I am excited about our county’s future and the opportunity to lead us in a new direction.  I believe in the people of our county and their desire to see change.  We can do better. We must do better.

My activism and desire to help people had its roots in our country’s civil rights movement. I sat in at lunch counters in Florida and Louisiana early on. That began my fight for equal and fair treatment for all our people.

Now I want to transform Monroe County into the place where everyone has equal opportunities for good jobs.  I want to grow our jobs.  Our children should neither be unemployed, nor forced to leave home to find the best jobs.  It was not always so. Years ago, people moved here to get the best jobs.

In the 1970’s, I moved to Monroe County with my husband Neil, an engineer at Xerox, chasing our dreams. We bought the house we still live in and raised our three children who have blessed us with nine grandchildren.

After serving as a school board leader, I was elected Brighton Supervisor where I served for 10 terms.  During that time, as CEO I restored Brighton’s fiscal integrity. I reduced property taxes five times.  We created a new park system and improved the library, the infrastructure, and public safety services.  We increased economic development and revitalized commercial corridors.  We protected the environment and strengthened neighborhoods.  We did all of this with citizen involvement and overwhelming approval of the voters. 

Now I want to move Monroe County in a new and better direction.

Fiscal mismanagement has led to the State Comptroller rating Monroe County as one of the most fiscally stressed municipal governments in the state.  The present administration has wasted tax dollars and abused the public trust.

Too many residents of Monroe County are suffering.  Children in the City of Rochester face some of the highest poverty levels in the nation.  Thousands of families do not have access to childcare subsidies or other vital services from county government. We will re-prioritize and make smart investments to meet these essential needs.

It’s time for a new direction.

My friends it is time for a change.  For over a decade my opponent has walked in lockstep with this administration.  We cannot afford to continue a culture in county government that wastes our precious tax dollars.   

We need real change, change that restores fiscal integrity and stability in this county. 

We need to open the door and let the sunshine in.  Our tax dollars must go towards the most capable and cost effective vendors, towards opportunities for everyone, not just friends of the present administration.  We will end the corrosive conduct of the LDCs.

I bring a new vision and strong management that will make sure this happens. We can improve services and opportunities without raising the tax rate by making sure we watch every dollar and have the right priorities.

It’s time for a new direction.

There is a lot at stake—we need a fresh start instead of the same old tired way.  By prioritizing the needs of families, like improving and expanding childcare, not cutting it, we can empower people to raise their families with dignity, and put children on the path to success in school.  This type of smart investment will save millions by improving graduation rates, reducing unemployment for young adults, and ending the school to prison pipeline—a seven to one savings for taxpayers.  The benefits to the bottom line, to education, and to quality of life speak for themselves.  

We need to bring more industry into the county, create good jobs, promote job training that matches existing job opportunities, improve the infrastructure, protect our incredible environment, and use responsible competitive bidding for contracts rather than enriching a select few.  Monroe County is replete with great resources.  Excellent universities, Wegmans, the City of Rochester with its arts and culture, our diverse community, ample fresh water, centers of excellence in optics and photonics, biomedical technology and world class medical care, a great workforce, a wealth of intellectual capital, and our entrepreneurial spirit: these are the tools to transform this County. 

I have the proven experience to lead this county in a new direction and the will and integrity to do this.  It is time for an open, honest government that listens and puts the public first. It is time to pivot from stagnation to progress and transform Monroe County.

It’s time for a new direction…a path to a new day and bright future for Monroe County.  With your help we can begin.