By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Erie County Executive-elect Chris Collins is fending off criticism that politics-as-usual is creeping into his administration even before he takes office.
Some of Chris Collins' campaign aides are already being paid by the county to work on his transition. And several transition team members are familiar political names - mostly Republicans. Among them Dennis Vacco, whose wife was appointed to the historically patronage-ladden Water Authority last week.
According to Collins, the possible outward appearance of politics is nothing more than that.
Collins said his transition team chairs are merely advisors - who can offer perspective on government that he does not have. And Collins said he will be in charge of hiring.
Collins added - emphatically - that none of his executive committee team members would end up serving in his administration.
He expects to name his appointments by month's end. In the meantime, Collins says he is working with all sectors to find out what needs to be done once he takes over.
That does include some Democrats. Legislator Michelle Ianello is a Democrat and is on the sub-committee for tourism.
She does not necessarily agree with Collins on everything either. He wants the Convention and Visitors Bureau to get all the bed tax. She favors an incremental move in that direction. But Ianello does support Collins' approach to fixing county government, by first thoroughly analyzing what works and what doesn't.
Collins said he is reaching out to those most familiar with the problems - regardless of which aisle they are on.
Collins said he is also optimistic he can help bridge the gap between the legislature and the control board to end the stalemate that is holding up capital borrowing and the 2008 budget.
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