The field of possible Democratic candidates for Monroe County
executive is narrowing. Former Brighton Supervisor Sandra Frankel is the only
announced Democrat in the race, and state Assembly member Harry Bronson has been
weighing a run — though unconfirmed reports say that he has dropped out. (Bronson did not return calls Monday or Tuesday.)
Carrie Andrews, a county legislator who was also considering a
run, said Tuesday that she has decided against joining the race.
Mike Green, former county district attorney, is a wild-card
candidate. Green is reportedly weighing a bid for his old job, but his name
still comes up in the context of the county executive
race — though that may be wishful thinking by some Dems. (Democrats have not
yet announced a DA candidate.)
If Frankel is chosen, it would be her second stab at the
executive job. She ran a lackluster campaign against Republican incumbent
Maggie Brooks in 2011, losing by 14 percentage points. But term limits prevent
the popular Brooks from running again, setting up a potentially more
competitive race.
Whoever gets the Democratic endorsement will face Republican
Cheryl Dinolfo, the Monroe County clerk.
Monroe County Democratic Committee chair Dave Garretson asked
that the three committees that make up the East Side Dems hold off on their
exec and DA endorsements when they meet this week, says Dennis O’Brien, leader
of the 23rd Legislative District committee. Garretson apparently wants to give
Bronson — and anyone else who might be out there — more time to consider their
options.
O’Brien says that he’ll probably comply with Garretson’s
request, unless a sole candidate emerges by the time the committee meets.
The Rush, Henrietta, and Gates Democratic committees are
meeting this week, too. They do not have the county exec and DA nominations on
their agenda, though they will make endorsements in various town, County
Legislature, and judicial contests.
The individual committees need to endorse in the county
executive and DA races by May 8 in order for those votes to be valid at the
county party’s May 21 convention.
This article appears in Apr 8-14, 2015.
