VoterLens
New York State Assembly District 137
Medaille College—MBA Business Administration; Medaille College—B.S. Business Administration; Monroe Community College—A.A.S., Liberal Arts; University of Rochester William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration—Jensen Landmark-Scherr Leadership Program
Data last updated 10/21/2026
Mercedes Vazquez-Simmons is a native Rochesterian, lifelong Rochester resident, local business owner, and Monroe County Legislator for District 22. Her campaign biography describes approximately forty years of community service and advocacy, thirty years of middle and upper management in the private sector, and ten years as a local business owner with an international presence; her Assembly campaign identifies her as Vice-President of the Monroe County Legislature and an elected NYS Democratic Committee Representative for Assembly District 137.
Committee Assignments: Human Services Committee - Vice Chair · Ways and Means Committee · Public Safety Committee
No specific New York State Assembly District 137 campaign healthcare platform for Mercedes Vazquez-Simmons was found on her 2026 campaign site; her campaign lists Affordability, Public Safety, and Education as priorities. Her Monroe County Legislature record shows support for public health, mental health, hospital staffing, emergency preparedness, disease prevention, and maternal/infant health initiatives.
Specific Actions & Proposals
As Vice Chair of the Monroe County Legislature Human Services Committee, Vazquez-Simmons moved acceptance of a National Association of County and City Health Officials grant for the Medical Reserve Corps Capacity Building Program, which was adopted 9-0.
SourceVazquez-Simmons moved acceptance of Health Research, Inc. funding for the Expanded Partner Services Initiative, which was adopted 9-0 by the Human Services Committee.
SourceVazquez-Simmons moved authorization of a contract for marketing services for Monroe Community Hospital's Nurse Aide Training Program, which was adopted 9-0.
SourceVazquez-Simmons moved authorization of contracts to provide temporary respiratory therapy staff at Monroe Community Hospital, which was adopted 8-0.
SourceVazquez-Simmons moved agenda items including increasing the Rochester General Hospital contract for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis and accepting additional New York State Department of Health funding for the Early Intervention Program, both adopted 9-0.
SourceMercedes Vazquez-Simmons’s campaign for New York State Assembly District 137 frames economic issues around affordability for working families and seniors, including rising housing costs, utility bills, taxes, and everyday expenses. In her current Monroe County Legislature role, she also took committee action on an employment recruitment and retention advertising campaign.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Her Assembly District 137 campaign says she will fight rising housing costs, utility bills, taxes, and everyday expenses that pressure working families and seniors.
SourceNo dedicated immigration platform for Mercedes Vazquez-Simmons's 2026 New York State Assembly District 137 campaign was found on her campaign site; her campaign lists affordability, public safety, and education as priorities. Her public record as Monroe County Legislature vice president shows support for immigrant legal protections, oversight of local law-enforcement contact with federal immigration agencies, and scrutiny of public ties to an airline conducting ICE deportation flights.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Vazquez-Simmons was listed among Monroe County legislators urging Congress to pass the Access to Counsel Act of 2025 to protect people interacting with the immigration system at ports of entry and ensure access to legal representation.
SourceWXXI reported that Legislature Vice President Mercedes Vazquez Simmons signed a Jan. 29 letter asking about planning, roles, and responsibilities related to federal immigration enforcement and Border Patrol contacts.
SourceVazquez-Simmons and Legislator Rachel Barnhart submitted a request to review Monroe County's financial agreements with Avelo Airlines after Avelo agreed to operate deportation flights for ICE.
SourceLocal reporting stated that Vazquez-Simmons joined a formal request to determine whether public funds or incentives had gone to Avelo and whether the county could pressure the airline to cut ties with ICE deportation flights.
SourceMercedes Vazquez-Simmons has a documented record and stated positions supporting climate action, energy efficiency/weatherization, and cleaner transportation while serving in Monroe County government and campaigning for New York State Assembly District 137. Her climate-and-energy positions emphasize reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, expanding alternative-energy transportation options, and supporting programs such as Rochester ENergy Efficiency and Weatherization.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Vazquez-Simmons was listed among Monroe County legislators submitting a resolution urging state implementation of clean-energy measures including zero-emissions equipment, electric municipal transit assistance, and making electric vehicles more affordable.
SourceHer campaign record lists a letter of support and advocacy for RENEW, the Rochester ENergy Efficiency and Weatherization program, which helps income-qualified Rochester homeowners obtain safer, healthier, more energy-efficient homes.
SourceIn a Reconnect Rochester candidate questionnaire, Vazquez-Simmons said Monroe County should work toward goals in alternative-energy transportation options for vehicles and public transportation to reduce transportation-sector emissions.
SourceMercedes Vazquez-Simmons identifies Education as one of three core priorities in her 2026 campaign for New York State Assembly District 137. Her stated education position is to support schools where every child can succeed regardless of ZIP code, with resources and support for teachers, parents, and students.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Vazquez-Simmons states that she will fight for an education system giving every child the opportunity to succeed, regardless of ZIP code, with resources and support for teachers, parents, and students.
SourceHer campaign record says all 29 Monroe County legislators enacted the Monroe County School Bus Stop Arm Demonstration Program to help ensure the safety of student bus riders.
SourceMercedes Vazquez-Simmons's public-safety platform for New York State Assembly District 137 emphasizes safe neighborhoods through effective public-safety strategies, stronger law-enforcement/community relationships, prevention, and opportunities for young people. Her record and statements also show support for targeted enforcement tools in some circumstances, youth conflict-resolution programming, and community consultation before public-safety emergency measures affecting local businesses.
