Why We Fight
The Democratic Party fights for the things are important to average Americans. Things like fair wages, a clean environment, and civil rights. We believe that progress isn’t a dirty word; it’s the way to a better future.
Here in Erie County that means taking on elected officials that attack our way of life while promoting candidates and elected officials that aim to bring positive change to our county and local governments.
These are just some of the battles that we’ll be fighting to make Erie County a better place to live:
County Executive:
The Erie County Executive is the highest elected office in Erie County. We need a County Executive that believes Erie County government can be a force for good, not an obstacle to privatization that needs to be torn down.
Current Erie County Executive Chris Collins, a businessman who has made millions by outsourcing US jobs, has failed to give Erie County citizens the leadership they deserve in County Hall. Here are just some of the reasons why Erie County needs new leadership:
Wasted Taxpayer Dollars: County Executive Collins has wasted millions of taxpayer dollars defending his administration from lawsuits brought by New York State and the Federal government over appalling conditions found at Erie County jails. Instead of making needed improvement to safety, for both prisoners and guards, County Executive Collins has decided to waste your taxes to defend his fiefdom from common sense regulation.
Dictatorial Style: Not content with the speed, oversight, and checks and balances of the democratic process, County Executive Collins has used his office’s power to cajole, manipulate, and sometimes blatantly ignore the other branches of government. Tactics like this only serve to deny Erie County citizens the right to a fair democratic process. One need only look at Collin’s approach to the funding of cultural institutions to see his “does no play nice with others” attitude.
Cuts to vital Services: Working families relay upon a number of critical services to help them make ends meet, and take care of their children. County Executive Collins has gone after healthcare clinics in low income neighborhoods, and he even had the gall to close daycare centers for the working poor, preventing low income mothers who want to work from even doing so.
