(Rochester, N.Y.) – Opponents of mayoral control of the City School District question whether City Council President Lovely Warren can balance the interests of her constituents and her boss.
Warren is the Chief Legal Counsel for Assemblyman David Gantt, who is strongly in favor of the city take over the school system.
Warren also supports mayoral control, telling 13WHAM News after her swearing-in, “I'm actually in support of Mayoral Control. I think that it's the definition of insanity, that we continue to do the same things over and over again and we continue to get the same results.”
“It's not likely that Lovely Warren would oppose anything that David Gantt wants to do or go against him, and this issue in particular - mayoral control - she absolutely has taken the exact same position that he's taken,” said Howard Eagle, a former school board candidate and activist who is against mayoral control.
“Her conflict is over and over the top,” said school board member Willa Powell. “It is not going to be clear to the public whether she is speaking for herself or on behalf of her employer. I think she needs to recuse herself.”
Nazareth College political science professor Dr. Timothy Kneeland said it’s very common – on both sides of the aisle - in Monroe County politics for elected officials to have day jobs on the staffs of other elected officials.
“The public doesn't seem to have a problem with that. They do tend to validate that by electing these individuals,” Kneeland said.
Warren said she did not have time for an on-camera interview, but told us over the phone, “The public elected me knowing I work for David. I'm an independent thinker. David does not impose his feelings on me. There are times we agree. There are times we disagree.”
Warren said she has removed herself from all work relating to mayoral control in Gantt’s office. “I’m removing myself because it’s the right thing to do.” Warren said she would not have any role in drafting state legislation authorizing mayoral control, saying it’s expected to come from the governor’s office.
Warren said that although City Council is reviewing the mayor’s takeover plan, it will not take a vote on mayoral control. But Powell said if council was opposed to the city absorbing the school district, the plan would likely not go anywhere.
Kneeland said transparency is important in avoiding conflicts of interest. He said, ultimately, the public is Warren’s boss.
“Her boss - the public - will have to determine whether she carried out her duties in the assigned task.”
