Voters head to the polls for primary elections across New York State on Tuesday.
The race that has captured most of the attention locally is the three-way Democratic primary for Rochester Mayor. Incumbent Lovely Warren is being challenged by former city police chief James Sheppard and former TV journalist Rachel Barnhart.
"It's been a really fractious campaign and frankly, I think it's been a really ugly campaign and believe that is fundamentally a reflection of the lack of unity in the Democratic Party in Monroe County right now," said Wes Renfro, chair of the Political Science department at St. John Fisher College. Renfro is wondering whether voter turnout will be depressed if voters believe a Warren victory is a foregone conclusion.
"I do think Rachel Barnhart has energized some folks who typically don't participate as much, so I think we may see voting up in some parts of the city and down in other parts of the city," he said.
Douglas French, Republican elections commissioner in Monroe County, is expecting a fairly good turnout in the city of Rochester, as far as primary elections go.
"I think we're looking at the 28 percent range,” he said. “It looks like the weather is going to cooperate, so it may be even more than that."
French said there have been years where only 10 to 12 percent of those eligible have cast ballots in local primaries. "I think the candidates have worked very hard and that we will have a good turnout," he said.
There are also primary elections Tuesday for Rochester City Council and School Board.
Registered Republicans in Greece will be voting in a town council race, and in Henrietta there are Reform Party primaries for town supervisor and two town board seats. In Ontario County, Republicans will decide between two candidates for district attorney.
Polls will be open at 137 sites across Monroe County from noon to 9 p.m.
WXXI News will provide local primary election returns starting at 9 p.m. on AM 1370 and www.wxxinews.org
