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The dean of Niagara County elected officials joined his county chairman this week in saying he will no longer accept campaign contributions from Laborers Local 91 so long as the organization remains the target of a federal grand jury.
Citing federal, state and local law enforcement probes into the troubled union local, state Sen. George Maziarz said he will follow the example set by county Republican Chairman Henry Wojtaszek in no longer accepting money from the organization.
He made clear, however, that he sees nothing wrong with having accepted money in the past. Since 1995, Maziarz has taken more than $10,000 from Local 91's political action fund, Federal Elections Commission records show.
Since it was set up in 1985, the Local 91 fund has handed out more than $100,000 to judges, state officials, members of the county Legislature, the Niagara Falls City Council and other office holders.
"There was nothing unethical about this, and absolutely nothing illegal about this," he told the Reporter. "This money did not come from any individual, but from a political action committee set up by the union members."
Still, in light of the grand jury investigation, Maziarz said Wojtaszek's decision made sense.
"If that's what the party chairman advises -- and remember, he is an attorney -- then until we hear what the grand jury has to say we won't accept (contributions) in the future," he said. State Assemblyman David Seaman also indicated he would no longer accept money from the union fund.
"Naturally, I would defer to the judgment of the county chairman," he said.
Another local politician who has stopped taking money from Local 91 is former City Council chairman Vince Anello, who will find out today whether or not voters return him to the council seat he narrowly lost in the 1999 election.
"I certainly haven't taken any money from them in the last couple of years, simply because of the leadership's attitude about what you have to give back for it," he said.
Anello, a union electrician, said he enjoys good relationships with many Local 91 members, but said union officials have sometimes attempted to dictate policy in return for campaign funding.
"I'm not slamming any working person, and I want to emphasize that," he said. "What I'm talking about here is the leadership."
Following his break with Local 91 in 1998, Anello's truck was vandalized to the tune of several thousand dollars in what he characterized as an act of retaliation. No arrests were made in the case.
Wojtaszek, Maziarz and Anello have joined Gov. George Pataki, former state attorney general Eliot Spitzer and the Niagara County Conservative Party in having publicly refused contributions from the local's fund. Additionally, Niagara County District Attorney Matt Murphy and county Sheriff Tom Beilein have never taken money from the fund. The offices of both Beilein and Murphy are currently involved in some of the investigations into Local 91's activities.
While it is not unusual for unions to donate money to political candidates and parties, few are as controversial as Local 91 and fewer still are the target of ongoing federal investigations. The grand jury convened by the U.S. Attorney's office in Buffalo has been meeting once a month since February, 2000.
Allegations against the local being examined include numerous beatings, bombing and workplace sabotage. Sources close to the investigation told the Reporter that the local's political action fund is being looked at in particular on the basis of questionable disbursements to union officials, high overhead costs and seemingly incomplete bookkeeping practices.
The grand jury has heard testimony from a long line of current and former members of the local, contractors and members of other unions who say they were victimized by Local 91, as well as investigators from numerous federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
Indictments against union officials have been predicted by insiders for months, and sources indicated last week that the local may be taken over by the Laborers International Union of North America in a situation similar to that of Laborers Local 210 in Buffalo several years ago.
But despite the allegations, some Niagara County politicians told the Reporter they have no problem in continuing to take the money. State Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte said that, while she would not accept contributions from a criminal suspect under federal investigation, taking money from a targeted organization is another matter.
"There are individuals out there I won't take contributions from, but I feel for the other members of that union and don't feel I should lump them in with the alleged actions of a few," she said.
DelMonte accepted $2,500 from the union fund in her successful bid to unseat Rob Daly last year, but said there have been no subsequent demands from union officials in return for the cash.
"There is no quid pro quo here and, with me, there's not with anyone," she said.
State Sen. Byron Brown, who received no contributions in his race last year against Al Coppola but was endorsed by Local 91 following his primary election victory, said he would have to wait until union officials are actually convicted of criminal activity before refusing any campaign contributions that may be offered in the future.
"I would hope that these allegations aren't true," Brown said. "And I would feel uncomfortable saying no (to contributions) because no one's been convicted of anything here."
Local contractor Ted Van Deusen, who refuses to work in Niagara County because of the threat imposed by Local 91 on non-union construction sites, was critical of politicians who continue to take money from the fund. Van Deusen, who has taken out a $1 million life insurance policy because of threats he received after publicly speaking out about the local's activities, said political influence bought and paid for with campaign contributions is a big reason why the union has maintained its stranglehold on Niagara County for so long.
"Those people are turning a blind eye to justice," he said. "I certainly wouldn't vote for anyone who would continue to take money from an organization under criminal investigation by the federal government."