West Bloomfield residents go to the polls in the 2026 general election to choose between Town Board member Cristy Mulherin and challenger Matt Ebeling.
Mulherin is running on the Republican and Good Governance party lines. Ebeling is running on the Democratic and Common Ground party lines.
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. 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 Ontario County election results as they become available at democratandchronicle.com.
Meet the candidates
Cristy Mulherin, R, GG
- Age: 48
- Residence: West Bloomfield
- Family: She is married to her high school sweetheart, Manus Mulherin, and together they have one daughter who is currently in college.
- Previous political experience: "I currently serve as a member of the West Bloomfield Town Board. While I am relatively new to elected government, I have always had a strong interest in how government works and how good local government can directly improve a community."
- Job: "I began my career as a fifth-grade science teacher. When I made the decision to homeschool my daughter, I continued working in education through several part-time roles, including ESL teacher, standardized test scorer and question developer, science curriculum writer, and substitute teacher in our local schools. Throughout my career as an educator, I have also successfully applied for and received multiple competitive grants. I am currently completing the SUNY Academic Advising Certificate program and hope to begin the next chapter of my career working in college academic advising."
- Community involvement: "Locally, I have volunteered with Foodlink, Lollypop Farm, and a variety of other community efforts. During COVID, my family sewed hundreds of masks for nurses at Strong Memorial Hospital. We also participated in a multi-year volunteer effort to establish a community dog park, contributing many hours to different aspects of the project."
Matt Ebeling, D, CG
- Age: 63
- Residence: He has lived in North Bloomfield since 2000, but lived in Honeoye Falls and Lima between 1993 and 1999.
- Family: Ebeling has a wife, Kathleen, a son, Ethan and a daughter, Sally, who both graduated from the Honeoye Falls-Lima Central School District.
- Previous political experience: "This is my official foray into running for political office," Ebeling said.
- Job: He is a special education teacher at the Finger Lakes Secondary School, part of Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES. He has worked as a coordinator or technology services at BOCES and was an instructor at the SUNY Geneseo School of Education.
- Community involvement: "North Bloomfield Chapel Restoration Group (current), West Bloomfield Democratic Committee (current), Residents for West Bloomfield Committee (current), Wayne-Finger Lakes Regional Scripps Spelling Bee Lead Judge (current), Honeoye Falls-Mendon (HF-M) Youth Baseball Coach (previous), HF-L Basketball Instructional League (BIL) Coach (previous), St. Paul of the Cross Catechist/Sunday School Teacher (previous)."
Cristy Mulherin, R, GG
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 biggest challenge facing West Bloomfield is one our residents understand well: rising costs. Increasing prices for energy, equipment, supplies, and services affect nearly every decision our Town Board makes. I believe keeping West Bloomfield affordable requires more than simply reviewing a proposed budget. I have been working closely with our Town Supervisor and department heads to improve financial reporting so we can better track year-over-year trends, compare budgeted expenses with actual spending, and identify opportunities for savings. I regularly connect with our Highway Superintendent, Town Supervisor, and Town Clerk to dig into the numbers, ask questions, and understand where taxpayer dollars are going. My goal is straightforward: protect essential town services while making responsible, informed decisions that keep costs and taxes as low as possible."
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
"Over the past 10 months, I have had the privilege of serving on the West Bloomfield Town Board, and I believe my record demonstrates the energy, experience, and commitment I bring to the position. I have worked to establish stronger financial reporting and controls, giving the Board better information to make responsible decisions with taxpayer dollars. I was a principal author of our new 25-page local law regulating solar development, helping move forward an issue that had been unresolved for years. I have also made learning this job a priority. The Town has invested in my education, and although training is not required for Town Board members, I have completed several full-day training events and courses on municipal budgeting, land use, planning and zoning, solar development, and other issues directly affecting our town. I have strengthened relationships between our Town Board and our fire departments and community organizations. It’s more than just listening, it’s about doing. I already have a record of putting in the work and getting things done."
Matt Ebeling, D, CG
What is the most important issue facing residents in the community you hope to represent, and what would you do about it if elected?
"An important issue facing our community is open, clear, and timely communication from the Town Board regarding issues that impact us. If elected, I would strive to improve transparency and community education regarding the decision-making process."
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)
"I will bring a different viewpoint than my opponent. My experiences as a special education teacher, coach, and Sunday school teacher have given me the opportunity to work with a wide variety of community members and viewpoints. I want to leverage these experiences and knowledge to provide a fresh point of view as our town plans for the future."
—Madison Scott is a New York Connect reporter, covering entertainment, breaking and consumer news, and trending topics with a focus on stories that matter to readers across New York state. She also has an interest in how the system helps or doesn't helpfamilies with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@USATodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Who's on my ballot in West Bloomfield? Election 2026 candidates
