Tom Brennan

Rochester should be rolling, but it isn't. Still fumbling, tinkering, plugging leaks, pointing fingers, and making excuses.

Our most pressing challenges in post-Kodak Rochester: economic development, public safety, education, and a more open and honorable civic and political culture are linked. Without considerable progress in all of these areas, there will be little progress in any of them.

The era of top-down decision making; the dominance of a few benevolent industrial leaders; the notion that the best decisions are always made by a few people who "know better" have no application to Rochester today. We can no longer afford an over-entitled, mindlessly partisan, too closely held, mediocrity-sustaining politics.

We must change, and New York's third largest city is up to the task. More than once, we have led the nation in private-sector innovation, education, government reform, urban planning, and human rights.

We often congratulate ourselves for being the city of Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony. In the challenges ahead, we might well remember that Smugtown oligarchs of their day did not always welcome their activities.

For four generations, Rochester has been good to my family. What I learned here has enabled me to have an adventure-packed and fortunate life as a publisher, journalist, small businessperson, crisis counselor, and United States Senate speechwriter.

I have been heavily involved in my own northwest neighborhood. In some 30 years as a volunteer on our local Democratic Committees, I have encouraged the party to strive to be more open, in an understanding and good humored way. I'm a pain in the neck to the bosses, but I think they understand that I like them and don't hold grudges, and that is important.

Over a quarter century, and usually without salary, I have served on three elected Rochester-area school boards. The quality of that service has been repeatedly affirmed by colleagues and objective observers. I have built issue by issue coalitions by not personalizing issue differences; I have stood for sound priorities and democratic process; I have asked the tough questions - and I have faced down the bullying of powerful institutions, bosses, and special interests.

If you think Rochester is on the right track; if you think we support neighborhoods and are effective in promoting public safety; if you think we make it easy to grow small business with good wages; if you think the city fosters mature, mutually respectful, constructive interaction with the schools; if you think power in Rochester welcomes public input - then you have other candidates to vote for.

If you think we need to do things differently, to build a Rochester future worthy of our past, I offer the proven willingness to fight the tough battles for change, and the experience and temperament to do so effectively, and I would be honored to have one of the five votes you may cast for City Council September 15th.

Sherry Crumity

I believe that no one knows a neighborhood better than the people who live there. For over 20 years, I have been invested in making a difference, by building effective collaborations and securing hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding for residents in our city.

This year's City Council race is not about lawn signs and billboards. It is about no more business as usual. It is about putting real solutions to real problems. We need people on City Council that can initiate legislation that is collaborative and comprehensive in nature and that will advance us toward a more economically and socially sustainable city. We need to analyze our challenges and limited opportunities surrounding urban development. To do this we must look at our small businesses, education system, declining population, limited transit system, and land use. A variety of stakeholders and collaborations will be needed in order to revitalize downtown, rebuild our workforce, create a healthier relationship with our school district, and develop resourceful crime-fighting strategies.

Residents, don't give up on making Rochester a viable city. Vote on September 15th Row 17A for change.

Harry Davis

I am a big advocate of bringing high-tech jobs to Rochester. In 2001, I nearly died from bacterial meningitis. Most of my feet were amputated. Since then, I have become a huge advocate for stem cell/regenerative medicine and bringing jobs to Rochester.

High Speed Rail is the biggest economic development in western New York State since the Erie Canal. Transportation historically brings development. I am a huge advocate of High Speed Rail.

HSR will make the Rochester-Buffalo-Niagara Falls the nation's 26th largest metro area. "The New York Rail Plan will enhance the region's Essential New York Initiative®, a unique and innovative plan to accelerate the transition of the Central Upstate region of New York State to a knowledge-based economy.

Harry Davis interview on RochesterSubway.com

City Council cannot grow a city by itself but it can adopt policies that help to grow Rochester. When I am on the Rochester City Council, I will work to bring high- tech jobs to Rochester. I will support the "Essential New York Initiative" which is designed to create high-paying jobs. (New York Coalition Statement of Regional Impact High Speed Rail, July 31, 2009). I will work with Mayor Duffy to bring jobs to Rochester.

A Renaissance is happening in Rochester but it is not Square.

