This year, Irondequoit residents will cast their ballots for town supervisor and for two seats of varying term length on the town board.
Incumbent Supervisor John Perticone is runningunopposed for re-election.
Two candidates — Democrat Steven Barz and Republican/Conservative Michael Cotsworth — are vying for a one-year term on the board.
Three candidates — Democrat Ryan Trevas and Republican Daniel Gaiteri and Working Families candidate Kathryn J. Walker — are seeing a board seat that expires in 2028.
To help inform your vote, we asked candidates to describe their biggest priority if elected. You'll find responses below. Where candidates did not respond, question areas are left blank. This story will be updated online if additional responses are received.
Polls are open for regular voting between 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. You can look up where to vote at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov. We'll have live Monroe County election results as they become available at democratandchronicle.com.
Irondequoit Town Supervisor
John Perticone (D, WF), the incumbent, is running unopposed for Irondequoit town supervisor.
Current or prior elected office: Served on the Irondequoit Town Board for 18 years starting in 2007. He was first elected Irondequoit Town Supervisor in 2025.
Experience: John Perticone (D) was first elected Irondequoit Town Supervisor in 2025 and prior to that served on the Irondequoit Town Board for 18 years. He is running unopposed in 2026 for another two-year term and also on the Working Families line.
What is the most important issue facing residents in Irondequoit, and what would you do about it if elected?
"I believe one of the most important issues facing Irondequoit is making sure we can maintain the quality of our infrastructure and services while being responsible to taxpayers.
"As supervisor, I will focus on long-term financial planning, prioritizing our roads, sidewalks, sewers and other infrastructure based on need, and aggressively pursuing grants (we now have a grant writer on staff to continually focus on working towards these initiatives) so that we are not relying solely on taxpayers. We also need to make sure every department is operating efficiently and that we are planning several years ahead rather than reacting when problems occur.
"My goal is simple: maintain the services residents depend on, invest in Irondequoit's future, and do it in a financially responsible way."
Meet the candidates for Irondequoit Town Board, one-year seat
Michael Cotsworth
Mike Cotsworth (R, C) is running for a seat on the Irondequoit Town Board for a term ending in 2027.
Age: 63
Family: Married to Karen M. Cotsworth for 40 years
Residency: Karen and I have been residents of the Town of Irondequoit for the last 31 years.
Occupation: Retired from the Rochester Police Department as a lieutenant, after 34 years of service. Currently I am assisting, part-time, a friend at his trophy business, Trophies and Awards by NYRA.
Previous political experience: 34 years of working for the city police department has involved me in politics many times, especially my last few years of my service at the Southwest (Genesee Section) Neighborhood Service Center.
What is the most important issue facing residents in Irondequoit, and what would you do about it if elected?
"The defining issue facing Irondequoit residents is the cost of living. Global economic factors like gas prices are beyond local controls. However, town government has an obligation to manage what it can control, namely our property taxes. Voters deserve to know with absolute certainty that their hard-earned tax dollars are being used wisely, efficiently, with transparency and the town council is eliminating unnecessary waste.
To lower the financial burden on our families, we need a three-part approach:
1-Grow the Tax Base: I will work to attract new businesses and sustainable commercial development, bringing revenue into Irondequoit to help take the pressure off residential homeowners.
2-Maximize Outside Resources and Funding: we need to continuously take advantage of and pursue federal, state, county and private grant opportunities to fund services and infrastructure without relying solely on local tax dollars.
3-Support a Multi-Generational Community: By keeping Irondequoit affordable, we can create an inviting environment for young families to establish roots while providing our seniors with services to help them age in place, comfortably.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent?
Policing is a high-pressure environment that demands sound and decisive judgment under stress and during critical situations. As a police supervisor I managed incidents, adapted to changing laws, developing new technologies, and evolving community needs. More importantly, I learned how to cut through the bureaucratic red tape and collaborate with government and community partners to get things done.
Examples of My Track Record of Results:
- Crisis Response: I helped develop the Crisis Intervention Team to provide a team of specially trained compassionate law enforcement staff to response to mental health crises calls.
