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Yes, we hear it every election cycle. They are all real nice people. They're good neighbors, patriotic, God-fearing. As individuals, they're fine folk. But collectively, as members of the Niagara County Legislature, they're pathetic.
In a county with a long and painful history of inept governments, this one takes the cake. In just the last three years, this legislature has outspent revenues by nearly $20 million, throwing the county into its worst financial crisis ever. Then, despite the county's high rates of cancer and asthma, they squander tens of millions of dollars of tobacco money on everything but hospitals and health care. And finally, they vote to give away our airport for 99 years to a foreign corporation with a phantom office that they know nothing about.
They are the "Do Nothing" county legislators, and every one of them should be thrown out of office.
Here are highlights from some of the key races.
Clyde Burmaster vs. Richard Hastings. Clyde's the king of bums and the poster boy for chemical waste. In the last few months, he's taken $2,000 from Butch Quarcini-led Laborers Local 91 PAC, which is reason enough to drum him out of office. And just a couple of weeks ago, his political proteges in the Town of Porter -- the same guys he asked the voters to support in the last election -- turn out to be the same guys who voted to expand the disposal of chemical waste there. As my granddaddy would say, "when you lie down with dogs, you'll catch fleas." Vote for Hastings. He's smart, successful and beholden to no special interest.
James Ward. We don't know who's running opposite Ward, or whether Ward is a crook. That will be up to the courts to decide, but he certainly has behaved like a creep over the Board of Elections "scandal." Restore respect in Newfane. Give Ward the boot.
Lee Simonson vs. Fred Newlin. Bright and knowledgeable about county government affairs, Simonson seems content blaming others for the county's woes rather than taking one iota of responsibility for it. After nearly 30 years of trying, Simonson comes up short. Newlin is not Simonson. That's reason enough to give him your vote.
Bob Seger. A rather partisan legislator, Seger has difficulty seeing beyond the mean streets of North Tonawanda. If he has an agenda for the Democratic Party, you certainly wouldn't know it. If the Democrats capture the majority, Seger will be the chairman. Yikes! You better vote for his opponent.
Why do Brad Erck and Mal Needler seem angry? If the legislature was a hockey team, these guys would be Rob Ray and Tai Domi. Both have been around a long time. Brash and contentious, Erck and Needler raise the heat when they walk into the Court House. If you're happy with the way our county is run, then send these two veterans back. But let's hope the voters of Lockport and North Tonawanda are wise enough to cut them and bring up their opponents.
Dan Mocniak needs to break out of the pack and stop going along with the rest of the legislators. He certainly has the fortitude to do so. We were all set to ask the voters to give Dom Luna the nod, under the general argument that none of the legislators deserve to be reelected, when lo and behold, Luna's name pops up on the Local 91 PAC. OK, Dan, we're going to vote for you one more time.
There is no a finer person in the legislature than Bill Ross. The thousands of students he has educated can testify to that. A former Democrat, Ross previously represented the Town of Niagara in Lockport. Now, a few years later, he represents the Town of Wheatfield as a Conservative. When he was elected two years ago, he was well positioned to be one of the real leaders in the legislature. Instead, he has chosen to roll over for the Republican leadership and go along with their agenda on the airport, the solid waste district, and the misuse of tobacco money. His opponent, Jerry McCormick, heads up the 5,000-member UAW union at the GM Tonawanda facility, one of the most productive auto plants in the world. That says a lot about him. Give McCormick a chance.
The Town of Niagara voters have an interesting choice between the energetic Dan Sklarski and the methodical Dave Faccini. Neither of them proposes much, other than blaming each other. Keep Sklarski working on the Town Board and send Faccini to Lockport.
Over in North Tonawanda, John Tylec is stepping down. His seat is contested by Mike Carney, a sales rep for a local trucking company, and Bill Davignon, a North Tonawanda city employee. County government already has too many legislators who work in government jobs. Send a man to Lockport who knows what it means to earn a living at a real job. Give Carney your vote.
Dennis Virtuoso and Renae Kimble are running unopposed, but neither deserve to be reelected. Kimble is right on many of the issues, including the airport giveaway and the use of tobacco money for the hospitals, but her long-time association with Local 91 is more than the people of Niagara County deserve. Virtuoso is the local's mouthpiece on the floor of the legislature. Does anyone doubt that?
The county's out-of-control spending, nearly $20 million more than revenues, is presided over by finance chair Shirley Urtel. And she calls herself a conservative! Kyle Andrews, Urtel's opponent and a Niagara University student, on his own has obtained 1000 signatures for his designating petitions, which is a phenomenal number. With that type of enthusiasm and commitment, Andrews has earned the voters' support.
One of the leaders of the "Do Nothing" legislature is public works chair Gerald Farnham of Pendleton. Farnham also chairs the county's solid waste district, which is awash in a sea of red ink to the tune of $10 million. And guess what? Farnham has chosen to do nothing. He's the ultimate do-nothing legislator.
There are other contested races. When deciding who to vote for, remember it's the Halloween season. Don't be fooled by the smile of the incumbent.