By Ernest S. Flagler-Mitchell, Assistant Democratic Leader
Assemblyman David Gantt was a father of three biological children and like a political father to many of the minority elected officials in Monroe County. Leaders like Mayor Lovely Warren, Councilman Mike Patterson, Legislator Vince Felder, Legislator Frank Keophetlasy, myself, and countless others. His history started with his mother Lena Gantt Mildred Johnson and many others. He never thought of being a politician one Rev. Scott (F.I.G.H.T) and James McCullough (Action for A Better Community) went and asked him to run he told them no. They saw something in David and went to his mother and asked her to ask him to run. She called David and asked “him do you believe that if you were in office that you can make a difference?” He said “yes”. She responded “then you runnin’ and I don’t want to hear anything else about it”.
After that, he served in the County Legislature for nine years before running a successful campaign and being the first African American to serve as New York State Assembly in Rochester. He fought for the poor and black community like no other. He many times stood alone on issues that were not popular. He believed in the black community and was committed to ensuring that communities of color had representation. He mentored many of us to lead and fight for those who do not have a voice. We ran for offices. We won some and lost some. We laughed and cred together. He became a father figure to many of us.
Some of his biggest accomplishments included taking an interest in to career of a young African American female from the Jefferson Avenue area and mentored her – she went from city council to Mayor. Another success was a young black man from the Webster Avenue area, a firefighter, preacher, and mentored him to be a strong Legislator.
He poured into me and I poured into him. I felt like we are into the promised land and the night before the election he said, “Ernest, I hope we can get through this if not we will still be ok.” I never knew the next day he will be gone.
He had planned on retiring the assembly after 38 years; however, God had other plans for David. When he told me that he was going to retire and it was my time to lead, my heart dropped. Filled with uncertainty, I told him that I would not let him down, you will not let me let you down. He reminded to me that these seats are not ours, they are for the people take care of the people. Keep the family together. Although I lost his seat to the union’s candidate in the primary. The work continues and we will not stop until community of colored has equity.
Ernest S. Flagler-Mitchell
Assistant Democratic Leader
29th District
Monroe County Legislature
David F. Gantt Jr. was an American politician who served as a member of the New York Assembly from 1983 to 2020 as a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to his Assembly tenure, he was a member of the Monroe County, New York Legislature. He was the first and only black person to represent Monroe County in the New York Assembly.
Gantt was born in Alabama and his family moved to New York during the 1950s. In 1960, he graduated from Franklin High School, and later he attended the Roberts Wesleyan College and Rochester Institute of Technology. After college, he worked for Case-Hoyt Corp. printing company and as a manager at the Anthony Jordan Health Center. During the 1960 presidential election he volunteered for Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign. In 1965, he campaigned for Ronald Good’s successful campaign for the Monroe County Legislature.
In 1973, he was elected to the Monroe County Legislature and served until his election to the Assembly in 1982. During his tenure in the Assembly, he served on the Aging, Commerce, Election Laws, Steering, Transportation, and Ways and Means committees.
Following his death in July, he was praised by Governor Andrew Cuomo, Attorney General Letitia James, United States Representative Joseph Morelle, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay, and Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren.
