This year, Fairport village residents will cast their ballots for mayor and three trustee positions on the village board.
Current Deputy Mayor Heidi Woika is running unopposed for mayor. A total of six candidates are up for three trustee seats. Two of the seats will have a four-year term; one will have a one-year term.
To help inform your vote, we asked the candidates about their priorities and why voters should choose them. 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. and 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 Fairport Village Mayor?
Heidi Woika
Heidi Woika, D, WF
What is the most important issue facing Fairport residents, and what would you do about it if elected mayor?
As I complete my third year on Village Board, and second year as Deputy Mayor, the issue that most affects residents in the Village of Fairport is the same issue that people are struggling with across the country: Affordability and quality of life. We are already moving forward with actions we can take at the village level. Our zoning code has been updated to include opportunities for increased sustainability, re-use and repurposing of existing structures, while focusing on continued walkability, place making and green spaces. We are pursuing outside funding for projects to ease the burden on residents and to always ask the question ― is this what’s best for Fairport?
You are running unopposed. Why should voters still support your candidacy, and what are your priorities for the next term?
As mayor I plan on continuing investing in infrastructure, responsible and transparent budgeting and prioritizing walkability, bikeability, green spaces and sustainability opportunities.
I believe that supporting Democrats up and down the ballot will allow us to continue to make Fairport stronger while preserving our identity and preparing for a future all residents can be proud to call home.
Who is running for Fairport Village trustee?
There are three Republicans and three Democrats in the race.
Incumbents Adam Bonosky and Sarah Nazarian, both running on the Democratic and Working Families lines, are competing with Republican/Conservative challengers Paul Keitz and Ian Winner for two seats with a four-year term.
Democrat and Working Families candidate Matthew Brown, a previous trustee, will face off against Jason Rinaudo, running on the Republican and Conservative lines, for a single seat with a one-year term.
Fairport Trustee (four-year terms)
Adam Bonosky
Adam Bonosky, D, WF (incumbent)
What is the most important issue facing residents in the community you hope to represent, and what would you do about it if elected?
Fairport has been on an upward trajectory over the past eight years. This does not happen by mistake, and it certainly does not mean we coast or stop striving. An affordable cost of living and maintaining a high quality of life are two important issues in Fairport. We have delivered on these, and I will continue to do so while bringing more to the table if elected to another term.
Our village should continue to be a place with quality services while maintaining affordability. I will keep up our investment in infrastructure while minimizing the impacts of double-digit rising costs on our residents. I will also seek ways to enhance our housing options for current and future residents, enabling young families to grow here while residents in their golden years can age in place.
We have made great strides in quality of life, but there is more to do. I will continue to spearhead our recent Planning by Doing initiative, finding ways to make crosswalks even safer, slow traffic speeds, and bring more art to our village. I will maintain efforts with my colleagues to find and establish more public spaces while enhancing what we have, ensuring that everyone in the village benefits from Fairport’s upward momentum.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I am a licensed architect, certified planner, and small business owner with nearly 20 years of experience working on projects around the United States. I have worked on local- to state-level projects spanning street designs to new communities to smart growth guides. I have seen what makes places vibrant, and I have helped them achieve this by combining data-driven information with community collaboration. I have also taught various planning topics and serve on several planning and design boards and committees. As an elected official, I bring this real-life experience and approach to the Village Board.
Having grown up outside the village, I moved back with my wife and son after living in Boston and Miami. Fairport is fantastic. At the same time, the world that we live in has challenges that impact us all. My son is now 10. I want to look at him when he is older and show that we didn’t punt and leave the work for him and his generation; that we took the bull by the horns and left something worthwhile. We can keep Fairport on the rise while meeting these challenges. This motivation, combined with my background, is why I am running for re-election for Trustee in Fairport.
Paul Keitz
Paul Keitz, R, C
What is the most important issue facing residents in the community you hope to represent, and what would you do about it if elected?
Village finances. Decisions on zoning, development and the budget will shape Fairport for decades. I've sat through Village Board meetings and watched residents' voices get lost along the way. That has to change. I'll push for a transparent budget, real opportunities for resident input, and decisions that make financial sense for taxpayers while preserving the historic character that makes Fairport home.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I'm a mechanical engineer with more than 36 years in environmental restoration, managing projects and budgets from a few thousand dollars to millions. My work comes down to listening, planning carefully and delivering results. My wife and I have called Fairport home for 15 years. I'm not a politician, and I don't answer to a party. I'll listen first, stay transparent and put taxpayers at the center of every decision.
Sarah Nazarian
Sarah Nazarian, D, WF (incumbent)
What is the most important issue facing residents in the community you hope to represent, and what would you do about it if elected?
