JAWOROWICZ RESIGNS FROM CHEEKTOWAGA TOWN BOARD

Cheektowaga, New York, February 7, 2012… Patricia A. Jaworowicz, who is one of the longest standing members of the Cheektowaga Town Board in the town’s history, has submitted her resignation as a Council Member. The resignation will take effect on Wednesday, February 20, 2013. A letter of resignation was hand delivered today by her son Timothy Jaworowicz to the office of the Town Clerk. Town Democratic Chairman Frank Max was also notified of this action.

Ms. Jaworowicz has been dealing with substantial health issues over the past two years. “We were hoping to bring her back to good health, and to return to her desk at Town Hall and fulfill the remaining year of her term,” reported Tim Jaworowicz. “Unfortunately my mom has not gotten better. So she has made the difficult decision that she can no longer continue. For her sake, and for the sake of the people of the Town of Cheektowaga, it be best that she step down from her duties at this time.”

Patricia Jaworowicz concludes her service as Council Member at 31 years, 1 month and 20 days.

As a Depew/Cheektowaga District School Board member during the last 12 years, Diane Benczkowski makes a point of returning every parent's call within a few hours. As a citizen, she attends just about every meeting of several taxpayer associations in her town. As a Cheektowaga Town Board candidate, she started going door to door throughout the community last year over 12 monrha before the election.

Now she is seeking to bring that same dedication to the Town Council based on her campaign slogan: “Open, Transparent, Effective.”

“Both as a town board candidate and as a real estate professional, I speak with the people of Cheektowaga every day,” Diane points out. “I know they would like to see us cut taxes and bring more new business to the town, while at the same time maintaining the town services they depend on. I also know they would like to see our schools improved. Above all, they would like to see all of the town board members work together to make the town better. I will work toward achieving all of these things if I am elected in November.”

From speaking with a variety of WNY Democrats today, members of every faction and group, about the possibility of a Dennis Gorski candidacy for county comptroller this year, a number of points are clear:

Most Democrats feel that, if he does run for comptroller, that Gorski would be the class of a weak field on the Democratic side and also in the general election campaign. The only announced Democratic candidate for comptroller currently is a confused and hapless contender, with little understanding of the lay of the political land in Erie County. In Gorski, Democrats would have a sure footed nominee with plenty of political and fiscal expertise, a man who is blessed with considerably more of both than the Republican incumbent Stefan Mychajliw.

More than that, Gorski could make the case that he would be the one contender who was running, not as a stepping stone to gain some higher political office, but to take the next four years to work with the County Executive and Legislature to get Erie County's fiscal house in order, without regard to politics.

One other interesting development was that we found support for a potential Gorski candidacy within all factions of the Erie County Democratic Party. Don't forget that while it's true that Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Deputy Mayor Steve Casey are both former Gorski associates who are proud of the association, so is former Erie County Democratic Chairman Len Lenihan. A large number of Democrats who don't agree with each other on much seemed to agree that a Gorski candidacy would be an intriguing possibility.

The woman who will have more influence over the choice of a new Water Authority Board Member than anyone else explained the process to NEWWNYPolitics on Tuesday.

“The caucuses in the Legislature, including possibly an Independence Party caucus and a Conservative caucus, will each submit their choice to me,: Erie County Legislature Chairperson Betty Jean Grant said. “I will select one of the names and submit it to the full Legislature. If that person gets a majority vote in the full Legislature, then that person gets the job. I would expect that anyone whose name I submit will get majority support since I wouldn't submit the name of someone who couldn't win.”

Is she confident that the entire Democratic caucus will support the choice of the caucus even if the original vote in the caucus is not unanimous?

“Our Democratic caucus has a good record of supporting its leadership,” she replied, “and I have no reason to believe that they would not support the leadership in this situation.”

A resurgent Dennis Gorski, enthusiastic, talkative, friendly, working the room like the pro he is, stole the show at Tuesday night's Progressive Democrats of Cheektowaga annual Paczki Day Party under Chairman Frank Max. The emergence of Gorski in candidate mode at this packed event had many wondering if the political reincarnation of the former County Executive as a possible County Comptroller candidate could be at hand.

