Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
The campaign for Federal, State and Local offices in 2012.

Democratic Primary in the 137th Assembly District

Rochester City School Board member Jose Cruz
Rochester City School Board member Jose Cruz
Monroe County Legislator John Lightfoot
Monroe County Legislator John Lightfoot
Assemblyman David Gantt
Assemblyman David Gantt

Voters are heading to the polls Thursday to choose who they want to represent their political Party this November. 

State Assembly veteran David Gantt is facing Monroe County Legislator John Lightfoot and city school board member Jose Cruz for the Democratic nomination.

Gantt has run an unopposed primary in the 137th Assembly District for the past 20 years.

Lightfoot says it's time for a change. And if he wins the primary,his main priority is helping young people with mental health issues.  

"A lot of kids don't really understand who they are or what emotions they are having, and they’re not able to facilitate them," Lightfoot points out. "So, I think, there's a lot of reasons why we have disruptive classrooms and they take that into adulthood and into our streets."

Primary challenger Jose Cruz, a former Monroe County Legislator and city council member,  says he wants to use his experience in Albany to allow municipalities to decide how best to educate their children, help small businesses grow and work with families who have loved ones with developmental disabilities.

"There's a tremendous amount of strategizing on how families are going to get assistance," Cruz says. "What I’m seeing is a lot of our families just don't know what's going on and are very nervous about the kinds of changes. So I want to be able to go to Albany and say 'Hey, listen, let's hold off. Let's slow down this process and make sure our families can catch up."

During Gantt's 30-year career in the state legislature he's sponsored numerous bills and funneled millions of dollars into Rochester. WXXI reached out to Gantt's office for comment. Those calls have not been returned.

The 137th Assembly District includes downtown Rochester and portions of Gates.

Related Content