Fairport is thriving, which is thrilling to be part of every day. The challenge becomes how to encourage continued growth and vitality while maintaining services for residents and creating an affordable village for everyone; that takes a lot of forms. At a time when prices are increasing, residents need to know the services their taxes pay for will be there. I'm also committed to making Fairport Village an affordable place to live for anyone regardless of circumstances. As a current Trustee, I'm currently exploring innovative "plan by doing" with the board. These examples represent why affordability ― in all its iterations ― is my primary focus and will continue to be in my next term.
While affordability makes the top of the list, I'm excited to work on initiatives toward safety, sustainability, and walkability. Safety will always be paramount, we need to protect our environment, and we need to ensure the village remains the pedestrian destination it already is. Fairport Village already excels in these areas, but as leaders, we can always do better for our residents.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I moved to Fairport Village in 1998 and had a front-row seat for the village's evolution over nearly three decades. As a recently retired teacher, I now have the proper time to devote to the trustee position. I raised my kids here and felt lucky they grew up in a community like Fairport Village. Serving as a trustee allows me to make a contribution back to the community that raised our family.
As a high school English teacher for 33 years, I know a lot about communication. People don't always agree, which is good for discussion. But whether a village resident and I agree or not, it's my job to represent them. I want to hear ideas, feedback, and complaints; that's how real work gets done. I'm similarly focused on creating a more collaborative relationship with the Perinton Town Board. The town and the village share a lot, so the more fluid our communication becomes, the better it is for residents.
Most simply and most importantly, I love Fairport Village and it would be an honor to continue to serve as a Village Trustee for the next four years.
Ian Winner
Ian Winner, R, C
What is the most important issue facing residents in the community you hope to represent, and what would you do about it if elected?
Fairport's success has outpaced its planning. Our downtown is thriving, but the utilization of volunteer boards to analyze traffic, utility and parking impacts in these decisions, and the resources to sustain our growth haven't kept pace. Our police department remains understaffed, with officers stretched thin. As trustee, I'll work hand in hand with the Fairport Police Chief to fully staff the department. I'll also ensure the Fairport Fire Department and Perinton Ambulance have the support they need. A busy village and a safe village should go hand in hand.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I've called Fairport home for 15 years, and my wife and I are raising two young children here. As Co-Chair of Canal Days, I work every year with volunteers, businesses and neighbors to showcase our Village. I'm running with a coalition of residents from every political background who agree it's time for a change. No party agenda. Just focused on Fairport.
Fairport Trustee (one-year term)
Matthew Brown
Matthew Brown, D, WF
What is the most important issue facing residents in the community you hope to represent, and what would you do about it if elected?
In our current economy, affordability is absolutely the top issue facing our residents. With the actions of the federal government causing spikes in the prices of everything from gasoline to groceries far beyond what could have been predicted, it falls to local governments to rein in costs while still providing the day-to-day services on which residents have come to depend.
As trustee, I would look to partner with town- and state-level partners to access grants and consolidate services where available to help to ease this burden, while still making sure the streets are plowed, the sidewalks repaired, and Fairport remains the desirable, walkable village that it has become. Affordability also means making sure there are housing options available for people of all economic abilities; I would pursue continued review and updating of our zoning code to ensure that Fairport has room for retirees, for families and for young people just entering the workforce.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
A 20-year resident of Fairport, I bring with me four years of experience on the Village Board (2018-2022), three of which I spent as deputy mayor. During that term, I am proud to have shepherded the village through the twin challenges of the COVID pandemic and the prolonged loss of the use of the Liftbridge in Fairport's main artery. I served on the financial committee, ensuring our budget was being utilized properly to the benefit of all citizens. I championed Fairport's Collectively Composting program, which every month keeps 2 tons of organic material from entering the landfill. I served as chair of the Tree Board, overseeing care and planting of our village forest, and also as chair of the Sustainability Committee, which updated Fairport's sustainability plan.
I have forged excellent working relationships with elected officials at the town, county, state and federal levels, both those representing Fairport as well as in neighboring districts. And, in my day job, I have spent two decades as a family doctor attending the good people of Rochester's 19th Ward, supplementing this work in clinics that specialize in care for the homeless and in addiction medicine. Fairport is the home I have chosen, and I am proud of the progress that has been accomplished over the past 8 years, as well as my part in it; I look forward to continuing that work as a re-elected Village Trustee.
Jason Rinaudo
Jason Rinaudo, R, C
What is the most important issue facing residents in the community you hope to represent, and what would you do about it if elected?
Balancing growth with the quality of life that drew us here. More activity brings opportunity, but also traffic, rising costs and new pressures on our neighborhoods. I'll support responsible growth that works hand in hand with our local businesses, keep the cost of living front of mind, and ensure residents are heard before big decisions are made.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I've been a Fairport homeowner for 14 years and a Fairport Music Festival volunteer for eight. I own a family tile business that has served the Rochester area for decades. I stepped in to run it when my father fell ill, and I learned what it means to make tough decisions and keep your word. Fairport needs a fresh perspective. This is a one-year seat, and I'll make every day count.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Who's on my ballot in Fairport? Election 2026 candidates
