Violetta De Rosa

Violetta De Rosa (Working Families Party, Democratic Party) ran for election to the Albany Common Council to represent Ward 7 in New York. De Rosa (Working Families Party) lost in the general election on November 2, 2021. She lost in the Democratic primary on June 22, 2021.

De Rosa completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Violetta De Rosa was born in Montreal, Canada. De Rosa earned a bachelor's degree from Concordia University in 1993. Her career experience includes working as an educator.^[1]

Elections

2021

General election

General election for Albany Common Council Ward 7

Sergio Adams defeated Violetta De Rosa in the general election for Albany Common Council Ward 7 on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sergio Adams (D)	65.9	464
	Submit photo	Violetta De Rosa (Working Families Party)	33.4	235
		Other/Write-in votes	0.7	5

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 704
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Albany Common Council Ward 7

Sergio Adams defeated Violetta De Rosa and Brian Scavo in the Democratic primary for Albany Common Council Ward 7 on June 22, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sergio Adams	44.8	253
	Submit photo	Violetta De Rosa	42.5	240
	Submit photo	Brian Scavo	9.7	55
		Other/Write-in votes	3.0	17

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 565
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Working Families Party primary election

The Working Families Party primary election was canceled. Violetta De Rosa advanced from the Working Families Party primary for Albany Common Council Ward 7.

Endorsements

To view De Rosa's endorsements in the 2021 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2021

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released June 20, 2021

Ballotpedia survey responses

Violetta De Rosa completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by De Rosa's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a long time resident of Albany, 7th Ward - for 15 years with her family. I am a Progressive Democrat, running to be the next Albany Common Councilmember in the 7th Ward, as the Working Families Party Candidate. I am currently an educator at Albany High School and have extensive experience in higher education advancement and fundraising. I am an active community member and a passionate children and women's advocate and organizer. I am a person of high integrity who will protect our neighborhoods and work hard to improve every citizen's quality of life. As a member of the Common Council, I will bring new energy and progressive ideals to the Common Council and ensure city departments deliver essential services, and prioritizing neglected neighborhoods. I will demand equity and accountability. She will advocate for all our children, seniors, and families to ensure there is equity for our neighborhood, and programs that will build a stronger community.

“As a first-generation person and immigrant, I know what it means to have roadblocks to opportunity because of language. From day one, I’ve been fighting for the underdog with compassion and courage to be a voice for those who feel silenced and without advocates. “ - Violetta De Rosa

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Protect our neighborhoods and work to improve every constituent’s quality of life.
Develop and grow stronger youth programs to build a strong foundation for everyone in our community.
Build better economic opportunities for all.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Our children are the future of our community, and I am passionate about building and protecting your services. I will work to secure current youth programs and to build partnerships with community groups and non-profits to grow services to better support the needs of the youth in the City of Albany. From food insecurity and displacement, to social and emotional impacts, the COVID-19 crisis has had a devastating effect on our youth. As an educator in our public schools, I work directly with our youth and feel very deeply for each on in my care. I know that they need a voice that we speak for them, as well as everyone in the community impacted with our current lack of opportunities and services for our children. I will work not only to secure current youth programs, but also build partnerships with community groups and non-profits, to grow services that better support the needs of the youth in the City of Albany.

Prepare our students through the Albany Promise and the Summer Youth Employment Program on financial readiness.
Build internship opportunities in both the private and public sector for our youth.

Develop entrepreneurship programs.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Edith Piaf, a French singer, who was born in the streets of Paris, abandoned at birth and raised in a brothel. Her cabaret song about overcoming adversity, reflected the difficulties in her own life, from tragic loss to addiction. Yet, to me she embodies strengthen and tenacity.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Les Miserables

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty and integrity. At the most basic level our politicians should be working for the people that elected them. I believe that they have a fiducial responsibilities to work in the best interest of the people.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Courage and compassion.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To work for the people.

What legacy would you like to leave?

My greatest legacy would be to build an economy that is equitable and every neighborhood in Albany has risen in triumph, Building prosperous and thriving communities in all our wards would be a phenomenal legacy to leave .

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event I can remember is the 1976 Montreal Olympics . I was five years old, and remember watching the games with my extended family. At five years, I understood that even though the Olympics was happening in the city I was living in, my family could not afford to attend.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I started work at Toys R Us when I was 16 and worked there until I was 20. I started as a cashier, and quickly worked my way up to the part-time floor lead, where I managed work flow of the floor staff.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Broken Wings

by Kahlil Gibran,

The book highlights many of the social issues of the time in the Eastern Mediterranean, from religious corruption, to the lack of women's rights. It also explores wealth, happiness and sorrow and examines

the spiritual meaning of human existence with profound compassion.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

" Do you hear the people sing" - Les Misérables

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The primary function of this role is to protect, serve and enhance constituents quality of life, so that our communities thrive.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

It is not necessary to have prior political expertise for this or any elected office, in a democracy everyone has the right to run and hold office, if elected by the people. With that said, when elected it is critical to work for the people and be a voice that reflects their concerns, and you must be able to work with others without succumbing to their political pressure or self interest.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Courage and compassion is the base for all actions in this office and any other elected role.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Candidate

Albany Common Council Ward 7

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Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 4, 2021

[bio-1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 4, 2021

[1]

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Violetta De Rosa

Contents

Biography

Elections

2021

General election

General election for Albany Common Council Ward 7

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Albany Common Council Ward 7

Working Families Party primary election

Endorsements

Campaign themes

2021

Video for Ballotpedia

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

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Public Policy

Information for candidates

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