Democratic congressional candidate Adam McFadden says he took a different path to politics than his opponents in the primary for New York’s 25th district.

“I was a kid that grew up on Genesee Street in extreme poverty. I had unfortunate events in my life that led me on the wrong path,” McFadden (D) said.

He says with adult intervention, he was able to turn things around and eventually go to college on an academic scholarship.

It was there he first got involved with the Young Democrats of America.

Returning to Rochester, McFadden worked as a financial analyst and a controller for a software company before becoming the executive director of a nonprofit after-school program.

He’s also served on the Rochester City Council for the past 15 years and is currently council vice president.

“I’ve passed a ton of legislation, have worked on a ton of legislation, written a ton of legislation, more than any of my current colleagues,” he said.

Perhaps the position McFadden believes has most prepared him for Washington was his time as president of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials.

He had an office in the capital city, where he worked on policy initiatives and legislation and lobbied members of Congress.

“If we don’t send the right person from Rochester, Rochester could be impacted greatly because it’s a seniority system and whenever you have a seniority system and you’re known as the junior congress member from any place, it’s very difficult to move things around,” said McFadden.

He says his priority issue is unemployment and underemployment.

McFadden says students, particularly in urban and rural areas, are not properly prepared for the Science Technology Engineering and Math-related jobs of the future.

“I want to be on the Education Workforce Committee. I want to work, particularly on setting up the infrastructure to train, not only young people, but I would say displaced workers in those fields because that’s where those jobs are going,” he said.

McFadden says he sees Congress as an opportunity to expand the work he’s already been doing.

For more information on Rochester's congressional race, check out our NY-25 Voters Guide.