Monroe County Executive Loves Clay Aiken

Local leaders and their music

(November 7, 2005) - Earlier this year, one of President Bush's aides publicized the presidential iPod play list, revealing that the leader of the free world enjoys country, classic rock and "My Sharona" by the Knack. Since then, I've been wondering what Rochester's leaders are listening to. Last week, I asked some of them.

Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks was playing Clay Aiken, the American Idol runner-up. Mayor Bill Johnson, who wishes that Rochester had a good contemporary gospel radio station, was listening to The Gospel According to Jazz Chapter II by Kirk Whalum. State and county Republican Chairman Steve Minarik, a self-described "country music guy," was listening to the most recent Brooks and Dunn greatest hits album and Montgomery Gentry.