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Dems in no rush to fill council seat
By John J. Hopkins Times
Less than three weeks after sweeping local elections, the Cheektowaga Democratic Party still has one council seat to fill, but the party's leader is taking his time before making a recommendation to the committee.
However, Chairman Frank Max said he has spoken with the three candidates who have expressed their interest in filling the vacancy: Stan Kaznowski III, Andrew Kulyk and Tim Meyers.
All three have aspirations to fill the seat that Councilmember Alice Magierski will vacate when she becomes town clerk on January 1, 2008.
"I've had really positive meetings with all of them," Max said. "I wouldn't say right now that I have any particular leaning, but we're getting there."
There are two years remaining on Magierski's unexpired term. Her post will be filled through an appointment by the town board, which generally accepts the recommendation made by the Democratic Committee.
Because the post will be filled by appointment, a potential candidate can force a special election next November to determine who fills the post for the final year.
"Bottom line, we have a little time to sort through this whole thing," Max told the Times. "We've seen some good candidates, from both sides of the ledger," he added in reference to town Republicans.
Kaznowski was among the three endorsed Democrats in the September primary, but he was edged out by Charlie Markel by six votes, the closest margin in town history. Kaznowski is president of the Town Park Homeowners Association and is Chief Financial Officer for Curtiss Screw Company.
Kulyk is a former town councilmember and currently serves as chairman of the Town Zoning Board of Appeals. The webmaster for the Town Democratic Committee, Kulyk is also executive vice chairman for the committee. He is a Cheektowaga business owner.
Meyers, son of former supervisor and Democratic Chairman Kenneth Meyers, has the support of the Teamsters Joint Council #46 and the ILA Longshoremen Local #1949. He works at the Niagara Falls airport.
Other candidates may be interested in the councilmember post as well. One name that has been mentioned in various political circles is James Sala, a Democratic committeeman who has a part-time job with the town as a sanitation inspector and has sought support from the committee for other recent political posts.
Councilmember Tom Johnson told the Times last week that published reports indicating he was interested in filling the post were erroneous.
Johnson said that at one point he told Max that he would fill the position on an interim basis until a candidate stepped forward. With at least three persons interested in the post, Johnson said his service isn't required.
"I strongly support Stan Kaznowski," Johnson added. "I was a taxpayer group president and Stan is a taxpayer group president. He comes from a nonpolitical perspective."
Johnson said there is a lot of value for residents to be served by councilmembers who come from outside the political arena.
"There are people who are going to listen to Tom,' said Max. "A lot of people like Tom, but that won't have any practical effect- other than the fact that I like Tom- on my preference and whom I may recommend."
Max pointed out that other candidates have their own supporters within the committee.
The composition of the town board has changed dramatically in recent years. When new members are sworn in on January 1, 2008, there will be only two members remaining from the board that was in office in July 2003.
The board in July 2003 consisted of Supervisor Dennis H. Gabryszak and councilmembers James J. Jankowiak, Patricia Jaworowicz, Tom Johnson, Tom Mazur, William Rogowski and Jeff Swiatek.
Rogowski, now retired, left to become receiver of taxes in July 2003. Mazur was elected to the Erie County Legislature in November 2005 and Gabryszak was elected to the New York State Assembly in November 2006. Jankowiak and Johnson are leaving office on December 31 after choosing not to seek re-election.
As of today, the board in 2008 will consist of: Mary Holtz, supervisor, and councilmembers Patricia Jaworowicz, Charlie Markel, Jim Rogowski, Jeff Swiatek and Rick Zydel.
"I think the way the board is changing, with a lot of fresh faces, there's a lot of new ideas popping up," said Max. "The people we've been bringing along in the 'farm system' are pretty good people. I'm very optimistic."
Max added that he hopes the next councilmember continues with the mind set established by the Democrats.
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