GATES REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE
Town Leader
Roger Thaine Jr.
Chairman
Vice Chairman
James VanBrederode
Angelo Ciresi
Treasurer
Clare Goodman
Secretary
Tina Albanese-Stauffer
Join the committee!
2026 CANDIDATES
Here's who will be on your ballot in Gates. Early voting starts October 24, 2026.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026! Find your polling location here.
Gates Town Government
Cosmo A. Giunta was first elected in 2019 after serving the remaining term of former Supervisor Mark Assini in 2018. Previously he served the town residents in the Town Clerk’s Office for 7 1/2. He has over 20 years of private sector experience with companies such as Xerox, Paychex and PAETEC with background that included roles in Consulting, Customer Service, Finance and Operational Management. Cosmo is a life long resident of Gates, graduated from Gates Chili HS in 1987 and a Gates Chili Hall of Fame inductee in 2019. He and his wife NancyMaria have three children and are all Gates Chili graduates. Cosmo experience and background include: Town Supervisor, 2019-Present Monroe County Supervisor Association, Past President, Vice President & Treasurer 2019-2021 Town Clerk and Receiver of Taxes, 2014-2018 Deputy Town Clerk, 2011-2014 Gates Youth Soccer League, Executive Board member (positions including President, VP and Treasurer) Travel Coach (Boys & Girls) 2003-2019 Gates Amita Club and Italian American Sports Club Member St. Theordore’s Church – Parishioner and Active Volunteer
Chris DiPonzio was first elected back in 2007 to the Gates Town Board. He is a lifelong resident of the town and a prominent business owner of DiPonzio Funeral Home, located on Spencerport Rd. He continues to bring his experience from the private sector along with his proven record of public service to the town. He currently serves as the Deputy Town Supervisor Vice-President, DiPonzio Funeral Home Member, National Federation of Independent Business. He has commissioned the Gates Recreation & Parks and has serve as liaison on the Zoning Board of Appeals. He is a member of the Gates Amita Club, the Gates Chili Chamber of Commerce, and the Italian America Sports Club. Sponsor of Gates Youth organizations and sports teams. Chris is a lifelong Gates resident. He and his wife Nancy have two children, Merrill and Tyler.
Steve Tucciarello was elected in 2015 to the Gates Town Board and is liaison to the Zoning Board of Appeals. In 2016 Councilman Tucciarello proposed and had passed a new Gates Town Law dealing with foreclosed and Zombie homes. Prior to Councilman Tucciarello’s election to the Gates Town Board, he represented the community in the Monroe County Legislature for a full ten year term. During his time in the Legislature he served as the Majority Leader, leading the caucus from May 2013 to December 2015 and as Deputy Majority leader from 2010-2013. Steve was Chairman of the Transportation, Planning & Economics Development and Environmental & Public Works Committees. As Legislator, Steve was also a member of the Ways & Means, the Recreation & Education, Intergovernmental Relations, and Agenda Charter Committee. He also was legislative representative on the Monroe County Airport Authority, the 911 Operations Board and the Office of the Aging Council for Elders. Beyond his duties in government, Steve also served on the Board of Directors of the; Westside YMCA and Gates-Chili Chamber of Commerce, and he is a member of Gates Amita, Gates Lions Club and the F.O. Eagles. In the past, Steve has served on the Gates Zoning Board of Appeals from 1994-2005 and as its Chairman from 1998-2005. He was also a member of the Gates Conservation Board and the Gates Town Civil Officer. Steve owns a successful business, Colony Dry Cleaners in Gates on Howard Rd. He and his wife Lynnette are proud parents of two children.
Lee Cordero was elected in 2014 to the Gates Town Board He owned a NASCAR collectibles store in Gates for 15 years and currently owns and operates a lawn, landscape and snow removal business for the past 14 years. He is the chair person founder of the annual Breast Cancer Golf Tournament at Brook Lea Country Club. Councilman Cordero serves as a liaison to the Gates Planning Board as well as the POD (Point of Dispensing) emergency manager liaison for the Town. He and his wife Betty, have been married for 28 years and have been Gates residents all along.
Andrew Loughlin was elected in 2017. Andrew grew up in the neighboring town of Chili, but has resided in Gates since 2010. Andrew is a 2003 Graduate of Churchville-Chili High School, as well as a graduate of MCC and lastly SUNY Cortland where he majored in Criminology. Prior to being elected, Andrew spent several years working in various capacities of the private sector. His employment history includes 17 years of service at a local parks and recreation facility where he was an Assistant Manager. Currently, Andrew is employed as a Deputy with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Andrew also serves as an instructor at the Monroe County Public Safety and Training Facility. Andrew and his wife Lisa were married in 2011. They have three young children. Andrew served on the Chili Parks and Recreation Board and the Gates Planning Board Vice President on the Monroe County Deputy Sheriff Association INC Executive Board. Andrew is a member of The Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Liaison to the Gates Conservation Board, Gates-Chili Chamber of Commerce Member, and Gates Amita Club member.
Peter Pupatelli has been the Gates Town Justice since 2001. He has been a Gates resident for 25 years and is extensively involved in the community. He is a graduate of Aquinas Institute, the University of Rochester and the University of Tennessee Law School. His experience and background include: Current Gates Town Justice Practicing attorney for over 30 years Corporation Counsel Attorney for the City of Rochester Gates Deputy Town Attorney Served on the Town of Gates Board of Assessment Review Served as an Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association Served as an Arbitrator for City Court in the City of Rochester He's a member of St. Theodore’s parish, Gates Amita Club, and the Italian American Community Center.
Frank M. Cassara was elected to his first term in 2018 Town Justice. Frank has been a Gates resident for over 18 years and has worked as an attorney in Gates for over 20 years. He has held several positions as an attorney for the Town, including Town Prosecutor, Zoning Board Attorney, and Town Justice. He believes in fair but firm Justice and he wants to continue as Town Justice so that he can help keep Gates a safe place to live, work, and raise a family. His experience and background include: Appointed to position of Gates Town Justice in January, 2017 Practicing attorney for over 26 years Served as Gates Town Prosecutor Served as Attorney for Gates Zoning Board of Appeals Member of Gates AMITA Member of the Knights of Columbus Parishioner of the Holy Family Parish Co-Chair of the Bishop’s Woman’s Commission
Virginia McIntyre was elected to serve as Monroe County Legislator for the 4th district in 2023. She is currently running for Congress.