though added to the choice question: "Parental consent for minors under the age of 18 because legally the parents are responsible for any financial aspects of such a procedure and all other medical procedures for minors require parental consent." He also said: "I support equal footing under the law which should include the GLBT community.… It is sickening that there is still a level of animosity and hatred to a group of Americans based on how much they love another human being." The Empire State Pride Agenda is pleased to endorse Shawn Trapp's candidacy for Henrietta Town Council, 3rd Ward. Mr. Trapp is the only candidate running in a race with two open seats. Monroe County
Legislature, 6th District - Chris Hilderbrant (G, WFP - Open Seat)
Chris Hilderbrant is an advocate for people with disabilities. Chris answered every question on our questionnaire correctly, adding, "I am a strong advocate for the civil rights of all people.… I believe that the LGBT community will find few if any better advocates among those available in all of Monroe County." The Empire State Pride Agenda is proud to endorse Chris Hilderbrant's candidacy for Monroe County Legislature, 6th District. Chris is challenging Democrat Patricia Amato and Republican/Independent/Conservative candidate Ray Diraddo, neither of whom returned a questionnaire seeking the Pride Agenda's endorsement. Monroe County
Legislature, 14th District (Open seat) - Travis R. Heider (D - Open
seat) Mr. Heider is Senior Market Director for the American Diabetes Association and the former Chair of the Brighton Democratic Committee. He answered every question on our questionnaire correctly, adding, "I am a progressive who will passionately fight for the shared causes we feel strongly about… I would be willing to help secure co-sponsors for legislation, attend and organize press conferences, attend rallies, lobby Albany, and do whatever is necessary to promote equal rights." The Empire State Pride Agenda is proud to endorse Travis Heider's candidacy for Monroe County Legislature, 14th District. Mr. Heider is facing Republican/Conservative/Independent candidate Alex Zapesochny, who did not submit a questionnaire seeking the Pride Agenda's endorsement. Monroe County
Legislature, 24th District - Harry Bronson (D, WFP, I - Open Seat)
Mr. Bronson is a gay man who is Counsel to the NYS Assembly Labor Committee, is past president of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley (GAGV), and was endorsed by the Pride Agenda in his unsuccessful bid to succeed Rick Dollinger in the NYS Senate. He was actively involved in passage of Rochester's domestic partner benefits law and the domestic partner registry. He answered every question on the questionnaire correctly, adding: "To further initiatives that benefit NY's LGBT community I would continue to follow the same path I have pursued in the past. That is fighting and advocating for the rights we are entitled. I will also encourage others to be politically involved to ensure that LGBT friendly candidates are elected to further our initiatives." The Empire State Pride Agenda is proud to endorse Harry Bronson's candidacy for Monroe County Legislature, 24th District. Mr. Bronson is facing Republican/Conservative candidate Jonathan D. Maurer, who did not submit a questionnaire seeking the Pride Agenda's endorsement. Monroe County
Legislature, 28th District - Carla M. Palumbo (D, WFP, I - Incumbent)
Ms. Palumbo is a legal services lawyer. She answered every question on the questionnaire correctly, adding: "I believe in the principles of equality, fairness and access for all members of the community and have spent my entire career fighting for these rights.… I have in the past and will continue to stand up for the rights of the LGBT community and work in partnership with you to further an agenda of fairness and equality." The Empire State Pride Agenda is proud to endorse Carla Palumbo's re-election to the 28th District of the Monroe County Legislature. Ms Palumbo is being challenged by Republican Pedro Estevez, who did not submit a questionnaire seeking the Pride Agenda's endorsement. Monroe County
Legislature, 29th District - Jose A. Cruz (D, WFP, I - Incumbent)
Mr. Cruz is a banker. He answered every question on the questionnaire correctly, adding: "As a Latino, I understand the importance of building coalitions with others in the community in order to be effective in our struggle to insure equal rights and access. It is a major mistake to believe that one community can do it alone. We must continue to work together on the critical issues that affect our community." The Empire State Pride Agenda is proud to endorse Jose Cruz's re-election to the 29th District of the Monroe County Legislature. Mr. Cruz is being challenged by Republican/Conservative candidate Joseph Cataldo, who did not submit a questionnaire seeking the Pride Agenda's endorsement.
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