MEYER'S MUSINGS:Collins vs. Poloncarz is heating up
By: DANIEL MEYER
SUN EDITOR
For all of those people who complained last year that the presidential campaign season started far earlier that it should have, take note of what is happening right here in Erie County.
While nothing is official from either side in terms of their candidacy for 2011, it looks as though the predicted race for county executive between Republican Chris Collins and Democrat Mark Poloncarz is starting to shape up about two years earlier than expected.
Collins, who was elected to the county’s top elected position in November 2007, made it crystal clear last week to anyone willing to listen that he views Poloncarz and a handful of Democratic legislators as “obstructionists” trying to foil his ongoing efforts to reform county government.
Poloncarz, who was elected county comptroller in 2005, feels very strongly that he is the type of “independent taxpayer watchdog” that is needed to ensure that the proper checks and balances are taking place when it comes to monitoring the county’s finances.
While he has to focus on this November’s election as he runs for re-election as comptroller, sources tell me that they believe Poloncarz is hopeful that once he fends off the efforts of Collins as the county executive’s “main target” this election cycle he can then begin to stockpile his campaign coffers with funds that can be used to challenge Collins in 2011.
While there will likely be other Democrats interested in testing the waters to see if a run against Collins would be in their best interest — County Clerk Kathy Hochul and Erie County Legislative Chairwoman Lynn Marinelli are two people who immediately come to mind — it appears that a Collins versus Poloncarz showdown could happen.
But that is a long way off. Poloncarz and Democratic legislators Robert Reynolds and Michele Iannello must first deal with Collins’ public promises to find formidable candidates to challenge them.
Personally, while I know Collins and Erie County Republican Chairman James Domagalski are serious about this quest to find some sort of opposition for the above-mentioned Democrats and maybe some serious challengers for Marinelli and fellow Democratic legislators Marie Whyte, Dan Kozub, Kathy Konst and Tom Loughran, I think finding someone with enough name recognition to defeat Poloncarz will be difficult.
While I haven’t agreed with everything he has done, Poloncarz has represented independent leadership and has introduced new policies and procedures that have resulted in a more efficiently run comptroller’s office.
The next seven months or so should be interesting. As fans of the Buffalo Bills and newly acquired wide receiver Terrell Owens like to say, “Get your popcorn ready.”
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Speaking of Poloncarz, I was recently tipped off by a big fan of his about a mass e-mail that the comptroller sent out to his supporters through his personal Web site seeking donations for his previously mentioned race for re-election this fall.
Utilizing the services of an online purchasing service, donations can be made to help fund Poloncarz’s campaign. As he says in the e-mail, “no amount is too small and every dollar raised will help combat an out-of-control county executive writing a blank check to his eventual hand-picked candidate.”
Now if those aren’t fighting words I don’t know what are.
* * * * *
Sticking with this week’s theme of focusing on happenings involving county government, I would be hard pressed to find anyone who has anything negative to say about the way that Hochul is running the county clerk’s office on a day-to-day basis.
From her handling of paperwork associated with the auto bureau to letting us know how to obtain an enhanced driver’s license to her regular updates each financial quarter about the state’s economy and its impact on county residents, Hochul has provided sound leadership. She is efficient, innovative and obviously qualified to lead her department in a way where customers are satisfied and her workforce is best utilized during these uncertain times.
Sure, you may still have to wait in line for a few minutes if you have to turn in some license plates or take care of other motor vehicle related business, but all in all I am hearing nothing but praise for how Hochul’s drive for total customer satisfaction was not just campaign fodder but a realistic goal. How refreshing.
(Daniel Meyer is a columnist for the Weekly Independent Newspapers of Western New York. Comments about this column can be sent care of this newspaper or by e-mail to: meyersmusings@gmail.com)
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