Mayor of Rochester Aticle

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In November 2010, Andrew Cuomo won the election to become governor of New York State.  His running mate and lieutenant governor was Robert Duffy. In January 2011, Robert Duffy resigned from the office of Mayor of Rochester, NY.  After a series of interim mayors, a special election was held to determine Robert Duffy’s long term replacement. 

            Tom Richards won the election, defeating Bill Johnson,who served as the mayor of Rochester from 1994 to 2006.  Prior to his election as mayor, Tom Richards served as Corporation Counsel of the City of Rochester.  Richards has also worked as a partner in the Peabody Nixon law firm, and as the president of RG&E.

            Robert Duffy was a well known politician, and a prominent figure in the community.  His presence in Rochester was strong, and his appearances on local news were many.  He attended and even organized many community events.  For example, “Clean Sweep”, his effort to beautify Rochester by picking up litter, drew over 14,000 volunteers.

            Mayor Tom Richards has made far fewer appearances on local news. 

            When asked who the mayor was, Frances Brown, a sophomore at School of the Arts, responded with, “I know it’s not Duffy…Is his last name Brown?”

            Clara O’Connor, a junior, responded to the same question with“I don’t know who the mayor is. Last time I checked it was Duffy.  That was his name, right? Or was it Buffy?”

            In fact, a recent poll conducted by Driscoll Research Group found that 86% of School of the Arts students do not know the name of Rochester’s mayor.   

            Another poll, also conducted by Driscoll Research Group, found that 92% of School of the Arts students know that the previous mayor of Rochester was Robert Duffy.

            So why do students know of Robert Duffy, but not Tom Richards?  Is it because Duffy was more charismatic?  Because he was on local news more?  Were Duffy’s policies and ideas more controversial?  Did people like Duffy more? Did they hate him more?

            “I think Duffy was more present in the community,” says Nikki Ehmann, a sophomore at SOTA, “He went to many events.  I saw him every year at the Park Ave Winter Fest, and I met him one time at the Greek Fest. He was really friendly.”

            Nathan Pembrook, a sophomore creative writing major, said “I thought the mayor was Duffy’s son or something, isn’t this an empire?”

            Maybe it’s because of Duffy’s frequent appearances at festivals and events. Maybe it’s because people don’t know that America is a democracy.  Whatever the reason it’s clear that Tom Richards has a lot of work to do before his presence in the community is felt as strongly as Robert Duffy’s was.