"Hello, Ray Wayman, candidate for city council ward 1.

So, I grew up in Pennsylvania as a in a Christian conservative home, and my parents taught me about honesty and gratitude and humility, and they always taught me to speak the truth no matter what and no matter what the consequences.

so after leaving my hometown at the young age of 18, I joined the Air Force, and I spent 10 years serving my country as a structural repair specialist. I was in during Desert Storm and Desert Shield, and I’ve earned two Air Force Commendation medals and out three outstanding unit awards.

following my honorable discharge, I continued to serve my country for another 22 years in federal law enforcement with US Customs and Border Protection. I spent some time as an officer right on the front lines helping secure the homeland, and then I transitioned to a position in commercial operations, and over the course of my career I helped recover over a hundred million in unpaid tariffs from companies attempting to evade their obligations.

So I’m married. I have three children. they all are have left home now, so I have time to dedicate to being your city councilor.

I’ve always lived by two principles. If you always do what you’ve always done, you always get what you’ve always got. So, I don’t believe in doing things one way because we’ve always done it that way. I seek out change, and I want to find it to do things more efficiently and better. And principle number two is take action. You can’t just complain all the time about everything. You have to take action. You find solutions, you find the right people to talk to, and you take some action to resolve those problems.

so some principles I’d like to have is I’d like to see some transparency and economic development. I’d like to see the fairgrounds revitalized if we can come to a conclusion with that. I’d like to see smart growth and accountable development. I really want to see some financial responsibility. I want to spend your tax dollars wisely. I want to see our schools be strong and supported and have everything they need for so students can have the best outcomes. I want to see a a vibrant downtown, see new businesses coming in, and see the downtown flourish. And I also want to plan for the day when waste management money is no longer coming in and we need to replace those tax dollars.

So, thank you. I appreciate your vote on November and vote for Ray Wayman, Ward One."

Notes:

The Public Information and Community Engagement Office for the City of Rochester is pleased to announce that the Meet the Candidates video series is now available for viewing ahead of the upcoming Municipal Election.

The nonpartisan series introduces voters to candidates for Mayor, City Council, School Board, and Police Commission. Each candidate was given up to three minutes to speak directly to voters, share their priorities, and present their personal message.

To ensure fairness and transparency, all videos were recorded live in a single take, without edits, hosts, or predetermined questions.

The views and opinions expressed in the following video are those of the candidate and do not necessarily reflect the views of the City of Rochester, its elected officials or staff. The content is presented as part of a public information effort to provide equal opportunity for all candidates to address the community.

Transcript was taken directly from the GovTV website closed captioning. AI added bold/italic fonts for emphasis and separated paragraphs where appropriate.

In this survey, the candidate answered the following questions:

• "Why are you running?"
  
  

• "Do you support the city’s tax cap and for what, if any, reasons would you support going over it?"
  
  

• "How can Rochester ease the burden on residential property taxpayers?"
  
  

• "How can the city further the affordability and availability of housing? Do you support efforts in the state legislature aimed at reducing local control of zoning rules and regulations?"
  
  

• "What can Rochester do to attract new small businesses and support the small businesses already in the city?"
  
  

• "Rochester purchased the old Care Pharmacy and nearby properties for more than $3.3 million. Do you agree with this purchase and what should Rochester do with the property it now owns?"
  
  

• "Short-term and long-term, what should the mayor/council do about the growing homeless population in Rochester?"
  
  

• "The Legislature has empowered cities to create “social districts” where outdoor drinking of alcoholic beverages is allowed. Do you support bringing social districts to Rochester?"
  
  

• "What else would you like voters to know about you?"

You can view the survey by clicking here.

Throughout my life, I have lived by two principles that continue to guide me today:

1. “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”
   I believe we should never accept “the way it’s always been” as the best way forward. I strive to find better, more efficient solutions, and I will bring that same approach to my work as a City Councilor.

2. Take action.
   Complaining doesn’t solve problems—action does. My approach is to identify the issue, gather the facts, and work with the right people to create solutions that are practical and achievable. On City Council, I will ask tough questions, seek input, and work collaboratively to move Rochester forward.

Land purchases and tax incentives are long-term investments. Residents deserve clear communication and data showing how these decisions pay off over time. I will push for better explanations, historical results, and realistic projections to ensure taxpayers see the value in these efforts.

The fairgrounds sit at the heart of our city and represent untapped potential for economic growth. While this has been a longstanding issue, I believe it is worth revisiting with a fresh perspective. I would like to see RAMA reach its full business potential, bringing benefits to both Rochester residents and local businesses.

Rochester is growing rapidly, with new subdivisions and developments across the city. I want to ensure our subdivision regulations are current, our planning is wise, and developers are held accountable to community standards. Collaboration with the Planning Board and Department of Public Works will be key to this effort.

The city’s unassigned account balance must be managed carefully. It should not be viewed as a “slush fund,” but rather as a reserve used sparingly and strategically—especially as a safeguard in case of a true emergency or disaster.

A thriving community depends on strong schools. I will work closely with the School Department to ensure they have the resources and support needed to give every child the best opportunity to succeed.

We must continue attracting quality businesses to our downtown to make it a destination where people want to shop, dine, and gather. A strong downtown is the heartbeat of any thriving city, and I will support efforts to make Rochester’s center a place residents are proud of and want to support.

Rochester must be proactive in preparing for the day when Waste Management is no longer part of the city’s economic landscape. I will push for careful, long-term strategies to ensure we can replace that revenue and continue providing essential services without overburdening taxpayers.

I am running for City Council because I care deeply about Rochester’s future. I am committed to serving the people of this city—not climbing the political ladder. I have no interest in running for state office; my focus is solely on addressing local issues and making Rochester a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

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