Maziarz - the smartest politician in Niagara county

I guess it's no big secret that I think of state Sen. George Maziarz as the smartest politician in Niagara County. Now that he represents Niagara Falls, he gets my vote every time.

That being said, I do realize that Maziarz can often be devious, and a ruthless opponent. I suppose those are a couple of his admirable qualities. But every time I mention his name in this column, I get mail from people who've been splattered like bugs on the windshield over the course of his long career.

Sometimes I think Maziarz is Polish for Machiavelli.

The local Republicans, of course, are led by Maziarz, a man whose political astuteness far outweighs that of his opponents.
Today, in the whole of Niagara County, just nine elected officials belong to the Democratic Party, and two of those -- Niagara Falls Councilmen Bob Anderson and Glenn Choolokian -- ran in opposition to lackluster candidates run by Democrats and were endorsed by the Republicans.

Maziarz has a long memory, never forgets a friend or a grudge, and lives, eats and breathes Niagara County politics like no one since the late, great Earl W. Brydges 50 years ago.

In 10 elections Maziarz had only two primary challenges. In 2008 he trounced Ryan Greer collecting 81 percent of the vote. Last month he trounced Johnny Destino who was backed by Developer Carl Paladino and political consultant Steve Pigeon.
Maziarz took more than 70 percent of the vote.

Democratic opponents have been routinely crushed, with none receiving 40 percent of the vote. And Maziarz will most certainly get around 70 percent of the vote in November.

Back in September, 2004, I wrote the following and, if you substitute the name of the Niagara Falls Mayor Vince Anello for Paul Dyster you will see how prophetic George Maziarz is.

“State Sen. George Maziarz issued a blistering broadside this week, directed against Mayor Vince Anello (and) state Assemblywoman Francine Del Monte … for what he characterized as a series of half-truths and outright fabrications concerning the future disposition of the local share of revenues from the Seneca Niagara Casino.

“That share amounted to $9.5 million this year and is expected to grow to between $10 million and $12 million in 2005.

Maziarz has introduced legislation that would direct 25 percent of the money to the Niagara Falls School District, Memorial Medical Center, the Niagara Falls International Airport and the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. The remaining 75 percent would be turned over directly to the city.

"‘By the end of the year, the city will be $4-to-$6 million in the hole, and you've got a mayor who has added at least $500,000 in payroll by appointing his friends … to patronage positions,’ Maziarz said. ‘Frankly, I argued against giving him control of the 75 percent.’

“Not only did Maziarz refuse to sign off on any plan that would send 100 percent of the money to Niagara Falls City Hall, he said any legislation proposed by … Del Monte to do so would be dead on arrival in the Republican-controlled state Senate.

"’I can assure you, this would be a non-starter,’ he said.

But for Maziarz every bit of the $69 million in casino cash would have been squandered.

At least Maziarz was able to save some for the airport, the hospital and the schools.

Now that he will soon represent Niagara Falls, the city at last will get the full benefit of the smartest politician in Niagara County.

Speaking of smart guys: Although they were allies in the successful Republican takeover of the state Senate, Steve Pigeon (left) and George Maziarz have gone to war. Their battle started when the Erie County Conservative Party endorsed Democrat Chuck Swanick over Republican Mark Grisanti. Maziarz blamed Pigeon. And his allies attempted an unsuccessful takeover of the Erie County Conservative. Pigeon aligned with Developer Carl Paladino and backed Johnny Destino in a Republican primary race against Maziarz. Maziarz easily defeated Destino and, according to recent polls, Grisanti seems likely to coast toward victory.

Whether there will be a lasting divide between Pigeon and Maziarz, time will tell. Pigeon told the Reporter, quoting from the Godfather, “It wasn’t personal with George. It was strictly business.”