This year, Penfield residents will cast their ballots for two local positions: Town supervisor and a town board seat.
The town supervisor will serve a two-year term. Voters will also elect a town board member to finish off the final year of a four-year term. To help inform your vote, we asked each candidate to describe their biggest priority if elected. You'll find their responses below.
Where candidates did not respond, question areas are left blank. The online version of this story will be updated if candidates respond subsequent to online publication.
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.
Who is running for Penfield Town Supervisor?
The candidates are: Kevin Berry (incumbent) and Andris Silins.
Who is running for Penfield Town Board?
The sole candidate for this one-year term is Catherine Dean, who was appointed to the board in January when Kevin Berry became supervisor last year.
Penfield Town Supervisor
Kevin Berry, D, WF (incumbent)
Age: 62
Residence: Penfield
Family: Two sons, two daughters-in law, three granddaughters
Current professional role: Penfield Town Supervisor
Current or prior elected office: Current Penfield Town Supervisor, previously served on Penfield Town Board.
Community involvement: Long-time LGBTQ+ activist. Extensive work with people with barriers, such as disabilities or prior offenses, to secure meaningful community employment. 35+ years in the field of developmental disabilities.
What is the most important issue facing residents in the community you hope to represent, and what would you do about it if elected?
There are several important issues facing Penfield. Picking one, I would say road, traffic and pedestrian safety is the most important issue facing Penfield residents.
My administration is making strides in this area. We are accomplishing this by taking a more comprehensive, data-driven approach to identifying and addressing our most dangerous roads and intersections. I work closely with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office regarding traffic enforcement. We have increased patrols in Penfield, and well over two thousand tickets have been issued in Penfield so far this year. The Town Board recently adopted an Active Transportation Plan, and in keeping with that we added more than two miles of sidewalks this year, and plan to add more next year. We have added crossing guards at every public school in the Town of Penfield this year. We advocate to the state and county Departments of Transportation for improvements and changes to roads under their jurisdiction.
I will continue listening directly to residents about the places where they feel unsafe and taking action. That, along with our Active Transportation Plan and safety approach will help us identify needed immediate improvements and longer-term projects.
My goal is not simply to react after an accident occurs. It is to identify problems before someone gets hurt and make Penfield safer for everyone, including drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, children walking to school and older residents.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent?
Penfield voters should re-elect me because I do more than manage the status quo. I listen to residents, bring people together, solve problems and am preparing our community for the future. I deliver.
During my first year in office, I have expanded communication, including monthly in-person Community Conversations with residents. We have increased the number of Town Board meetings and increased the opportunities for public participation at them.
I have advanced transportation and pedestrian safety as outlined in question one. I am pursuing attainable housing for young families, working individuals, and older people looking to downsize and stay in Penfield. I led the effort to secure Pro-Housing Community certification. This greatly increases opportunities for the town to obtain state grants.
We have begun planning for the future of important town facilities. We also are reviewing and updating our zoning code to ensure that future development is right for Penfield, and to diversify the housing options in town.
I bring more than 30 years of leadership and management experience to the job, along with a deep commitment to serving people and strengthening our community. I am proud of what we have accomplished, but the most important work is still ahead. I am asking for the opportunity to continue that work with openness, accountability, and a clear vision for Penfield’s future.
Andris E. Silins, C
Silins did not respond to multiple messages seeking information about his candidacy.
Penfield Town Board (one-year term)
Catherine Dean, D, WF (incumbent)
Residence: Penfield
Family: Husband and three adult sons
Current professional role: Penfield Town Board member
Current or prior elected office: Previously served on the Penfield Board of Education between 2012-2024, including two years as vice president and three years as president
Community involvement: Various volunteer roles, including school board and George Eastman Museum throughout the years
What is the most important issue facing residents in the community you hope to represent, and what would you do about it if elected?
The most important issue is hard to qualify because there are three that we’ve been focused on: Traffic safety, attainable housing and more ways for residents to be heard. We are working on them through these measures: A traffic study and changes associated with those findings, applying for and receiving Pro-Housing Certification (making us eligible for grant funding) among other things, and increasing the number of meetings and ways to communicate with the board during and after meetings. My colleague Kevin Berry and I are running on these issues.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent?
I do not have an opponent this year. However, I would like voters to feel confident voting for me because of my long standing service to Penfield through my tenure on the Penfield Board of Education, from 2012 through June of 2024. I am able to work collaboratively and effectively with my colleagues and with residents to hear constituent concerns and work together to address the issues that are important to them. I am proud to note that I was appointed to the Penfield Town Board in January and I believe my service on the Penfield school board shows my abilities and dedication to our community, as well as my work during these past eight months.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Who's on my ballot in Penfield? Election 2026 candidates
