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Jankowiak tapped as next supervisor
By John J. Hopkins Times
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Cheektowaga Democrats endorsed Councilmember James J. Jankowiak to be the town's next supervisor when they unanimously selected him Monday at a Cheektowaga Democratic Committee meeting moments after Councilmember Thomas M. Johnson withdrew his name from consideration.
The group also unanimously endorsed Richard Zydel to fill the councilmember seat that will be vacated by Jankowiak.
Both unanimous selections created an anticlimatic end to a pair of potentially close votes among the roughly 200 of the committee's 222- member body in attendance. It also initiated a theme of party unity that was continually stressed throughout Monday's meeting.
Committee Chairman Frank Max said that a meeting he held Sunday with the councilmembers led to Monday's events and the expression of party unity.
During Sunday's meeting at a Buffalo restaurant, the group spoke candidly about issues around Cheektowaga and within the party and board.
"The consensus was there are some things we can work on, develop and improve within the government," Max told the Times. "There was also a conversation on improving communication and working through a lot of things that may have stood as impediments to effective communication. It was very therapeutic."
Max credited the council's three "statesmen," Jankowiak, Johnson and Patricia A. Jaworowicz for "step- ping up," "working things out" and "helping to move the board forward."
Among points of unity that were mentioned Monday was an end to "secret meetings." Although he did not want to address specifics, Max said that information will be shared with all board members.
Asked by the Times if people had been "left out of the process at times," Max replied, "that would be your observation, but it would be correct."
Jankowiak told the Times that the meeting was one that "needed to happen" in order to reach a consensus on important issues.
"Every once in a while you have to sit down and have everyone put their egos aside," Jankowiak said. "It was a good meeting and a productive meeting. I think everyone feels better, and it's going to show at the town board level that everyone is going to be comfortable with one another."
Jankowiak said he was "honored" to receive the support from a vast and diverse group.
"Being on the committee since 1971, there are a lot of old friends whom I've worked with in this busi- ness, but there's a lot of new faces," Jankowiak said. "It's a good feeling to see that the committee can come together to nominate someone unanimously."
Jankowiak's selection is expected to be confirmed by the Town Board at its next meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday. The board has the ultimate decision in appointments, but has not defied a committee recommendation since the 1970s.
Selection of a supervisor to replace Dennis H. Gabryszak, who stepped down in December to become the area's representative in the New York State Assembly, was down to Jankowiak and Johnson as finalists.
However, Johnson, citing "family circumstances," addressed the committee before the nomination process began to tell them that he was bowing out of the race.
"I appreciate all those who offered their support and their friendship," Johnson said. "I'm very honored."
"Tom is, in any town, one of the most knowledgeable people in government," Max said. "The guy knows a lot about government. He's done a heck of a job."
Zydel was selected after two other interested persons, James Sala and Mike Leader, withdrew their names from consideration.
The committee's executive vice chairman, Zydel ran an unsuccessful bid for councilmember in a 2001 primary after there was a split between the committee and three incumbent councilmembers.
Max told the committee that he expects the process for the 2007 election to begin in April.
Residents will head to the polls in November to select a supervisor, and three councilmember seats currently belonging to Johnson, Jeff Swiatek, and Zydel. Town Clerk Mary Holtz, Town Justice Thomas S. Kolbert and Highway Supervisor Chris Kowal are also up for re-election in 2007.
Jankowiak was nominated at Monday's meeting by Councilmember Alice Magierski. Kenneth Carlucci, the committee's sergeantat arms, seconded the nomination.
Nominating Zydel was Jim Burst, with Kucewicz seconding the motion.
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