CHEEK DEMS! -News releases
SO WHAT DID WE ACCOMPLISH?? - Senator Bill Stachowski chimes in...
December 16...This past week 211 state legislators made the trek to Albany for an end-of-year session that had
the markings of being full of debate and important give and take. Governor George Pataki had summoned all of us
to the Capitol to deal with the civil confinement of sexual offenders. Unfortunately, talks between the Governor,
Senate Majority leader and Speaker of the Assembly broke down and very little was actually accomplished.
Now "horse trading" has become commonplace in Albany, and regularly takes place in any legislative body.
Negotiations take place so a common goal can be attained. However, I don't consider closed-door talks and
personal attacks to be considered "negotiations."
The "issue du jour" that we were supposed to address was a measure to keep sexual predators confined to
psychiatric hospitals after they complete their prison terms. The Senate and the Governor had come to an
agreement on the issue, but the Assembly failed to act on the legislation. A decision rendered earlier in the year by
a state court required us to take another look at the legalities involved in keeping somebody under lock and key
once they've served their prison term.
But our trip across the state was to be much more than one issue. Besides civil confinement we were looking to
vote on the report issued by the "Berger Commission" which recommended, in part, the closure of St. Joseph
hospital in Cheektowaga. The Governor also wanted us to consider an expansion of the number of charter schools
we have in our state, senior citizens were looking to us to pass legislation allowing the state to purchase
prescription drugs in bulk, the Assembly needed to adopt "Timothy's law", which requires employers to provide
coverage for mental health treatment, public employees were asking for an early retirement package and of
course, the media reported that we were set to vote on a pay increase for state legislators. Only the insurance
coverage issue was adopted.
Each of these issues is important, and all of them should have been considered while we were in Albany.
Personal differences sidetracked the negotiations, and idle lawmakers sat around waiting to do the people's
business. That's no way to run a government, and worse yet, it serves the best interest of no one.
From my perspective, it was vital that we had the opportunity to vote on the Berger Commission's report, so we
in Western New York would have our voice heard. Neither house brought the bill to the floor and we were left with
no option other than the report becoming law by default. Is that any way to govern?
Many of us were told that the Senate and Assembly will have the chance to make some changes to the report
once it becomes law on January 1. You can bet that I will be working with my colleagues to enact a law which will
keep St. Joseph hospital, and it's state of the art emergency room, open and available to the people I represent.
Like many of you, I enjoy my job, and relish representing 300,000 Western New Yorkers in Albany. Every day
cannot go the way we'd like it to though, which makes me more committed than ever to convincing my colleagues
that each of us has a voice, and that it needs to be heard. January is just around the corner, and I plan on being in
the Capitol making sure our collective voice is not silenced.
TOWN COMMITTEE CHRISTMAS FUND RAISER DEEMED "A HUGE SUCCESS".
December 14, 2006... Over 400 people came through the door at the Eagles in Depew this past Monday for the
Cheektowaga Democratic Party's annual Holiday celebration. For the new Party leadership, it was the first fund
raising effort and was called "a huge success". "We were pleased to see a cross section of all the different
elements of our Democratic political family in Cheektowaga represented. Everyone seemed to have a good time."
said Chairman Frank Max.
In addition, representatives of County, State and Federal governments also stopped by, including all five individuals
who are testing the waters for the Democratic nomination for County Executive in the 2007 election... Paul Clark,
Jim Keane, Lynn Marinelli, Dave Swarts and Dan Ward.
Max also acknowledged the following individuals and companies for providing sponsorship and/or material
support for the event...Assemblyman Paul Tokasz, George Huyler, E.I. Engineering, Senator Bill Stachowski, West
Seneca Supervisor Paul Clark, Congressman Brian Higgins, Lynn Clarke, Justice Jim Vallone, David Jaworski Esq,
and Zoladz Construction.
STATEWIDE CARAVAN AND ALL STAR LINEUP HITS CHEEKTOWAGA.
November 3, 2006...Calling the Town of Cheektowaga "the ground zero" of local Democratic politics, Erie County
Democratic Chairman Len Lenihan welcomed a star studded lineup of New York State Democratic office seekers
at a rally held this morning at the Hearthstone Manor on Dick Road in Cheektowaga.
Outgoing State Assemblyman Paul Tokasz opened the proceedings, held before a full house of local officials, party
officers, labor leaders and members of the public who gathered in full rally mode to welcome the state ticket
to Western New York.
