Warren easily wins second term, promises to 'see the job through'

Mayor Lovely Warren secured a second term on Tuesday night to "see the job through," she said, while calling on her election opponents to join with her in the work ahead.

"It's truly my honor to stand here as the first woman mayor of our city," she told a cheering crowd at the downtown Holiday Inn, "and now as the first woman mayor re-elected."

The mayor won with 60 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results — a margin similar to her primary win. Hers was the most crowded field since Robert Duffy first won election in 2005; her three opponents the most an incumbent Rochester mayor has faced since the city began directly electing its mayor in 1985.

Warren faces a big year ahead, expecting to push forward a mixed-use project anchored by a performing arts theater at Midtown's Parcel 5. Development on the eastern Inner Loop should get underway. She has pointed to development in Bull's Head on West Main Street as a priority for her second term. And police section offices should cement the department reorganization that was a hallmark of her first campaign.

In winning re-election, Warren bested two challengers in the Democratic primary, taking 61 percent of the vote, then cruised to victory Tuesday over three general election opponents: Republican and Monroe County Legislator Tony Micciche, Green Party candidate Alex White, and independent candidate Lori Thomas.

Warren received 17,751 votes, according to unofficial tallies. Micciche, her nearest challenger, got 5,504. Micciche did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

More:Voters send Evans, Lightfoot, Gruber to City Council; incumbents re-elected

More:Two incumbents and newcomer win Rochester city school board seats

Voter Jeremy Lane, casting his ballot on North Winton Road, said the general election seemed “more pro forma,” and he was expecting a Warren win. Enrolled Democrats outnumber all other registered voters in the city almost 2:1. White was not impressed.

"She was going around saying everything is fine, we are on the right path. Apparently people bought that," White said, while adding that he will continue to work on city issues but against corporate tax breaks and loans. 

Latest election results from Rochester area

He said what is regrettable in this election is that progressives mobilized by the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign did not win. So while Democrats cheered, galvanized by Donald Trump, White said, he doubted the results would truly energize the electorate: "We continue to get the same old, same old."

More:After big primary win, Mayor Warren urges Rochester Democrats to heal party

Her margin of victory was twice that of 2013, and better than her predecessor Thomas Richards' special election victory in 2011. But she has yet to match the popularity of Robert Duffy or even William A. Johnson Jr. who routinely carried at least 70 percent of the vote, records show. As some evidence of the division that still exists, her Democratic primary opponent, who did not campaign in the general election, still got 14 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results.

But on Tuesday night, it was a celebration, as Democrats won in town, city and county races. Several, including Warren, spoke of teamwork, calling the night a team effort.

Constitutional Convention: New York voters say 'no'

Warren thanked her supporters and "a city that has, for four years, dared to believe."

"We are here to see the job through because our citizens believe," she said. "They believe in our vision, and they believe in our record."

BDSHARP@Gannett.com

Includes reporting by staff writer Meghan Finnerty.

Todd Baxter unseats Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn

Andreatta: The exact moment Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn lost his way

Democrats make gains in some Monroe County suburbs

Democrat Howard Maffucci prevails in County Legislature race

Election Day 2017 turnout exceeds expectations