One source explained the situation this way: “There is no daylight between Dennis Gorski and Cheektowaga Chairman Frank Max. They talk together all the time. Dennis is likely to do what Frank suggests that he do.”

Others making the scene include Democratic Erie County Family Court candidate Mary Giallanza Carney, County Sheriff candidate Dick Dobson, Cheektowaga Town Board member Jim  Rogowski,  Town Board candidate Diane Benczkowski, Democratic Town Chairs Mary Julian of Wales and Dan McParlane of West Seneca, County Legislator Tom Mazur, County Sheriff candidate Burt Dunn, County Clerk's Office stalwart Camille Brandon, and TV host Kristy Mazurek.

Among the most impressive young men on hand was financial services professional Wes Moore, who told us he is “relatively certain” he will challenge Legislator Terry McCracken for his seat in the Democratic primary in September. Moore pledged, if elected, to use his private sector financial expertise to improve the county's finances.  

Our sources are telling us that the movement toward peace and mutual cooperation between Democratic headquarters and the second floor of City Hall, including a possible party endorsement of Mayor Brown's re-election, is moving along quite nicely, refusing to be derailed by Democratic zone line controversies or anything else. One factor that seems to be helping is that the lines of communication seem to be wide open between the two. If there is a potential misunderstanding in the air, one side can simply call the other and get things talked out.

Yet another factor is that elements within the Dem loyalist group that some might assume would be hostile to a Brown endorsement are actually totally reconciled to the idea and are even happy about it.

Concerning the Water Authority post that's currently up for grabs, there are a number of quirks in the rules that needs to be kept in mind. The two caucuses will vote separately on the issue. But, at that point, it's up to the Chair of the Leg, Betty Jean Grant, to decide which name she wants to put forward, either the Democratic or GOP winner. The last time this came up, then Chairperson Barbara Miller Williams chose to put forward the winner within the Republican caucus, not the Democratic.

So in the end, it's going to be up to Betty Jean, even if the vote in the Dem caucus is not unanimous.

County Legislator Terry McCracken did NOT get the Tonawanda Parks Dept. job and will be staying right where he is.

No, there never was any big summit meeting of old Gorskiites attempting to get Dennis to run for major office again. Instead, there are apparently individuals seeking to get their old mentor to run for some higher office such as county comptroller. However, these efforts are described as only in their “infant stages,” with Gorski sticking to his stated desire to run for Cheektowaga Town Judge next year so far. 

“We are not going to let downstate people decide endorsements that should be decided by people in Erie County. We are going to make sure Erie County members of the Independence Party have a voice. Our Interim Committee is going to go on making endorsements, holding a fundraiser, and issuing Wilson Pakulas.”

Erie County Independence Party Chairperson Mary Rose Gaughan used these determined words to react to the decision of the NYS Independence Party Committee to attempt to strip the Erie County party of the right to make endorsements over the weekend..

“They tried to say that we never sent them notification about our Interim Committee, but that's not true,” she told NewWNYPolitics early Monday morning. “We sent them notification on time by fax and US Mail on Sept. 22 to the NYS party's Secretary William Bogart, the latter of which was received on Sept. 25.. They did this because they want downstate people to be able to decide endorsements in Erie County and we are not going to accept that.”

Despite various accusations coming from the camp of NYS Independence Party Chairman Frank MacKay, Gaughan is vowing to carry on.

“We are going to make sure members of the Erie County Independence Party have a voice,” she declared. “We are going forward.”

The move over the weekend of the NYS Independence Party Executive Committee to strip the Erie County Independence Party of all its power to endorse candidates exposes the total hypocrisy of a party that calls itself “Independence” yet stamps out all showings of independence within its own ranks. So much for Ross Perot's dream of a true grassroots political party run exclusively by ordinary citizens.

Apparently, the problem was that Erie County IP Chairperson Mary Rose Gaughan was showing...well, some independence, and the Independence Party bosses in Albany couldn't deal with it.  

With help from two unimpeachable sources, NewWNYPolitics has confirmed that Lancaster County Legislator Terry McCracken has in fact applied for the post of Parks Commissioner of the Town of Tonawanda. The job pays a six figure salary which would be roughly equal to his combined take from being a county legislator and the chief foreman of the Lancaster Parks operation. The difference would be that McCracken would be making the same money by working only one job, one that would not require him to attend every community meeting held in the Town and Village of Lancaster and surrounding areas.

