CANANDAIGUA — This Ontario County town’s Democratic Committee has unveiled a full slate of candidates for the November elections, endorsing candidates for town supervisor and two town board seats.
“This is our opportunity to gain balanced representation on the current all-Republican Town Board,” said Jodi Kaufman, chair of the Canandaigua Town Democratic Committee. “Our candidates will deliver an open government that works for all town citizens.”
The Democratic slate:
• Don Cotter, candidate for town supervisor.
• Bobby Ellis Jr., candidate for Town Council.
• Scott Hall, candidate for Town Council.
Cotter, a 26-year resident of Canandaigua, brings a long history of managerial experience in the corporate world in a variety of locations, including London. He holds a bachelor’s degree in management science from the University of California at San Diego, and he and his wife of 36 years, Donna, have two adult children who both attended Canandaigua schools.
Cotter said he is interested in giving back to the community, which led him to co-found two local businesses, Naked Dove Brewing Co. in Hopewell and CDGA Coffee Co. (which donates a portion of its income to local nonprofits). He has served as president of the Canandaigua Farmers Market for four-plus years.
Ellis, who hails from a small town near Atlanta, and his wife, Nichole, have been Canandaigua residents since 2016. As the owner/operator of his DJ company, Charismatic Entertainment, Ellis has displayed a talent for building relationships within the community. He works full-time with the Youth Advocate Program in Wayne County, mentoring young people, and donates his time in Ontario and Wayne counties connecting disadvantaged families to services, while also volunteering at Canandaigua Academy as part of their BBSU-Black and Brown Student Union.
Ellis said he looking forward to bringing his strong faith and community engagement skills to the board.
Hall spent most of his youth in Monroe County and enlisted in the US Navy after graduating from high school. He is a Desert Storm veteran and served another eight years in the Navy Reserves while earning an engineering degree in packaging science from RIT.
He worked as a packaging engineer for FDA-regulated pharmaceutical and medical device companies, gaining experience in meeting federal regulations. He owned and operated a 15-room inn with his wife, Nicole, on an island in Maine. During that time, he served as president of the local water utility board.
The Halls relocated to Canandaigua three years ago, having always loved this area, Scott said. In addition to his full-time job, Hall has started a small business.