On August 24, New York State Governor Patterson asked for funding almost $600 million of HSR speed rail to Rochester and all of New York State. Rochester will get about $116 million of this money to build track and related development. City Council must work with Congresswoman Louis Slaughter's office to make sure this money is secured.

I have famously been asking Mayor Duffy since May 15 of this year to bring Mr. Bill Reed to Rochester to help dust off the 2007 vision plan of Rochester. I think Mr. Reed and Mr. Roger Brown of the Rochester Design Center have a lot we can learn as we redevelop Rochester. Mr. Reed wrote this article about what Rochester must do.

I will come to the Rochester City Council with a background well suited for guiding Rochester to its new, environmentally sound renaissance, a renaissance that is not square.

Matt Haag

The upcoming election for Rochester City Council is a vital one, and in many ways we're at a turning point. If you believe, like I do, that there's room for improvement in the way that politics and government have been running lately - at ALL levels - then you and I are on the same page.

I'm running to bring new experience and a fresh perspective to the table. We face serious challenges, and the time for politics and business as usual is long past. At or near the top of most people's minds today is the problem of our very economic survival. Job growth and neighborhood economic development are my top concerns. Of course, they are closely connected to crucial problems with schools and public safety, but jobs and the economy are in such a state of crisis that they demand our immediate and our best efforts. You can learn from my website, www.matthaag.com, that I will bring 15 years experience and background in job growth and neighborhood economic development to City Council.

Our most glaring need today is for fresh thinking that can get us out of the same old circular arguments and power struggles, and for a genuine movement towards working together instead of against each other. I believe that if we're going to thrive AT ALL, we need leaders who can work together. That, more than anything, is what I will bring to City Council.

Frank Martin

I am a substitute teacher. If I was elected to Council, that would be my primary focus. Our primary concern should be the youth of the city, specifically the employment of young adults. A lot of children have not had the chance to access their potential; they must rely on others for guidance and assistance with goal setting. It is the obligation of our community to provide more opportunity for success for the children of our community.

I also think revitalization of the northeast section of Rochester should be the focus of our city. We should invest more of community development dollars into this section of the city.

The economy is under a constant strain. However, if the issues I have addressed are dealt with, it would benefit our public safety, economic development, and improve our community as a whole.

There are too many people who make money in the city and leave little or nothing in return. We should invest in the youth of our city. They will help turn around the landlord/tenant trend of our neighborhoods. They will be ready to build, buy, and invest in our city's future.

Jackie Ortiz

A proud small business owner, born and raised in the city, I am deeply involved and passionate about the advancement of our community. Leadership is more than being outspoken, attending meetings, and showing up at events; City Council needs individuals who are forward thinking, good listeners, and who will take the initiative to call for the discussions and collaborations needed to move our city forward. I have the experience and temperament to bring parties together and I will roll up my sleeves and get things done. As a dedicated business owner and city home owner, I ask for your support for City Council.

Carolee Conklin

I'm asking City Democrats to vote for me in the September 15 primary election. The primary is especially important this year; since the Republicans have not bothered to nominate Council candidates, the choice is virtually over when the polls close at 9p.m.

During my 3 1/2 years on the Council, I've worked hard to use my 30 years' experience in local government to ask the tough questions, expect accountability, and play a leadership role on the Council. Because I am proud of what I've accomplished, I am seeking a second term.

I've chaired both of Council's major committees, Community Development and Finance. As the Community Development Chair, I led Council's review of the Community Development program, which has allowed millions of dollars to be spent rebuilding our City. And currently, as Finance Committee chair, I oversee Council's review of the City's annual Capital Improvement Plan, to ensure that the millions of dollars spent repairing our streets, bridges, and water supply system is done wisely. I have redesigned Council's review of the annual City budget, which has allowed for a fuller discussion of the budget details, and permitted more time for Council's concerns to be addressed.

To ensure that our citizens are heard and can observe what Council does, I have sponsored several public input meetings, and worked with Council members Miller and Pritchard to have our meetings televised on City Channel 12.

Although I generally characterize myself as a liberal on social policy and a fiscal conservative, I study each issue on a case by case basis, and decide about what's best for our community.

