This is the first installment of Executive Session, where BTPM News checks in with leaders around Western New York and Southern Ontario about the issues that matter to them.
With Erie County Democratic Committee Chairman Jeremy Zellner facing challengers for that job for the first time in quite some time, Cheektowaga Supervisor Brian Nowak wants Democrats to know why he's running, without party endorsement, for treasurer of the County Democratic Committee.
“Sometimes you have to take unconventional approaches to getting good things done,” said Nowak, who sees the leadership mostly doing its job well. There are plenty of good Democratic candidates running in offices across the county, he said, because good people are there on the committee tapping the right people to run.
“There are a lot of good people involved,” but, said Nowak, “there are some things that can be better.”
Some of those issues aren’t immediately on the minds of rank-and-file Democrats, but when Nowak poses some of those what he calls “inside baseball” questions on social media, both leadership and everyday Democrats seem to take notice.
“It's an issue when we have a financial oversight subcommittee, and the people that are supposed to be steering the ship don't know who the people are. Where's the captain? Who's the captain? And this bleeds over into other issues within the organization,” said Nowak.
Many of those issues deal with transparency of the finance committee and making sure that the committee has the tools to accomplish oversight, but they also include more clarity on at-large members of the committee. Working towards a resolution of his concerns is more important, he says, than winning an election.
“My interest in running for treasurer of the ECDC is to draw attention to a platform,” said Nowak.
“If those things actually change and someone else is the county party treasurer, I consider it a success. I don't expect to win.”
Nowak says he knows that some might view his airing of these concerns as a hostile act, but he hopes most people know his inventions are pure. He will work with whoever is ultimately elected to committee leadership to seek the reforms he champions.
“It really is about leaving what I'm getting involved in better off for the next group of people that show up.”
