ROCHESTER, N.Y. — James Smith may only be the next mayor of Rochester for a month, but he says he’s prepared.

“I think we're ready to take this on,” he said. “We have an incredibly capable workforce in city government who answer the call every day and we're going to continue to do that. And I think we are prepared.”

Smith, currently Rochester’s deputy mayor, will take over when Mayor Lovely Warren steps down on Dec. 1.

“I signed up for this and when I signed up for it, I signed up for all of it,” he said. “I believe I have a duty and I intend to carry that out, and I plan on doing what I've always done: just going to work every day and joining my fellow city employees and getting the getting the work done to serve our community.”

As the highest appointed official of the administration, the deputy mayor acts on the mayor’s behalf in her absence, assists the mayor in day-to-day operations and has direct oversight of all city departments. He also serves as the city government liaison to Rochester’s LGBTQ+ community.

A 1987 Greece Arcadia graduate, Smith brings years of experience to the table – he has served many government roles, including director of communications for both Rochester and Monroe County and was the county manager in Seneca County.

Smith attends events with or on behalf of the mayor. When he holds the position, he will be mayor for a month.

“The tenure of my mayoralty will be a short one, and I don't expect that it's going to be one that you'll, you know, see a lot of sweeping policy changes or anything like that,” Smith said.

“The one thing I want to say, though, is I don't intend to put my feet up and just ride this out. I intend to make sure that we keep city government running and operating and are serving the public.”

Smith will be tasked with running the city and helping to get City Hall through leadership transitions.

 “Also part of my, you know, part of my tasks and really the second thing I have to focus on, in addition to the operation city government, is making sure we do everything we can for a smooth transition in January, so that our city can continue to move forward,” Smith said.

Malik Evans enters in January.

“I've been a part of some meetings with Councilman Evans’ transition team,” Smith said. “I've had the opportunity to talk with him. And, you know, my objective has been as deputy mayor and it will be on December 1, and going to the end of the year, to work with him any way possible to make sure that that transition is successful and that he's successful, because his success will be the success for our city and all of us live in the city.”

The deputy mayor says he has learned an awful lot from the sitting mayor, and speaks very highly of Lovely Warren.

“I work with the mayor. I have a lot of respect for the mayor. She's family,” Smith said. “And so, you know, I really enjoyed the opportunity to work alongside her. She's taught me an awful lot and I think she's accomplished great things for our city, and that's something I know I will never forget and I'm well aware of what she's done.”

This mayor to be is looking forward.

“The brightest days are ahead, as they always have been for our city,” said Smith.