[UPDATED 01/23/2019] City Council member Elaine Spaull says she won't seek reelection this year. There are nine seats on Council and four are open in this year's elections; all of them are district seats that represent a specific part of the city.
Spaull, who works as director of the Center for Youth, has held the Council's East District seat for 11 years. She's stepping down to "devote all of my energy to the Center for Youth," she said in a press release sent out Wednesday night.
"With the increased need coupled by uncertain government funding, we will continue to take a leadership role in assuring that we work as partners with other agencies and private foundations to take care of our own," Spaull said.
She also says she'll continue her public service through the community organizations she's involved with, including Rochester Regional Health, LAWNY, and the Raise the Age committee. She also plans to work on growing Fashion Week of Rochester, a major fundraiser for some youth homeless shelters in the Rochester area and crisis nursery programs.
Two people have already said they plan to run for Spaull's seat: attorney Michael Geraci (whom Spaull is supporting) and progressive activist Mary Lupien, who ran a strong race for an at-large City Council race in 2017..
This article has been updated to note that both Michael Geraci and Mary Lupien have decided that they'll seek the Democratic nomination to Spaull's seat.
Spaull, who works as director of the Center for Youth, has held the Council's East District seat for 11 years. She's stepping down to "devote all of my energy to the Center for Youth," she said in a press release sent out Wednesday night.
"With the increased need coupled by uncertain government funding, we will continue to take a leadership role in assuring that we work as partners with other agencies and private foundations to take care of our own," Spaull said.
She also says she'll continue her public service through the community organizations she's involved with, including Rochester Regional Health, LAWNY, and the Raise the Age committee. She also plans to work on growing Fashion Week of Rochester, a major fundraiser for some youth homeless shelters in the Rochester area and crisis nursery programs.
Two people have already said they plan to run for Spaull's seat: attorney Michael Geraci (whom Spaull is supporting) and progressive activist Mary Lupien, who ran a strong race for an at-large City Council race in 2017..
This article has been updated to note that both Michael Geraci and Mary Lupien have decided that they'll seek the Democratic nomination to Spaull's seat.
