State Assemblyman John Ceretto, along with City Councilmen Bob Anderson, Glenn Choolokian and Sam Fruscione, have all endorsed former county Legislator Renae Kimble for an open seat on the Niagara Falls Water Board.
They couldn't have made a better choice and, frankly, we're a bit surprised Kimble even agreed to take it.
There is no love lost between Kimble and Mayor Paul Dyster, whose nefarious plan to accept toxic wastewater created by the gas well fracking process at the city's sewer plant in order to generate revenue needed following his four disastrous years of driving the city to the edge of bankruptcy will undoubtedly receive her special attention. "She is extraordinarily qualified for a spot on the Water Board," Ceretto told the Reporter.
"During her years in government, she has reviewed and negotiated contracts, managed large budgets, worked with labor unions, and always maintained the unwavering confidence of her constituents. I have no doubt that she would excel at the Water Board, and the organization would be lucky to have her," he said.
Kimble decided not to run for re-election last year after having served as the Legislature's lone African-American representative for more than a dozen years. While she has not announced any future political plans, it wouldn't be a surprise to see her name on the ballot later this year in the Democratic primary race for the 138th District Assembly seat.
Like many here, she absolutely loathes former state assemblywoman Francine Del Monte -- who is expected to trot her tired, threadbare ideas out for another go-round this October -- and further detests failed county Democratic Chairman Dan Rivera and city Chairman David Houghton, who was embarrassed during last year's election when the story leaked that he was evicted from his low-rent apartment after losing his telephone sales job and found himself so friendless that coming up with $350 was an impossible dream.
We've always liked Renae, even when we -- sometimes vehemently -- disagreed with her. She's a freethinking free spirit with more cojones than Dyster, Rivera, Houghton and the rest of the "new" Democratic leadership in Niagara County combined.
She's the kind of leader Niagara County and particularly Niagara Falls will need as we go forward into the 21st century, and the city Water Board seems as good a place as any for her to bide her time until she takes what is rightfully hers.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | Jan. 17 2012 |