The candidates in next week’s Rochester Democratic Mayoral Primary squared off Tuesday in a debate sponsored by the Voice of the Voter initiative. That debate, broadcast live on WXXI TV and AM 1370 WXXI touched on a wide range of ongoing city issues.
There hasn't been a whole of animosity in this primary campaign, and we didn't see a lot of that Tuesday night, although incumbent Tom Richards, and his challenger, city council president Lovely Warren, certainly disagree on several topics.
Warren claims Richards doesn't have a strong enough vision for the future of the city.
“The mayor is good at implementing, he's good at looking at what other people have started and taking credit for it, but he's not good at envisioning it and setting the standards, “ according to Warren.
Richards says there are a number of people in Rochester who have strongly supported his re-election efforts.
"People all across the community, see in the administration that I've had in the last two years, something that we can work together and rebuilding this city, and rebuild this city for everybody, and that's the coalition that I've put together,” Richards said during the broadcast.
Both Warren and Richards talked about the need to find ways to reduce crime and drug trafficking in the northeast part of the city. Whoever wins next Tuesday's primary goes on to face Green Party candidate Alex White in November.
You can watch a replay of the debate here:
http://youtu.be/yVxJISzE6MQ
