The 56th State Senate seat is up for grabs this election, with incumbent Democrat Jeremy Cooney being challenged by Republican and former Gates Police Chief Jim VanBrederode. 

“I spent 37 years delivering public service to the community,” VanBrederode said. “I was the person delivering the services and I've heard people's complaints and I've seen programs that work and which programs don't work. We need to change the environment right now.”

"I care about Rochester and I believe in the future of Rochester,” Cooney said. “I grew up in the city. I graduated from city schools and I still live in the city today. I want to make sure that their voices are being heard in the halls of Albany.”

The 56th District of the New York State Senate is comprised entirely in Monroe County and includes the towns of Brighton, Gates, Greece, Henrietta and parts of the city of Rochester. Both candidates have had a hand in playing an active role across the community.

“In my role as the chair of transportation, this just happened at the end of June, so this is new for me,” Cooney said. “If I'm re-elected and go back to Albany, I will serve in a leadership role that will allow me to bring a significant amount of dollars back into our community. We also want to make sure that middle-class families, which is the majority of folks here in Monroe County, get a tax break. And that's why I voted last year to create the largest middle-class tax break in 70 years in New York state income tax history.”

“Some officials like myself, who have that law enforcement background, who have seen what programs work, community policing, which, you know, how much of this can we sustain closing all these prisons and jails and just letting everybody out?” VanBrederode said. “It has not been good to our community. I have seen the victims firsthand, the people who have lost their loved ones to murders because of these pro-criminal policies that have let bad people out, that should not be out. And that is my asset right now.”

Cooney says his biggest points of focus will be on improving quality of life and bridging the gap between urban and suburban communities. 

“When you bring different voices to the table, the decision-making table, they're able to make those changes that affect all of us,” Cooney said. “It's about working together to help everyone.”

Whereas Republican candidate Jim VanBrederode wants to focus on cost of living and immigration.

“We're seeing what's happening with the illegal aliens that are in our community, what benefits they're getting,” VanBrederode said. “We still see the veterans on the street corners, people begging for money.”

With several large issues at hand, both candidates have found similarities in their goals — both wanting to address the ongoing issue of crime throughout the area.

“We want to be thinking a little bit more critically about how we empower people,” Cooney said. “I heard a great expression the other day, ‘The best way to stop a bullet is a good-paying job’. So how do we make that promise to Rochester that is not just the minimum wage job, but a job that allows them to live the life that they want for their family?"

“We need to change the environment right now,” VanBrederode said. “There's a lot of uncertainty out there. People are looking for hope. They're a little nervous right now between the economy and the crime and what's going on at the border. And now's the time to see change.”

Emphasizing the importance of voting on Nov 5, the candidates hope residents will be engaged with current and new policies, as well as being part of the change in your community. 

“My biggest message to all these voters is look at there's hope out there. We have hope that that's why I'm running,” VanBrederode said. “There is hope, just standby, work with us, come vote differently. We can change what's going on right now. We do not absolutely have to live with this right now. The state of the state right now is not how we have to live — have hope.”

“I've been very fortunate to grow into leadership in the state Senate,” Cooney said. “We've seen other cities like Buffalo and Syracuse and Albany get bigger projects, get more money to support their communities. Why is Rochester left out? It's important that we have advocates who know our communities, who are at the decision-making table in the Senate majority, who can deliver the funds back to our community because if we don't get it, someone else will.”