There’s now a Republican candidate in the race for Mayor of Rochester. He’s 26th District Monroe County Legislator Tony Micchiche, a city resident whose current district includes Charlotte and Maplewood in Rochester as well as the parts of Gates and Greece in the suburbs.
Supporters on social media say Micchiche will oppose progressive doctrines they say have “laid waste to…previously successful and vibrant neighborhoods, raised taxes and chased away jobs and investment.”
The realtor and former GM employee declared his candidacy this morning in a news conference at the corner of Lake Avenue and Ridge Road. He said he’ll put Rochester Police precincts in city high schools instead of just resource officers. And Micchiche says he would give the Rochester City School District a deadline to restructure and raise its graduation rates, or he would put the city’s public school funding in escrow.
That could be questionable under state law, which requires “maintenance of effort” from cities in funding their schools.