Tokasz introduced new Cheektowaga Chairman Frank Max, who promised those in attendance that the town
committee would be conducting a townwide literature blitz on Saturday. "We will be sure to get the town covered,
our volunteers are ready, and come Tuesday we plan to bring in big numbers for the Spitzer/Paterson ticket here
in Cheektowaga." Max promised.
Cheektowaga Supervisor and candidate to replace Tokasz, Supervisor Dennis Gabryszak, also addressed the
gathering. Gabryszak repeated the mantra and slogan of the Spitzer/Paterson campaign, "On day one, everything
changes", and looks forward to working with new Democratic leadership in the Governor¹s mansion.
Chairman Lenihan, then introduced the All Star lineup, including Congressman Brian Higgins, Buffalo Mayor Byron
Brown, and the state slate, Attorney General candidate Andrew Cuomo, US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Lt.
Governor candidate David Paterson, and the headliner current Attorney General and candidate for Governor Eliot
Spitzer.
Spitzer spoke about the recent snow storm which paralyzed areas of Western New York, congratulating Mayor
Brown for the speedy response in cleaning up the city. Spitzer also praised the local leadership, especially
Congressman Higgins, for their role in the recent removal of toll barriers at Ogden and Breckenridge.
Cheektowaga was well represented at the rally, with several members of the Committee's new executive board,
and Council Member Tom Johnson also in attendance.
December 16...This past week 211 state legislators made the trek to Albany for an end-of-year session that had
the markings of being full of debate and important give and take. Governor George Pataki had summoned all of us
to the Capitol to deal with the civil confinement of sexual offenders. Unfortunately, talks between the Governor,
Senate Majority leader and Speaker of the Assembly broke down and very little was actually accomplished.
Now "horse trading" has become commonplace in Albany, and regularly takes place in any legislative body.
Negotiations take place so a common goal can be attained. However, I don't consider closed-door talks and
personal attacks to be considered "negotiations."
The "issue du jour" that we were supposed to address was a measure to keep sexual predators confined to
psychiatric hospitals after they complete their prison terms. The Senate and the Governor had come to an
agreement on the issue, but the Assembly failed to act on the legislation. A decision rendered earlier in the year by
a state court required us to take another look at the legalities involved in keeping somebody under lock and key
once they've served their prison term.
But our trip across the state was to be much more than one issue. Besides civil confinement we were looking to
vote on the report issued by the "Berger Commission" which recommended, in part, the closure of St. Joseph
hospital in Cheektowaga. The Governor also wanted us to consider an expansion of the number of charter schools
we have in our state, senior citizens were looking to us to pass legislation allowing the state to purchase
prescription drugs in bulk, the Assembly needed to adopt "Timothy's law", which requires employers to provide
coverage for mental health treatment, public employees were asking for an early retirement package and of
course, the media reported that we were set to vote on a pay increase for state legislators. Only the insurance
coverage issue was adopted.
Each of these issues is important, and all of them should have been considered while we were in Albany.
Personal differences sidetracked the negotiations, and idle lawmakers sat around waiting to do the people's
business. That's no way to run a government, and worse yet, it serves the best interest of no one.
From my perspective, it was vital that we had the opportunity to vote on the Berger Commission's report, so we
in Western New York would have our voice heard. Neither house brought the bill to the floor and we were left with
no option other than the report becoming law by default. Is that any way to govern?
Many of us were told that the Senate and Assembly will have the chance to make some changes to the report
once it becomes law on January 1. You can bet that I will be working with my colleagues to enact a law which will
keep St. Joseph hospital, and it's state of the art emergency room, open and available to the people I represent.
Like many of you, I enjoy my job, and relish representing 300,000 Western New Yorkers in Albany. Every day
cannot go the way we'd like it to though, which makes me more committed than ever to convincing my colleagues
that each of us has a voice, and that it needs to be heard. January is just around the corner, and I plan on being in
the Capitol making sure our collective voice is not silenced.
TOWN COMMITTEE CHRISTMAS FUND RAISER DEEMED "A HUGE SUCCESS".
December 14, 2006... Over 400 people came through the door at the Eagles in Depew this past Monday for the
Cheektowaga Democratic Party's annual Holiday celebration. For the new Party leadership, it was the first fund
raising effort and was called "a huge success". "We were pleased to see a cross section of all the different
elements of our Democratic political family in Cheektowaga represented. Everyone seemed to have a good time."
said Chairman Frank Max.