Of course, applying for the job and getting it are two different things. However, just the fact that McCracken has applied could weaken him as a candidate for re-election if he isn't chosen for the Tonawanda post. The new opposition slogan could be: “Let him run in Tonawanda!”

In any case, we have heard that already at least three potential candidates have inquired with party leadership about running for the McCracken seat.

It turns out that the recent Buffalo Common Council vote asking the County Legislature to nix recent changes to Democratic Party zone lines in the city was not unanimous after all. . The Fillmore District's Dave Franczyk called to say he voted no, mainly because he doesn't think the CC should be involving itself in strictly party issues. He added that he is generally happy with the new lines himself. The other eight did vote in favor, though there was some additional material added to the original resolution.

The current battle for the currently up for grabs Water Authority Board seat has emerged as a classic WNY political fight. If the County Legislature's six Democrats follow their party leadership's preferences, they will stick together to elect Attorney Chris O'Brien...But, if at least one of them decides that what he or she really needs is to stay on the good side of Conservative Party Chair Ralph Lorigo, that Democrat could vote with Leg Republicans to put Jack O'Donnell over the top.

We ran into a number of especially interesting guys and gals at the Paul Crapsi and Betty Jean Grant events last Thursday night. Once again, we got the chance to speak with Democratic Sheriff candidate Dick Dobson, a very personable and friendly gentleman as well as Amherst Town Judge candidate Kara Buscaglia, an extraordinarily able and attractive contender.

Walking into the Grant event, we ran into 2009 Democratic Sheriff nominee John Glascott and his lovely wife. John my be at least exploring the possibility of running again this time. We'll see. Once we go inside, we spoke with potential Democratic mayoral candidate Bernie Tolbert, who still seems to be exploring a possible bid...and Republican candidate Sergio Rodriguez, a very spirited young man.

Though we missed her at the Crapsi event, it is clear to us from a number of conversations that County Comptroller candidate Louise Toth is one of the most genuine and enthusiastic first time candidates for public office whom we've seen in a long time.

There will be a cocktail party to support the Erie County Sheriff's campaign of Dick Dobson on Tues., Feb. 26 at the Fusion Night Club, 3036 Seneca St., West Seneca from 6-8pm. The donation levels are: $35 per person; $60 for couples; $99 for Gold Sponsors; and $150 for Platinum Sponsors. There will be Food, Well, Wine, and Beer. Checks can be made out to: Dobson For Sheriff; PO Box 126; Wales Center, NY; 14169.Call 846-9230 for more information. www.dobson4sheriff.com.  

The many supporters of the “hardest working woman in WNY politics” staged a mammoth fundraiser on Thursday night in support of the re-election bid of Erie County Legislature Chairperson Betty Jean Grant. During the brief program, Chairperson Grant pointed out that, while some people call her a powerful person, that her power really comes from the many ordinary people who vote for her.

“My power comes from you,” she declared, “not from anything I do alone.”

She also noted what an honor it is to have been chosen to lead the county legislature twice in a row, a testament to her ability to be “fair and even handed.” Grant thanked one attendee who praised her as a “role model” for other women in politics and young girls who might aspire to such a position.

At the end of her remarks, the Chairperson introduced Legislator Tim Hogues, with whom she has worked closely during the last two years.

“Tim and make a good team because we bring both experience and youth to the job of representing Buffalo in the Legislature,” he said. “I hope the voters will re-elect Tim and also the Legislature's Democratic majority this year.”

Included within the long list of notables on hand to support Betty Jean was: Cong. Brian Higgins, County Democratic Chairman Jeremy Zellner, Buffalo Comptroller Mark Schroeder, City Court Judge Kevin Keane, Water Authority Commissioner Jack O'Donnell, Legislators Tom Loughran and Terry McCracken, possible Legislature Chief Clerk Robert Graber, mayoral candidate Bernie Tolbert, Republican mayoral contender Sergio Rodriguez, 2009 Democratic Sheriff nominee John Glascott, Sheriff candidate Bert Dunn, Supreme Court contender Jeff Marion, Lackawanna Democratic Chairman Fran Warthling, and many others.