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Democrats select Max to chair party
By John J. Hopkins
A major shakeup occurred at Monday's annual reorganization meeting of the Cheektowaga Democratic Committee when Frank Max assumed the role as party chairman after defeating incumbent party chairman Kenneth Meyers.
The weighted-voting system gave Max 6,753 votes, or 57.1 percent, while Meyers garnered 5,103, or 43.9 percent.
Erie County Democratic Party Chairman Len Lenihan and his staff were on hand for the vote. The county party also conducted the secret ballot tabulation.
Monday's vote comes on the heels of September's district committeeman elections in which candidates from Max's faction, the Cheektowaga Progressive Democrats, won several committee seats, ousting many long-serving incumbents.
Contacted by the Times on Tuesday, Max said that he wants to join the two factions into one united and community-based Town Democratic party.
"The change was coming; it had been in the process for years," Max said. "We're working to get the Democratic Party back on all cylinders."
Meyers was nominated by Town Councilmember Jeff Swiatek. Sec- onding the nomination were Town Supervisor Dennis H. Gabryszak and New York State Assemblyman Paul A. Tokasz.
Gabryszak is hoping to succeed Tokasz- who is not seeking re-election- in the assembly.
Max was nominated by three "rank-and-file" members from the floor: Amy Wielinski, Rick Zydel and Joe Farris.
Max said that this example of the rankand file "trickling up" to influence others, as opposed to the trickle-down from the party's heavy hitters, will continue under his guidance.
"It's always been my style to go to the regular folk," Max stated. "I want to talk to as many committeemen as possible to find out what's on their minds."
The rest of the Democratic Committee's newly-chosen officers include a mix of political and community leaders:
Zydel, a Doyle firefighter, is executive vice chairman. Andrew Kulyk- who is chairman of the Town Zoning Board of Appeals- is male vice chairman, while Joan Adams, president of the Cedargrove Neighborhood Action Committee, is female vice chairman.
John Marriott, a member of the Town Planning Board, was named secretary. Marianne Whiting was named treasurer. Sergeant-at-arms is Ken Carlucci, a former Doyle fire chief.
"It is a blend of political people and community activists," said Max. "I think we're able now to reach out much better to people in the community."
Max said that he hopes this blend will strengthen the party and, in turn, the town government.
His next step, Max said, is to appoint the zone chairmen at the next meeting.
"Hopefully there'll be people who will step to the plate who want to do it and are respected in the community," Max added.
Cheektowaga consists of 111 election districts. Two committee persons are elected to represent each district.
Max said that 212 of the 222 committeemen attended Monday's meeting.
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