Although she is the incumbent, Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren was not the top vote-getter in ballots cast by members of some city Democratic committees on Tuesday night.
One of her challengers, Monroe County Legislator James Sheppard got more votes than Warren in the 7th, 26th and 28th legislative districts. Warren did get more total votes than another challenger, former TV journalist Rachel Barnhart. Warren and Barnhart tied in the 7th and 26th districts.
A Warren campaign staffer, Gary Rogers, issued a statement saying that the results were not a surprise, but that actually, the mayor got more votes than her campaign expected she would receive. They referred to the voting as an “elite, handpicked committee process," and the campaign feels that when they actually get to a primary, they will be successful.
Sheppard says he is “honored and excited” by the first committee votes and says there is a “groundswell among Democrats for change.” He says Democrats in the northwest part of the city have indicated to him they want leadership that shows measurable results on important issues.
Barnhart says she was the only candidate to present solid plans to grow the economy and reduce poverty, and was grateful to have the opportunity to present her platform to "a select group of party insiders."
Green Party activist Alex White is also running for mayor.