- Community Support: I helped create the Homeless Outreach Team, a multidiscipline team who proactively support our city's unhoused population with a focus on making homelessness a short and non-recurring event in the lives of those impacted.
- Neighborhood Safety: I was instrumental in enhancing the safety in the Chili Ave and Thurston Rd area, by securing better street lighting and successfully closing an illegal cannabis business tied to local gun violence.
Experience is more than a talking point; it’s the foundation and a blueprint for efficient government. My career has been a culmination of bringing government and community partners together to advance neighborhood development and safety. I understand how government works, how to make it work for our community and am asking for Irondequoit residents votes, so I can continue that work in our town’s government."
Steven Barz
Steven Barz (D) is running for a seat on the Irondequoit Town Board for a term ending in 2027.
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What is the most important issue facing residents in Irondequoit, and what would you do about it if elected?
Why should voters choose you over your opponent?
Meet the candidates for Irondequoit Town Board, two-year seat
Ryan Trevas
Ryan Trevas (D) is running for a seat on the Irondequoit Town Board for a term ending in 2028.
Age: 41
Family: Wife, Abigail, and young children Levi, Reid and Lucy.
Current or prior elected office: No current or prior elected office positions but served on the Irondequoit Zoning Board of Appeals and the town's Community Development Block Grant Committee.
Professional experience: Worked as a teacher in the West Irondequoit Central School District and coached junior varsity softball in the East Irondequoit district before transitioning to a career in government, previously working for Monroe County and now employed by the New York State Department of Labor.
What is the most important issue facing residents in Irondequoit, and what would you do about it if elected?
“Without a doubt, one of the biggest challenges facing Irondequoit residents today is affordability. Young families and seniors alike are feeling the strain of rising costs — from utility bills and groceries to home repairs and essential care for their families. These pressures are affecting household budgets and, ultimately, the quality of life in our community.
“As a Town Councilmember, I will make affordability and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars a top priority. That means working to keep taxes flat, examining spending, and ensuring that every financial allocation delivers meaningful value to our community. It also means working collaboratively with partners at the town, county, state, and federal levels to identify resources and programs that can help offset costs for Irondequoit families and seniors.
“Residents work hard for their money, and they deserve a town government that works for them. My goal is simple: responsible budgeting, greater accountability, and a better return on every hard-earned tax dollar for the residents of Irondequoit.”
Why should voters choose you over your opponent?
“I am a third-generation Irondequoit resident, husband, and father of three children who attend Irondequoit public schools. I’m proud to live and raise my family in the community that shaped me. After graduating from Irondequoit High School, I earned dual master’s degrees in education and public administration from SUNY Brockport.
“As a career public servant, I have worked across education, public health, and workforce development. I began my career as a health and physical education teacher, later served Monroe County as an assistant public health representative focused on STD/HIV prevention and control, and currently work for the New York State Department of Labor as a business services representative, helping businesses across Monroe County with recruitment and human resources solutions at no cost. I also serve as the Division 278 Council Leader through the New York State Public Employees Federation.
“For more than a decade, I have volunteered on community boards throughout Irondequoit, giving me a firsthand understanding of both the opportunities and challenges facing our town. I’m a collaborative, solutions-oriented leader who will work with the Town Board and current administration to enhance affordability, improve quality of life, invest in community development, and ensure our community has the resources needed to remain safe and strong.”
Dan Gaiteri
Dan Gaiteri (R) is running for a seat on the Irondequoit Town Board for a term ending in 2028.
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What is the most important issue facing residents in Irondequoit, and what would you do about it if elected?
Why should voters choose you over your opponent?
Kathryn J. Walker
Kathryn J. Walker (WF) is running for a seat on the Irondequoit Town Board for a term ending in 2028.
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What is the most important issue facing residents in Irondequoit, and what would you do about it if elected?
Why should voters choose you over your opponent?
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Who's on my ballot in Irondequoit? Election 2026 candidates
