Niagara Falls City Councilman Bob Anderson announced last week that he is running for re-election to a third term, and we can find no reason not to just go ahead and endorse him right now.
"I've had the honor and pleasure of serving city taxpayers for the past eight years," Anderson said. "God willing, and if the voters of Niagara Falls see fit, I'll serve another four years."
Anderson's record on City Council has been exemplary. He is staunchly pro-development, something that put him at odds with former mayor Vince Anello, who expected remuneration in exchange for development opportunities, and the current one, Paul Dyster, who believes that only government and campaign contributors should be allowed to play the development game.
Anderson, a lifelong Democrat, served 22 years in the United States Air Force and retired in 1986 with the rank of master sergeant. He then worked for the Niagara Falls School District for 15 years, where he was elected president of the Niagara Falls CSEA.
"Niagara Falls is challenged on many fronts: our poverty rate, falling population, loss of industrial jobs and dilapidated housing," he said. "The only answer to solving our problems is cooperation, responsible fiscal management and hard work to develop our local economy."
Anderson puts his money where his mouth is. Each year, he donates all his City Council pay to local charities, focusing particularly on those having to do with veterans, senior citizens and youth. Unlike Dyster, who is making more as mayor of Niagara Falls than he ever made in the private sector, Anderson didn't get into government for the money.
A resident of LaSalle for nearly 30 years, the candidate is firmly rooted in Niagara Falls and is as familiar as anyone else with the issues facing our community.
Tragically, Anderson's wife of 44 years, Marie, passed away on Feb. 4 of this year. Marie was by his side throughout his military career stateside and in Europe and Asia. They are the parents of Robert III and Bernadette Michelle.
Bob Anderson gets our endorsement in the upcoming City Council elections. He deserves your vote as well.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | April 26, 2011 |