A re-energized Democratic Party came out in force during its June 15 caucus to overwhelmingly nominate Ryan Davis as its candidate for town supervisor.
Davis, 45, launched his bid for town supervisor in April and had already been endorsed by the independent Right for Phelps party. The lifelong resident of Phelps received 84 out of 91 caucus votes to earn the Democratic Party nod.
“The support was overwhelming,” said Davis. “It just shows that there is a lot of people interested in seeing something new. They are hungry. They are looking for a choice and they are looking for a change.”
The Democratic Party caucus was held in front of a packed gymnasium at the Phelps Community Center. Registered Democrats in attendance were allowed to ask questions of the candidates and cast votes for whom they want to appear on the Democratic Party ticket in November’s election.
“The Phelps Democratic ticket is led by Ryan Davis,” said John F. Hurley, Ontario County Democratic Committee chair. “His years of experience and commitment to the community make him ideally suited to take on the challenges of the next generation of town leadership. As the Ontario County Democratic Chair, I am proud to stand with Ryan and all Phelps Democrats.”
Democrats also endorsed David Lord and Dan Laurenza for Town Board.
“I am very pleased with the enthusiasm that is being generated for the campaigns of Ryan Davis, David Lord, and Dan Laurenza,” said Eileen Cooley, Phelps Democratic Party Chair. “They are building a coalition of Democrats, Independents and moderate Republicans and offer choice in the Town of Phelps. I am most comfortable when citizens are offered choice in an election.”
Davis, the son of a Vietnam War veteran, is a graduate of Midlakes High School and SUNY Geneseo. He has a long record of service to the community, from volunteering with the American Legion Seeley B. Parish Post 457 to working with several youth sports programs and providing key support of the “Midlakes Strong” community chicken barbecue that fed hundreds of local families at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The union electrician has also served as an officer of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 840 and is in his eighth year on the Board of Education of the Phelps-Clifton Spring Central School District.
In addition to receiving cross-party support in his bid for Phelps town supervisor
He plans to continue to take his message to voters of all backgrounds much in the same way he’s reached out to Democrats.
“It’s a lot of old-fashioned work,” he said. “We made phone calls. We knocked on doors. We got our message out that transparency in government leads to educated decisions and involvement in the community helps build a more inclusive vision of what the future of Phelps will look like.”
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