How did Erie County Legislature Chairperson Betty Jean Grant manage to collect over 5,000 petition signatures in her bid to get on the state senate Democratic primary ballot vs. hard working NYS Senator Tim Kennedy?

According to Betty Jean, it was the people, not the powerful who helped her pull it off.

“I didn't get any help from Grassroots or the Unity Coalition or Erie County Democratic headquarters,” she insists. “It was the ordinary rank and file voters, the senior citizens, the hard working family members of the district that circulated and signed my petitions. I didn't get any help from anyone in politics and I didn't get any financial contributions from any political group or organization either.”

“My signatures came from Lackawanna, Cheektowaga, South Buffalo, East Buffalo, the North Side of Buffalo. They came from all areas of the district,” she states.

Why did voters sign her petitions?

“People told us they wanted a choice in the primary,” she replies. “Also, they felt I was the best person for the position because I have experience serving the needs of the entire district as Legislature Chairperson. They know that I will never duck or avoid a vote, but will always take a stand and vote on any controversial issue.”

Among the issues she pledges to work on are medicaid reform that would deal with provider abuses while protecting recipients, UB 20-20, which she favors avidly, and Gov. Cuomo's $1 billion economic development plan for WNY.