A member of the Canandaigua City Council has announced his candidacy for the 54th State Senate District currently held by Pamela Helming.
Michael Mills, a Democrat, has represented Ward 1 on the Canandaigua City Council since January 2024. He previously led the Geneva Business Improvement District and is a graduate of Hobart College.
Mills released the following statement in announcing his campaign:
New York’s Finger Lakes region is an extraordinary place. It is home to beautiful landscapes perfect for exploring, a booming tourism industry fueled by our renowned wine and beer makers, farms that feed our state and the country, and a reemerging manufacturing and logistics sector that delivers everything from consumer merchandise to optics equipment for solar system exploration.
We have challenges too, like affording groceries and rent, access to quality education and health care, and securing the funds to repair aging infrastructure or protect our natural resources, lakes and waterways. And our way of life is threatened by decision makers and businesses who exploit the Finger Lakes as a waste dump, crypto mine, and energy source that powers the rest of the state (and Canada) but not our homes and communities.
That’s why, with wholehearted support from family and friends, I am running for New York State Senate District 54.
This district is not immune to the partisan divide currently cleaving America. But I believe that our residents, and Americans generally, want the same thing: an on-ramp to hope and opportunity for themselves and generations to come. I am committed to spending the next 18-plus months traveling Senate 54 and listening to residents of all parties and backgrounds to learn their dreams and needs, and to become their champion in Albany once elected in November 2026.
I am uniquely positioned to understand, address, and advocate for the issues facing the Finger Lakes and New York State. I am a proud son of the Rochester region and graduate of Hobart College in Geneva who returned home to build a life with my wife Audrey and our preschool son Lewis in the “Chosen Spot” of Canandaigua.
My career in policy and economic development across sectors (agriculture, technology, retail, finance, and environmental sustainability) at local, state, federal, and international levels – and experience as an elected Canandaigua City Councilmember – prepares me to hit the ground running for our region.
I look forward to sharing more news in the coming weeks and months, hosting a few kickoff events, and having kneecap-to-kneecap conversations with you. I am enthusiastic about the campaign ahead and committed to the hard work it will require.
Today, I hope you will help launch my campaign with a financial contribution. Your early support will ensure we have the tools necessary for victory. Join our people-centered movement. Pull Together Now to ensure the Finger lakes has a strong, unifying voice in Albany.
A native of the Rochester area, Mills is the second candidate to enter the race for his party’s nomination. Palmyra resident Scott Comegys announced his campaign last week.
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