Marcus C. Williams

Marcus C. Williams is a Rochester native and community advocate who does not wait for permission to defend his neighbors. Grounded in the belief that government exists to protect rights, not manage people, he has emerged as a leading local voice on public safety, civil liberties, and accountable governance.

Known for doing the work most people only talk about, Marcus drafted and submitted the Rochester Sovereignty Biometric Privacy and Cash Access Act, a proposal designed to curb warrantless surveillance, protect personal data, preserve cash as legal tender, and restore constitutional guardrails at the municipal level. His advocacy focuses on results, not rhetoric.

Marcus champions public safety by demanding both effective policing and real consequences for crime, while rejecting fear-based narratives that divide communities. On education, he supports expanding opportunity through vocational training, charter schools, and on-the-job pathways that prepare young people for real work, not permanent dependency. He is equally committed to economic growth, pushing for job creation, entrepreneurship, and policies that allow small businesses to thrive.

At the heart of his work is housing. Marcus confronts rising rents and collapsing neighborhoods by advocating for affordability, pathways to homeownership, and revitalization that serves residents rather than displacing them.

Marcus C. Williams stands for a simple principle: a city works best when its people are seen, heard, and empowered to shape their own future.