A Republican incumbent faces a challenge from a Democratic opponent for Pittsford town supervisor.
Because New York state has moved town elections to even-numbered years starting in 2026, this is the second-consecutive year Pittsford residents have voted for town supervisor.
To help inform your vote, we asked each candidate to describe their biggest priority if elected. You'll find their responses below.
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 Pittsford Town Supervisor?
Max Gordon and William A. Smith.
Max Gordon
Max Gordon (D, WF)
Age: 33
Family: Wife, Meghan, and two young
sons, Miles and Maverick.
Occupation: Owns several local businesses, including The Hideaway, Bar Bantam, The Penthouse and Fare Catering.
Previous political experience: Gordon has never held elected office and is running for the first time.
What is the most important issue facing residents in Pittsford, and what would you do about it if elected?
“I think the biggest issue facing Pittsford is making sure we are planning for the next 20 years, not simply managing budget to budget.
“Pittsford is a great place to live, and we have a lot to be proud of. But maintaining what we have requires us to think ahead. We have aging infrastructure, roads and sidewalks that need investment, employees we need to retain and fairly compensate, and families and seniors who are increasingly concerned about the cost of staying here.
“As supervisor, I would bring a more proactive approach to those challenges. That means responsible budgeting, but it also means aggressively pursuing county, state, and federal funding so we're bringing Pittsford residents' tax dollars back home instead of asking local taxpayers to shoulder every investment on their own.
“I would work with our partners at every level of government to expand the resources available to Pittsford, reinvest in our infrastructure and workforce, and make decisions based on where we want this community to be twenty years from now, not simply how we get through the next budget cycle.”
Why should voters choose you over your opponent?
“I grew up in Pittsford, and now my wife and I have the privilege of raising our two children here. Pittsford is a special place to call home, and I'm deeply invested in making sure it remains that way for the next generation.
“My opponent has been town supervisor for more than a decade. I respect his service, but I believe Pittsford needs a different approach to leadership: one that is more proactive, more collaborative, and more focused on the challenges we're going to face over the next twenty years.
“I’m a small business owner. I manage budgets, make difficult decisions, plan for the future, and understand that you can't solve every problem by doing things the way they've always been done.
“As supervisor, I’ll work with our Town Board and with partners in county, state, and federal government to bring more resources back to Pittsford. I’ll focus on long-term planning, reinvesting in the people and infrastructure that make this town work, and making sure residents have a government that listens to them and communicates openly.
“I’m running because Pittsford has given my family so much, and I want to make thoughtful decisions that protect what makes our community special while building a strong future for the generations that come after us.”
William A. Smith
William A. Smith (R, C)
Age: 71
Current or prior elected office: Current Pittsford Town Supervisor since 2014. Previously held positions as Pittsford Town Justice (2011-’12), Monroe County Legislator for Pittsford (1996-2007) ― including serving as the Legislature Majority Leader between 2001-’07, and a Pittsford Town Board Member (1996).
Professional experience: Attorney-at-law, practicing corporate and securities law from 1984 to retirement in 2013.
William A. Smith (Republican, Conservative) was first elected Pittsford Town Supervisor in 2013 and re-elected in subsequent races. He also is running on the Conservative Party line.
What is the most important issue facing residents in Pittsford, and what would you do about it if elected?
“Our residents are concerned about the cost of living. As supervisor, I’ve made controlling costs a priority and will continue to do so. … Mitigating the effects of higher costs of living means controlling expenses, expanding housing choices, pursuing outside funding and close financial management, day-to-day. That’s what I’ll continue to do.
“By law, the supervisor prepares the town budget. I reduced the town tax rate in stages by 9%. Since then, I’ve held the rate flat, with no increase. We’re now on track for a fifth consecutive year without a tax-rate increase.
“Our new zoning code protects the character of existing neighborhoods while encouraging a broader range of housing choices. ... It provides more options for residents to downsize and stay in Pittsford when they retire. I’m working to reduce builders’ carrying costs by streamlining the approval process to reduce the cost of new housing.
“Under my leadership, Pittsford holds a perfect, Triple-A credit rating. It means we pay the lowest interest rate when we finance projects. Pittsford is the only town of our size in the United States to have a perfect credit rating.
“In 2019, I launched the town’s refuse district program. Collection is competitively bid and provided under contract with the town. Residents in refuse districts currently pay $261.58 for the entire year. This is half or less than half of what they paid before. Trash-truck traffic in their neighborhood is reduced to one day a week. We’ll continue to expand the program to extend savings to more residents."
Why should voters choose you over your opponent?
“I bring 12 years experience as town supervisor, preceded by 29 years as a practicing attorney. As supervisor I’ve maintained a perfect credit rating for Pittsford — Triple A. We’re the only town in upstate to have it and the only town of our size in the United States to have it.
“Because I became supervisor after completing my professional career, I can devote all of my time, without distraction, to the much-more-than-full-time job of supervisor. I can work as supervisor without having to run a business at the same time.
“My record as an environmental leader began with my role in enacting Pittsford’s Greenprint Plan, which permanently preserved two-thirds of the town’s open farmland and protects it from development into the future. As supervisor I initiated creation of the Erie Canal Nature Preserve from Town-owned land that was scheduled for development.
“I respect the wishes of the people of the town to protect Pittsford’s unique character and to pass it on to the generations ahead, as we proceed with initiatives for continual improvement. With our Town Board I’ve demonstrated my ability to work successfully and cordially with people of any political party, to keep Pittsford safe, financially strong, resilient and one of the very best places to live.”
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Who's on my ballot in Pittsford? Election 2026 candidates
