CANANDAIGUA, NY — One new face will join Canandaigua City Council when the new year starts.
But the makeup of the nine-member council will be even more decidedly Democratic than it already is.
Newcomer John “J.T.” Squires was among the top four vote-getters for four open at-large seats on City Council, according to unofficial results Nov. 4 from the Ontario County Board of Elections.
After several weeks of knocking on doors and talking with residents, “I’m very excited to get started working for the people of Canandaigua,” said Squires, a Democrat.
Incumbent Democratic Councilmembers Gwen Van Laeken, Doug Merrill and Sim Covington Jr. led the way with 1,633, 1,625 and 1,534 votes, respectively, after the polls closed election night. Squires received 1,517 votes.
Merrill and Van Laeken won full four-year terms this time around; last year they ran successfully to fill out the remaining terms of two former councilmembers.
Councilmember Thomas Lyon, whose term of office ends Dec. 31, defeated Mayor Bob Palumbo, the only Republican on Council, for a four-year mayoral seat.
Republicans Jadon Hoffman and Ron Ouimette also ran for two of the at-large seats, receiving 1,110 and 977 votes, respectively.
Mike Murphy covers Canandaigua and other communities in Ontario County and writes the Eat, Drink and Be Murphy food and drink column. Follow him on X at @MPN_MikeMurphy.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Canandaigua City Council shifts further left as Democrats sweep at-large seats
Reporting by Mike Murphy, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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