Specific Actions & Proposals
On her 2026 Assembly District 137 campaign site, Vazquez-Simmons states that everyone deserves to feel safe and supports effective public-safety strategies, stronger relationships between law enforcement and the community, and investments in prevention and opportunities for young people.
SourceAfter fatal shootings in Rochester, Vazquez-Simmons urged aggressive anti-crime measures including a curfew and National Guard presence, while also calling for programming, job creation, and services as part of a multifaceted prevention approach.
SourceDuring her Monroe County Legislature reelection campaign, Vazquez-Simmons emphasized that public safety must go beyond policing, including a community-wide response to violence and crime, consequences for youths who break the law, and government work with young people.
SourceVazquez-Simmons criticized Rochester's use of a safety-related emergency closure request for North Clinton Avenue businesses after the Puerto Rican Festival because officials had not first discussed how to protect businesses and the community with those businesses.
SourceMercedes Vazquez Simmons for LD22
https://www.mercedesforld22.com/aboutFetched: biography, education, location
Mercedes 2026 - Record of Accomplishments
https://www.mercedes2026.com/about-2Fetched: biography, committees
Transparency USA - Mercedes Vazquez Simmons - New York Candidate
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/candidate/mercedes-vazquez-simmons?filer=mercedes-2026-569523Fetched: campaignFinance
Rochester Beacon
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2026/06/04/gop-showdown-in-the-130th/Fetched: endorsements
Blue Voter Guide
https://bluevoterguide.org/district/NY/New_York_State_Assembly_District_137/37976/564Fetched: endorsements
Monroe County Legislature Human Services Committee agenda and minutes, May 21 2024
https://www.monroecounty.gov/etc/legftp/Website/Agendas%20%26%20Minutes/Human%20Services/2024-05-21/Agenda.pdfFetched: issuePositions
Monroe County Legislature Human Services Committee agenda and minutes, November 26 2024
https://www.monroecounty.gov/files/legis/Agendas%20%26%20Minutes/Human%20Services/2024-11-26/Agenda.pdfFetched: issuePositions
Monroe County Legislature Human Services Committee agenda and minutes, December 17 2024
https://www.monroecounty.gov/files/legis/Agendas%20%26%20Minutes/Human%20Services/2024-12-17/Agenda.pdfFetched: issuePositions
Monroe County Legislature Human Services Committee agenda and minutes, December 16 2025
https://www.monroecounty.gov/files/legis/Agendas%20%26%20Minutes/Human%20Services/2025-12-16/Agenda.pdfFetched: issuePositions
Monroe County Legislature Human Services Committee agenda/minutes
https://www.monroecounty.gov/files/legis/Agendas%20%26%20Minutes/Human%20Services/2024-10-22/Agenda.pdfFetched: issuePositions
Monroe County Legislature referrals PDF
https://www.monroecounty.gov/files/legis/Referrals%2C%20Resolutions%20%26%20Local%20Laws/Referrals/25-0145%20-%2025-0192.pdfFetched: issuePositions
WXXI News
https://www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2026-04-20/new-sheriff-directive-restricts-who-can-call-border-patrolFetched: issuePositions
Spectrum News
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc%20/charlotte/politics/2025/04/17/avelo-airlines-draws-criticism-over-deportation-flight-contract-with-iceFetched: issuePositions
Rochester La Voz
https://www.rochesterlavoz.com/post/avelo-airlines-under-fire-for-ice-deportation-flights-rochester-leaders-call-for-county-reviewFetched: issuePositions
Monroe County Climate Action Plan Advisory Committee
https://www.monroecounty.gov/des-climate-committeeFetched: issuePositions
Monroe County news release on Climate Action Plan
https://www.monroecounty.gov/news-2022-09-15-climateFetched: issuePositions
Monroe County Legislature referrals PDF
https://www.monroecounty.gov/files/legis/Referrals%2C%20Resolutions%20%26%20Local%20Laws/Referrals/22-0255%20-%2022-0278.pdfFetched: issuePositions
Reconnect Rochester voter guide
https://reconnectrochester.org/tag/voter-guide/Fetched: issuePositions
Monroe County Legislature referral packet
https://www.monroecounty.gov/etc/legftp/Website/Referrals%2C%20Resolutions%20%26%20Local%20Laws/Referrals/25-0053%20-%2025-0089.pdfFetched: issuePositions
Monroe County Legislature referral packet
https://www.monroecounty.gov/files/legis/Referrals%2C%20Resolutions%20%26%20Local%20Laws/Referrals/24-0264%20-%2024-0278.pdfFetched: issuePositions
Spectrum News 1 Rochester
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/rochester/news/2022/07/25/monroe-county-legislator-calls-for-city-of-rochester-to-take-aggressive-anti-crime-measuresFetched: issuePositions
WXXI News
https://www.wxxinews.org/2023-06-27/monroe-county-legislature-election-district-22-jessie-parson-mercedes-vazquez-simmonsFetched: issuePositions
CitizenPortal.ai Monroe County Legislature minutes
https://citizenportal.ai/source/9159127/minutesFetched: issuePositions
Spectrum News 1 Rochester
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/rochester/public-safety/2025/07/29/rochester-cites-safety-concerns-in-issuing-closure-order-for-n--clinton-ave--businesses-following-puerto-rican-festivalFetched: issuePositions