By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – A Democrat is now on the campaign trail for Erie County's top job. Amherst Town Board Member Daniel Ward launched his candidacy for County Executive Tuesday and had some harsh criticism for the Republican incumbent.
Dan Ward says it's time for a change in Erie County. He says four years ago Joel Giambra promised to cut spending, create new jobs and entice people to return to live and work in the county. But instead, Ward blames Giambra for the loss of local jobs and a drop in the county's population. And Ward says Giambra hasn't done enough to help Buffalo.
"Joel Giambra's pledge to promote regionalism and bring our communities together has now degenerated into a hostile takeover of the city of Buffalo by the county of Erie," Ward said.
Ward says the county is "not doing well" and accuses Giambra of depleting surplus dollars and increasing borrowing to balance the budget.
"We are in fiscal melt down in that building right over there," Ward said. "Something has to be done, radically different."
But the Republican Party's County Chairman Bob Davis says the critique of Giambra's performance is a "typical" response from a County Democrat. He says they always point the finger and blame others. Davis says the Democrats are "bankrupt" of ideas to help county government.
"Dan Ward ought to look in his own back yard," Davis said. "Last year, the town of Amherst raised property taxes 10 percent. Just two weeks ago, the Amherst town supervisor, a Democrat, announced property taxes would probably go up another 20 percent. That's a 30 percent increase in two years in the town of Amherst.
The town of Amherst better take a look at the way they do business. Dan Ward has been a member of that board for a long, long time. He has not done a very good job."
Giambra announced his re-election in March and expects to raise close to $2 million for his campaign. But the Democratic Party's County Chairman Len Lenihan says Ward doesn't need $2 million to unseat Giambra.
Lenihan says this race will be about responsible regionalism, cutting taxes and creating jobs.
Giambra had no comment on Ward's announcement. A spokesman simply said the County Executive was continuing his work for the "people."