As this newspaper said in its endorsement of me, "Bright, experienced, innovative, effective, blunt and colorful, Conklin knows the city as well as anyone in government." I'm proud of my effective, no-nonsense record, and the time I've spent bringing our community into the process.

During campaigns, candidates often make promises about elected offices they have no clue about. If elected they need to be able to deliver the goods by working with eight other Council members and Mayor Bob Duffy's administration. I believe I've done that.

Dana Miller

I have spent my entire life as a resident of Rochester. I attended Rochester schools, lived in Rochester neighborhoods, married a fellow Rochesterian, and took my children to Rochester parks and events.  Although it is not without its challenges, I love this city!

As an incumbent City Councilmember and a candidate for re-election, I am asking for your support to continue my commitment to help make Rochester the great city that it can be. My vision for Rochester is that every one of our 36 neighborhoods is known as a safe area to raise a family, with great housing, green spaces, and high quality goods and services available within walking distance.

Over the past four years, I:

* Led the charge for the successful completion of the Brooks Landing project. This project has brought over $50 million of new private development to southwest Rochester, and has connected the University of Rochester with the community.

* Held an annual "Clean and Green" poster contest to complement the very successful Clean Sweeps. My contest has delivered a message of "no litter-no graffiti" to thousands of elementary school children, and we have received over 1000 posters. 

* Held a jobs summit to focus on the need for opportunities for youth between the ages of 16-25, many of whom have no diploma, GED, work skills, or work experience. The city's PRIME (Providing Realistic Incentives to Maintain Employment) program is a direct outgrowth. In this program, 16-25-year-olds are given training and then employment in the city's Department of Environmental Services.

* Helped provide more open government, by televising Council meetings. I introduced the concept, reviewed the specs for the equipment purchased, and helped write the policies.

* Created a pilot project to create a Street Manager position. The Street Manager works to recruit, retain, and strengthen the businesses on a given commercial street in our neighborhoods. We are now looking to expand this pilot into the new quadrant model.

* Served as chair of the Finance committee during the comprehensive review of ambulance services, and led council to a decision that provides city residents with ongoing excellent services.

* Chaired the Economic Development and the Environment Committee. We have focused on major development activities like Midtown, Ren Square, Paetec, ESL and other significant projects.

My focus in the next four years will be:

Economic Development

* Add jobs by aggressively recruiting businesses that need what we have: abundant supplies of clean water, well trained, hard-working people, lack of natural disasters, minimal commute times, and low cost housing. Food and beverage production, silicon chip manufacturing, industrial laundries, auto manufacturing and medical uses are just a few of these types of businesses.

* Rebuild our downtown by creating a vision plan, and then eliminate barriers to private development, allow parking on Main Street, increase the variety of housing opportunities, and improve the public transit options.

* Build our neighborhood commercial areas by expanding the Street Manager program that I piloted, identifying the stakeholders in each area, involving the community and partnering with private developers. This is the approach that was used successfully in redeveloping the Genesee Street-Brooks Avenue area into Brooks Landing, a project that I have spent over 20 bringing to fruition.

Public Safety

* Recruit candidates from the city and provide an intensive pre-training program that will prepare more people to become members of the Police and Fire departments.

* Create more opportunities for community policing, and for police officers to walk the streets and interact with the citizens.

* Provide better financial incentives for police officers, firefighters, and other city workers to live in the city.

Education

* Create an Education committee on City Council to include members of the School Board, and work jointly on educational initiatives.

* Develop a "Technical Diploma" alternative for students who can learn, and demonstrate mastery of a vocational skill. We need more carpenters, plumbers, electricians, machinists, mechanics, etc. These are jobs that have an aging workforce, and most can't be outsourced to other countries.

City Council alone can't do all of this, but as the legislative body in the city we can work with the mayor and the citizens to move these things forward. We can pass laws that provide the proper incentives. We can help ensure that budget dollars are spent wisely. As voters, you must choose people to represent you who will make thoughtful and rational decisions based on vision and logic rather than emotion and rhetoric.

I ask for your vote in the primary, and again in the general election. I pledge to work for you to help make Rochester the great city it can become.