Richard C. David
Richard C. David | |
---|---|
Mayor of Binghamton, New York | |
Assumed office January 1, 2014 | |
Preceded by | Matthew T. Ryan |
Personal details | |
Born |
Pittsford, New York | May 14, 1976
Political party | Republican |
Education | Allendale Columbia School |
Alma mater |
St. John Fisher College (B.A.) Binghamton University (M.P.A.) |
Richard Claude "Rich" David (born May 14, 1976) is an American politician and current Mayor of Binghamton, New York.
Education and early career
David graduated from Allendale Columbia School in 1994. He then attended St. John Fisher College where he studied communications and political science. While at St. John Fisher College, David worked as a production intern at a local television station.[1][2]
In 1998, David moved to Binghamton to start his career in journalism as a general assignment reporter for WBNG-TV. While covering local politics, he met then-Mayor Richard A. Bucci and became interested in public service. In 2000, Bucci appointed David as City Hall's Director of Community Relations, a position in the Mayor's Office that handled public information, media relations and constituent communications.[1]
In 2002, David received his Master of Public Administration from Binghamton University while working at City Hall.[3]
In 2004, David was appointed Deputy Mayor, a position that provides professional support and advises the Mayor in all matters related to the daily operation of city government. In 2006, David left local government as the term-limited Bucci administration came to an end. He was hired as public affairs officer at SUNY Broome Community College.[1]
In 2008, David and his development firm Confluence Enterprises completed work restoring a historic downtown Binghamton building into a loft apartment where David now resides, investing $250,000 in the revitalization effort. In subsequent years, Confluence Enterprises has invested in various real estate holdings and businesses in Binghamton.[4]
Mayoral campaigns
2009
David first ran for Mayor of Binghamton in 2009, attempting to unseat incumbent Matthew T. Ryan. In the general election, David ran on the Republican and Conservative lines against Ryan, who ran on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines, and third-party candidate Douglas Walter Drazen. David came in second place in the three-way race.[5]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Matthew T. Ryan | 4,206 | 40.34% | N/A | |
Republican | Richard C. David | 3,589 | 39.24% | N/A | |
Independence | Douglas Walter Drazen | 1,798 | 20.42% | N/A | |
Working Families | Matthew T. Ryan | 406 | 40.34% | N/A | |
Conservative | Richard C. David | 366 | 39.24% | N/A | |
Independent | Douglas Walter Drazen | 261 | 20.42% | N/A | |
Turnout | 10,080 | N/A | |||
2013
In 2013, four years after he had lost to Ryan, David again ran for Mayor of Binghamton. In the Republican primary, David received 939 votes—61 percent—beating challengers Douglas Walter Drazen with 433 votes and Edward Hickey with 164 votes.[6] In the general election, David beat Democratic Binghamton City Councilwoman Teri Rennia and was elected Mayor of Binghamton.[5]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Richard C. David | 4,074 | 52.98 | N/A | |
Democratic | Teri Rennia | 4,206 | 46.19 | N/A | |
Conservative | Richard C. David | 666 | 52.98 | N/A | |
Turnout | 8,946 | N/A | |||
Mayoralty
David was sworn into office as Mayor of Binghamton on January 1, 2014.[7]
Law enforcement
One of David's major campaign promises was to increase the number of officers in the Binghamton Police Department which had been cut by 14 percent during the Ryan administration. David restored seven officers in his first year in office.[8]
Infrastructure
In 2014, Binghamton's $7 million infrastructure plan improved more than 11 center line miles of city streets. In 2015, city was set to receive 15 miles of street improvements as part of a $8 million plan.[9]
In 2015, David initiated a $4 million plan to convert the city's roughly 7,000 streetlights to LED technology.[10]
Budget management
As part of David's push for municipal budget stability, his first budget included a 0.48 percent residential property tax increase, the second-lowest increase in 17 years.[11][12]
Workplace discrimination and harassment
As a result of workplace discrimination and harassment, the entire Planning Division staff of four professional civil servants resigned from their employment with the City of Binghamton between October 2014 and May 2015. Staff had been reprimanded for reporting harassment by Jennie Skeadas-Sherry, Mayor David's appointed Director of Planning, Housing, and Community Development. Skeadas-Sherry then left City employment in February 2015, after serving for nine months in that position, reportedly to "pursue other interests".[13] The New York State Division of Human Rights conducted an investigation upon receiving a complaint from the former Senior Planner. The Division of Human Rights determined in December 2015 that probable cause existed to believe that the David Administration engaged in unlawful discrimination, and that case is now being scheduled for a public hearing before a State administrative law judge.[14]
References
- 1 2 3 Robinson, David. "Rich David: Binghamton mayoral candidate goes 'back to basic'". pressconnects.com. Press & Sun-Bulletin.
- ↑ Rahman, Tania; Wilson, Geoffrey. "Binghamton Mayor Rich David comes to campus, discusses his ascent to city hall". bupipedream.com. Binghamton University Pipe Dream.
- ↑ "Meet Rich David, Republican candidate for Binghamton mayor". Retrieved 21 July 2015.
- ↑ "More revitalization in downtown Binghamton".
- 1 2 "Broome County Board of Elections" (PDF).
- ↑ "Broome County Board of Elections" (PDF).
- ↑ "David takes oath for Binghamton Mayor".
- ↑ "An early look at Mayor Rich David's State of the City address".
- ↑ "State of the City: 'Binghamton is back in the game'".
- ↑ "First LED streetlight bulbs go up in Binghamton".
- ↑ Howe, Steve. "David pushes for budget stability in Binghamton". pressconnects.com. Press & Sun-Bulletin.
- ↑ "David proposes Binghamton budget with 0.5% tax increase". pressconnects.com. Press & Sun-Bulletin.
- ↑ "Former City Planning Department Employees Question Binghamton's Harassment Probes". TWC News. Retrieved 2016-03-12.
- ↑ "Discrimination case against city headed to hearing". Pressconnects. Retrieved 2016-03-12.