City must be 'business friendly' to fix broken downtown

Don Barnes (Courtesy photo)

Editor's note: This week prior to Tuesday's election The Rochester Voice has published the answers to a questionnaire we sent out to all mayoral candidates. Here is the fourth and final featuring challenger Don Barnes.

After a brief synopsis of the candidate's biographical info, the questions will follow.

Profession: Technician, and project manager for Safran Aero Space Composites, Rochester

Family: My family consists of my partner Denise, and my two children Andrew and Katie who are attending university in New York and Vermont. My dad and sister are longtime residents of the Concord area.

Political history: I have been observing politics from the sideline since the Reagan era and would like to bring a fresh, common sense, conservative, working man's point of view to the office of the Mayor.

Why do you want to be mayor?

To help Rochester fix and improve our city for the benefit of all its citizens.

What do you think Rochester's biggest challenge is?

I believe that revitalizing the downtown district is Rochester's biggest challenge followed by the opioid crisis in a close second. I believe that in many ways the two issues go hand in hand.

What is one specific remedy that could help our foundering downtown?

I would begin by insuring that existing city ordinances and regulations regarding the downtown area are "business friendly" and will attract viable businesses to Rochester and allow them to thrive here.

How would you describe your philosophy of government?

My philosophy of government is very simple: I favor a smaller, less intrusive government that can efficiently provide necessary services for and acts in the best interest of the citizens, and will allow those citizens to prosper.

Where do you stand on Keno? And why?

I am not in favor of Keno in Rochester. I do not believe that we can gamble our way to kindergarten prosperity on the back of a game of chance taking place in our restaurants and taverns.

As mayor what will your first specific priority be?

My first order of business would be to create a scholarship fund for graduating Spaulding High School seniors seeking higher education and donate my entire salary as Mayor to said fund.