- KEVIN FULLER
- Rachel Barnhart
Barnhart, a former reporter and anchor for WROC-TV8, announced her candidacy on Monday. She’ll square off in a Democratic primary against James Sheppard, Rochester’s former police chief, and presumably, current mayor Lovely Warren.
Warren hasn’t officially entered the race yet, but her camp sent over the following statement after Barnhart's announcement:
"Last year, Miss Barnhart ran for the State Assembly. This year she has announced her candidacy for mayor. We are curious to learn what office she will run for next year," said Gary Rogers, spokesperson for the Friends of Lovely Warren Committee.
Barnhart said she’d pay for her plans through careful long-term planning. She mentioned the possibility of consolidating the city and county’s water systems as a way to gain revenue. She’d also lobby hard for more state aid and look for budget efficiencies, she said.
Also, the promised tax cut would lure people and business to the city, and their investment would help offset the revenue loss, she said.
But almost every politician mentions “budget efficiencies”; it’s vague and more of a hope than a plan. And many local lawmakers have tried to get more money from the state — but state officials haven’t been moved by their pleas. It’s hard to see why it would be different for Barnhart.
Barnhart’s candidacy is sure to be a mystery to some people. She has no political experience save an unsuccessful run for State Assembly against Democratic incumbent Harry Bronson last fall.
(In fairness, though, Sheppard has been in the County Legislature for only a little over a year. He does have administrative experience, though.)
Joe Rittler, a spokesperson for Barnhart’s campaign, said in a statement that Barnhart can win, despite the “politically motivated naysayers.”
“There are many undecided voters who are not happy with the status quo, and we have a campaign plan that will carry us to victory,” Rittler said.
People are sure to ask, too, why Barnhart didn’t get her feet wet first by running for one of the five at-large seats up for election on City Council this year. Barnhart’s high profile would have been a significant advantage.
But Rittler said that Barnhart has studied city government extensively and that has given her the knowledge, skills, leadership ability, vision, and experience to be mayor.
“For the past 18 years, she's read every city and school budget, every piece of Council legislation, every major contract bid, and every environmental impact statement on big projects,” he said. “She's delved into the finances of the fast ferry, Renaissance Square, Midtown Plaza, and the Inner Loop.”
Barnhart may see an opening, too, given the obvious acrimony between Sheppard and Warren. Sheppard retired as police chief shortly after Warren took office in 2013, amid buzz that she was going to replace him. The two have clashed politically since.
Barnhart may see a path to the mayor’s office by putting herself above the fray: presenting herself as the candidate who is truly focused on the issues.