In addition, representatives of County, State and Federal governments also stopped by, including all five individuals
who are testing the waters for the Democratic nomination for County Executive in the 2007 election... Paul Clark,
Jim Keane, Lynn Marinelli, Dave Swarts and Dan Ward.
Max also acknowledged the following individuals and companies for providing sponsorship and/or material
support for the event...Assemblyman Paul Tokasz, George Huyler, E.I. Engineering, Senator Bill Stachowski, West
Seneca Supervisor Paul Clark, Congressman Brian Higgins, Lynn Clarke, Justice Jim Vallone, David Jaworski Esq,
and Zoladz Construction.
STATEWIDE CARAVAN AND ALL STAR LINEUP HITS CHEEKTOWAGA.
November 3, 2006...Calling the Town of Cheektowaga "the ground zero" of local Democratic politics, Erie County
Democratic Chairman Len Lenihan welcomed a star studded lineup of New York State Democratic office seekers
at a rally held this morning at the Hearthstone Manor on Dick Road in Cheektowaga.
Outgoing State Assemblyman Paul Tokasz opened the proceedings, held before a full house of local officials, party
officers, labor leaders and members of the public who gathered in full rally mode to welcome the state ticket
to Western New York.
Tokasz introduced new Cheektowaga Chairman Frank Max, who promised those in attendance that the town
committee would be conducting a townwide literature blitz on Saturday. "We will be sure to get the town covered,
our volunteers are ready, and come Tuesday we plan to bring in big numbers for the Spitzer/Paterson ticket here
in Cheektowaga." Max promised.
Cheektowaga Supervisor and candidate to replace Tokasz, Supervisor Dennis Gabryszak, also addressed the
gathering. Gabryszak repeated the mantra and slogan of the Spitzer/Paterson campaign, "On day one, everything
changes", and looks forward to working with new Democratic leadership in the Governor¹s mansion.
Chairman Lenihan, then introduced the All Star lineup, including Congressman Brian Higgins, Buffalo Mayor Byron
Brown, and the state slate, Attorney General candidate Andrew Cuomo, US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Lt.
Governor candidate David Paterson, and the headliner current Attorney General and candidate for Governor Eliot
Spitzer.
Spitzer spoke about the recent snow storm which paralyzed areas of Western New York, congratulating Mayor
Brown for the speedy response in cleaning up the city. Spitzer also praised the local leadership, especially
Congressman Higgins, for their role in the recent removal of toll barriers at Ogden and Breckenridge.
Cheektowaga was well represented at the rally, with several members of the Committee's new executive board,
and Council Member Tom Johnson also in attendance.
Photos (l-r --- click on any photo to expand)
Left - Chairman Frank Max comments to the audience with Assemblyman Paul Tokasz looking on
Center - A boisterous Len Lenihan leads the chants as the "All Star" lineup looks on. L-R Mayor Byron Brown,
Congressman Brian Higgins, US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, AG candidate Andrew Cuomo, Governor
candidate Eliot Spitzer and Lt. Governor candidate David Paterson
Right - Cheektowaga Supervisor and State Assembly candidate Dennis Gabryszak had some words to say to the
crowd
Left - Chairman Frank Max comments to the audience with Assemblyman Paul Tokasz looking on
Center - A boisterous Len Lenihan leads the chants as the "All Star" lineup looks on. L-R Mayor Byron Brown,
Congressman Brian Higgins, US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, AG candidate Andrew Cuomo, Governor
candidate Eliot Spitzer and Lt. Governor candidate David Paterson
Right - Cheektowaga Supervisor and State Assembly candidate Dennis Gabryszak had some words to say to the
crowd
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TOWNWIDE LITERATURE DROP COVERS ENTIRE TOWN IN ONE FELL SWOOP!
November 6... Over 125 volunteers from the Democratic Committee, the Progressive Democrats and other groups
participated in a town wide blitz this past Saturday. "We got the entire town covered in one day", reported Frank
Max. "It's a testament to the great workers and the strength of our organization we have in this town." Also in
attendance and observing the energy was County Chairman Len Lenihan, who was very impressed with the goings
on here in Cheektowaga.
November 6... Over 125 volunteers from the Democratic Committee, the Progressive Democrats and other groups
participated in a town wide blitz this past Saturday. "We got the entire town covered in one day", reported Frank
Max. "It's a testament to the great workers and the strength of our organization we have in this town." Also in
attendance and observing the energy was County Chairman Len Lenihan, who was very impressed with the goings
on here in Cheektowaga.
