Up next: The race for Mayor

After results are in from voting tomorrow, the focus will be on next November’s Niagara Falls Mayoral election. Here’s a wrap up so far (there may be other candidated not mentioned here. Reach out if you have insight:

Incumbent

Mayor Robert Restaino: Likely to run for a third term. He presents the city budget at 5 p.m. today at city hall. The critics are out there but the city’s finances are in good order. His Achilles heel is the perception he doesn’t communicate with the council and his steadfast support of multi-purpose event center.

Democratic Challengers

John Caso: retired DPW leader. The first to announce. Has great experience. His daughter greeted his announcement by calling him an absent father on social media. Well regarded by city employees and the Italian community.

Donta Myles: Former councilmember. Attends and speaks at every meeting. Lost his job when Restaino cut funding to Community Missions a few years ago.

Ezra Scott Jr.: Former council member. Spent the last few years in Albany serving an Empire State Fellowship and working for the Public Service Commission. Was home for a few weeks and threw social media bombs at Sean Mapp in his run for Niagara County Legislature against 4th District incumbent Jeffrey Elder. 

Jeffrey Elder: Ran for mayor previously before running for legislature and defeating Owen Steed. May consider a run if he loses to Mapp.

Republican Challengers

Carl Cain: Retired police officer. Did not really run a vigorous campaign 4 years ago and lost to Restaino by 206 votes even though he did not have the support of the police union.

Vincent Cauley: Engineer in his first full term on council. Tireless campaigner. Outspoken critic of Restaino. Questions everything all the time.

Sean Mapp: Entrepreneur. Tireless campaigner. Community activist. May consider a run if he loses to Elder.