Former Niagara Falls City Councilman Donta Myles announced his candidacy for mayor of Niagara Falls on Thursday, becoming the latest entrant in what is shaping up to be a crowded 2027 race. Myles, described as a longtime community advocate, said his decision to run was shaped by his experience both as a city resident and as a former lawmaker.
Myles Makes His Case Against the Incumbent
Myles made his bid official during a press conference, according to the Niagara Gazette. He said he is running largely because he does not believe Mayor Robert Restaino has effectively led the city in a better direction, a critique the Gazette reported Myles framed around what he called the seven-plus years Restaino has been in office. That timeframe differs from a separate account from Buffalo Toronto Public Media, which reports that Restaino, a Democrat, has been in office since 2020.
As reported by WGRZ, Myles said families across the city are dealing with rat infestations, neglected properties, housing insecurity, and neighborhoods that need attention. He also said residents are concerned about the long-term effects of industrial pollution. Myles emphasized that these conditions affect people's lives and are not merely political talking points, framing his bid around issues he says he has encountered directly as a resident and former lawmaker.
A Growing Field for 2027
Myles is not the only challenger lining up against Restaino. Per WGRZ, he is running against retired deputy police chief Carl Cain, who entered the race in November, and former Department of Public Works director John Caso, who announced his candidacy at the end of October. Cain, who is seeking the Republican nomination, previously lost to Restaino by 212 votes in the 2023 election, per the same Buffalo Toronto Public Media account.
Cain has said that, if elected, he would focus on open government, infrastructure and the city's economic viability. His background includes decades in law enforcement, service in the Army National Guard, and work in higher education locally, according to the same report. Notably, Buffalo Toronto Public Media also reports that Niagara Falls has no term limit for mayors.
Caso Brings Public Works and Redevelopment Experience
Caso, meanwhile, is a registered Democrat and plans to circulate petitions to run on the Democratic line, according to Niagara Frontier Publications. He led the city's Department of Public Works as director from 2015 to 2019, and since 2024 he has served as president of the Pine Avenue Redevelopment Project, the outlet reports. Niagara Frontier Publications also notes that the Democratic primary for mayor is scheduled for June 2027, setting an early timeline for how the crowded field will narrow.
With Myles now formally in the race alongside Cain and Caso, Niagara Falls voters face a wide set of choices well ahead of next year's primary. Each candidate has staked out a distinct pitch, from Cain's emphasis on infrastructure and transparency to Caso's public works and redevelopment credentials to Myles's focus on neighborhood-level conditions like housing and pollution concerns.
