NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Incumbent Robert Restaino has won the Democratic primary race for Niagara Falls mayor, overcoming challenges from two other candidates.
Restaino earned 45.25% of the vote according to the unofficial results from the Niagara County Board of Elections.
It was enough to defeat former city council member Glenn Choolokian who earned 34.51% and community activist Demetreus Nix who garnered 19.87%.
Restaino ran on avoiding tax hikes and fiscal responsibility, noting his back-to-back budget surpluses as well as efforts to hold property developers accountable.
Before the polls closed, 2 On Your Side photojournalist Ben Read asked Mayor Restaino what grade he'd give the City of Niagara Falls, to which Restaino responded by putting his hand over the camera lens and walking off.
"I think I'm done," Restaino said.
The full interview with Restaino lasted only a minute of which half was the unusual exchange.
2 On Your Side requested interviews with each of the candidates Tuesday.
Glenn Choolokian did not respond, however, Demetreus Nix the activist and ex-con who once killed a man did.
"The people has been forgotten like we want to fix the streets but we want to fix the same streets that we're scared to ride down," Nix said.
Nix focused his campaign on getting new and young voters to the polls and amassed a following after initially starting the campaign as a joke.
"We got a housing crisis going on where the rents is going through the roof where nobody can afford to live here anymore...I'm trying to bring change," he added.
Despite losing on primary night, Nix will be on the ballot in November with his We All We Got or WAWG independent party line.
Two Niagara Falls voters told 2 On Your Side they were motivated to vote specifically because of the mayoral primary.
"I'm all about change and positivity and everything like that that's what I am all about," said Katrina Thomas.
"That's the reason that I'm here to get my vote in for the best candidate," Thomas Packer said.
Mayor Restaino's Democratic primary win sets up a matchup with Republican candidate Carl Cain who will look to unseat Restaino in the November election.