About the Mayor
Malik D. Evans is the City of Rochester’s 71st Mayor. He is committed to creating a safe, equitable and prosperous Rochester by inspiring hope and delivering opportunity for everyone.
Inaugurated on Jan. 1, 2022, Mayor Evans has governed with a commitment to transparency and collaboration, concisely captured by his working mantra “It’s we, not me.”
Working closely with governmental agencies and community partners, he established the Office of Financial Empowerment to support the economic mobility of city residents with a focus on entrepreneurship, home ownership and youth; the Office of Violence Prevention to confront the root causes of violent crime; expanded programs that foster the healthy development of Rochester’s youth; overseen several transformative capital programs, including ROC the Riverway and the Inner Loop North Transformation; and invested in projects and initiatives that advance the wellbeing of all residents in such areas as mental health, environmental justice, job creation, affordable housing and home ownership, especially in neighborhoods with histories of disinvestment.
Mayor Evans held elected office as an at-large member of the Rochester City Council from 2017 to 2021; was a Commissioner of the Rochester Board of Education from 2003 to 2017, and served as Board President from 2008 to 2013.
Before becoming Mayor, Mayor Evans worked as an officer in the banking industry for more than 20 years, holding leadership positions at M&T Bank Corporation and ESL Federal Credit Union. The son of parents who were committed to civic activism, civil rights, and social justice, his dual callings in elected office and the banking industry share the complementary ambitions to help others and share prosperity.
He was born and raised in the city and graduated from Wilson Magnet High School before going on to earn his bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester and his master’s degree from Nazareth College (now Nazareth University)
Mayor Evans is active on several national and state organizations representing the interests of U.S. cities. He is the board chair of the National Civic League; and a member of U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, the African American Mayors Association, the Strong Cities Coalition, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway Cities, the Mayors Institute for City Design; and the New York Conference of Mayors.
Mayor Evans and his wife Shawanda are the proud parents of two sons. He enjoys spending time with his family, attending concerts, and traveling to new places.
The Mayor's Mission & Vision
The Evans Administration promotes positive systemic and structural change by providing transparent and collaborative leadership, offering equitable access to essential municipal services, enabling productive intergovernmental, private, and non-profit partnerships, and promoting increased quality of life through investments that create vibrant neighborhoods and employment opportunities, making Rochester a hope-filled city with an exciting future.
Administration: The Executive Branch of City Government
The Mayor’s Office represents the head of the executive/administrative branch of City Government. The Mayor is responsible for the administration of all City affairs, including approving local laws and ordinances; enforcing laws; and appointing department heads and members of certain boards and commissions.
All City operations are overseen by the Office through the direct supervision of the Mayor and appointed senior staff.
The administration performs the City's executive and central support functions. These include strategic planning, developing and implementing policy, preparing and administering the annual budget and capital improvement plan, and coordinating the submission of legislation to City Council.
The offices of the administration are also responsible for several centralized functions of the City government: Personnel and civil service; communications and public information; examining and evaluating City programs and processes through the Office of Public Integrity; coordinating Information Technology projects through the Project Management Office and the City's legal business.