TWO MONTHS AGO… PLATTSBURGH MAYOR CHRIS ROSENQUEST ANNOUNCED HE WASN’T SEEKING A 2-ND TERM AS MAYOR. WANTING TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THIS FAMILY. ROSENQUEST HAS NOW CONFIRMED TO US…THAT HE WANTS TO CONTINUE SERVING IN CITY POLITICS. ON THE CITY’S COMMON COUNCIL. NBC5’S BENNY NEZAJ JOINS US LIVE TO TELL US WHAT HIS PLANS ARE. BENNY? BRIAN AND LIZ, AFTER ANNOUNCING HE WASN’T GOING TO RUN AGAIN, THE MAYOR SAID HE WASN’T SURE WHAT HIS POLITICAL FUTURE WOULD LOOK LIKE… BUT NOW THERE’S A POSSIBILITY IT MAY CONTINUE AFTER DECLARING A RUN FOR THE CITY’S WARD 3 SEAT AGAINST THE INCUMBENT. THE 2024 ELECTION IS HEATING UP IN THE LAKE CITY. AS OUTGOING MAYOR CHRIS ROSENQUEST IS LOOKING TO UNSEAT INCUMBENT WARD 3 COUNCIL MEMBER ELIZABETH GIBBS. ROSENQUEST WAS FIRST ELECTED AS MAYOR IN 2020, AND HAS OVERSEEN VARIOUS INFRA- STRUCTURE PROJECTS IN THE CITY. THEY INCLUDE THE DEMOLITION OF THE CRETE CENTER AND LAST YEAR’S MARGARET STREET CONSTRUCTION PROJECT . ELIZABETH GIBBS HAS BEEN ON THE COUNCIL SINCE 2019. ROSENQUEST SAYS HE WANTS TO TAKE HER PLACE ON THE COUNCIL SO HE CAN STAY INVOLVED IN CITY AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC POLICY. <MAYOR CHRIS ROSENQUEST (D) PLATTSBURGH “I LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO BE ABLE TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THROUGH THIS WORK. AND THAT’S WHAT I’M LOOKING TO CONTINUE TO DO.”> <áááVO WITH STILLááá> COUNSELOR GIBBS WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR AN INTERVIEW BUT DID PROVIDE NBC5 A STATEMENT, SAYING THAT SHE’S RUNNING AGAIN FOR HER COUNSEL SEAT BECAUSE SHE’S COMMITTED TO MAKING PLATTSBURGH AN AFFORDABLE, INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY FOR ONE MORE TERM. SUNY PLATTSBURGH IS IN WARD 3 AND ROSENQUEST SAYS HE WANTS TO CONTINUE HIS STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL AS COUNCIL MEMBER AND HELP THE UNIVERSITY GROW… BUT ALSO SAYS IT’S IMPORTANT FOR ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LOOK AT ISSUES THAT IMPACT THE CITY AS A WHOLE. <MAYOR CHRIS ROSENQUEST (D) PLATTSBURGH “THE CITY COUNCILORS OBLIGATION AND JOB IS TO LOOK AT THE CITY AS A WHOLE, NOT JUST FOCUS ON THEIR OWN WARDS, NOT JUST FOCUS ON THEIR OWN CONCERNS, BUT ALSO LOOK AT WHAT WHAT AS A CITY COUNCILOR CAN YOU DO TO IMPACT THE BETTERMENT OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE.”> BUT IN HIS FINAL MONTHS AS MAYOR, HE PLANS ON CONTINUING HIS WORK ON THE INFRA- STRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY BUT WON’T PURSUE NEW INITIATIVES FOR THE CITY. <MAYOR CHRIS ROSENQUEST (D) PLATTSBURGH “I AM A LAME DUCK ADMINISTRATION AT THIS POINT, AND THAT’S FINE. I WHAT I WHAT I WILL SAY IS I’M NOT LOOKING TO ADD NEW INITIATIVES. I’M NOT LOOKING TO EXPAND ON IDEAS THAT WE HAVE HAD AND THAT WE ALSO NEED AS WELL.”> THE CLINTON COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS HAS CONFIRMED THAT ROSENQUEST HAS RECIEVED ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO FORCE A PRIMARY BETWEEN HIM AND FELLOW DEMOCRAT GIBBS. THE PRIMARY WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 25TH WITH EARLY VOTING BEGINNING ON JUNE 15TH. LIVE IN THE PLATTSBURGH STUDIO. BENNY NEZAJ. NBC5 NEWS NEW TONIGHT AT 6. THE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE IN PLATTSBURGH SENDING NBC5 A STATEMENT SAYING COUNCILOR GIBBS IS THEIR ENDORSED CANDIDATE, ADDING THEY FULLY BELIEVE SHE IS THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE JOB. ADDING QUOTE: “She has been a great
Plattsburgh Mayor Chris Rosenquest explains why he’s running for the city’s Ward 3 seat
Rosenquest announced in February that he would not seek reelection for mayor
Plattsburgh Mayor Chris Rosenquest, who previously announced he wouldn’t seek a second term as mayor, has confirmed his intention to continue serving in city politics. Rosenquest told NBC5 his desire to run for the City’s Common Council, aiming to unseat incumbent Ward 3 council member and fellow Democrat Elizabeth Gibbs.Elected as mayor in 2020, Rosenquest has overseen various infrastructure projects in the city, including the demolition of the Crete Center and last year’s Margaret Street construction project. His decision to pursue a council seat stems from a desire to stay involved in city affairs and public policy.”I like the opportunity to be able to shape the future of our community through this work. And that’s what I’m looking to continue to do,” Rosenquest said. Gibbs, who has served on the council since 2019, expressed her commitment to her council seat, emphasizing her dedication to making Plattsburgh an affordable, inclusive, and sustainable community for another term.While SUNY Plattsburgh falls within Ward 3, Rosenquest aims to maintain a strong relationship with the university as a council member and contribute to its growth. However, he underscores the importance of council members addressing issues that impact the city as a whole, not just their respective wards.”The city councilor’s obligation and job are to look at the city as a whole, not just focus on their own wards, not just focus on their concerns, but also look at what, as a city councilor, can you do to impact the betterment of the city as a whole,” Rosenquest said.In his final months as mayor, Rosenquest plans to continue his work on ongoing infrastructure projects but does not intend to pursue new initiatives for the city, acknowledging his status as a lame-duck administration.The Clinton County Board of Elections has confirmed that Rosenquest has gathered enough signatures to force a primary between him and fellow Democrat Gibbs. The Plattsburgh Democratic Committee has endorsed Councilor Gibbs, expressing confidence in her candidacy and highlighting her advocacy and invaluable contributions to the community.The primary is scheduled for June 25, with early voting commencing on June 15.
Plattsburgh Mayor Chris Rosenquest, who previously announced he wouldn’t seek a second term as mayor, has confirmed his intention to continue serving in city politics.
Rosenquest told NBC5 his desire to run for the City’s Common Council, aiming to unseat incumbent Ward 3 council member and fellow Democrat Elizabeth Gibbs.
Elected as mayor in 2020, Rosenquest has overseen various infrastructure projects in the city, including the demolition of the Crete Center and last year’s Margaret Street construction project. His decision to pursue a council seat stems from a desire to stay involved in city affairs and public policy.
“I like the opportunity to be able to shape the future of our community through this work. And that’s what I’m looking to continue to do,” Rosenquest said.
Gibbs, who has served on the council since 2019, expressed her commitment to her council seat, emphasizing her dedication to making Plattsburgh an affordable, inclusive, and sustainable community for another term.
While SUNY Plattsburgh falls within Ward 3, Rosenquest aims to maintain a strong relationship with the university as a council member and contribute to its growth. However, he underscores the importance of council members addressing issues that impact the city as a whole, not just their respective wards.
“The city councilor’s obligation and job are to look at the city as a whole, not just focus on their own wards, not just focus on their concerns, but also look at what, as a city councilor, can you do to impact the betterment of the city as a whole,” Rosenquest said.
In his final months as mayor, Rosenquest plans to continue his work on ongoing infrastructure projects but does not intend to pursue new initiatives for the city, acknowledging his status as a lame-duck administration.
The Clinton County Board of Elections has confirmed that Rosenquest has gathered enough signatures to force a primary between him and fellow Democrat Gibbs.
The Plattsburgh Democratic Committee has endorsed Councilor Gibbs, expressing confidence in her candidacy and highlighting her advocacy and invaluable contributions to the community.
The primary is scheduled for June 25, with early voting commencing on June 15.
