POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Checking the dates

Local News

August 17, 2008

By Mark Scheer<br><a href="mailto:scheerm@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Mark</a> The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Sun Aug 17, 2008, 12:39 AM EDT

North Tonawanda, NY — An anonymous e-mailer noted that while Assembly candidate Paula Banks-Dahlke’s financial reports were available at the state Board of Elections Web site last week, items included on the report were recorded in August, after the July 15 filing deadline.

Critics of Niagara County Republican Party Chairman Henry Wojtaszek took issue with Banks-Dahlke’s filing in light of Wojtaszek’s stern treatment of late filer Assembly candidate Mike Cole. Last month, Wojtaszek fired off a letter of complaint to the state Board of Elections, asking that “appropriate action” be taken against Cole for failing to meet the July 15 filing deadline. Cole, the endorsed Republican for the 142nd District, is being challenged in the Republican primary by Wojtaszek’s favored candidate, Jane Corwin.

Critics wondered why he didn’t take a similar stand with Banks-Dahlke, who admitted this week that her July report was indeed late.

When asked about it this week, Wojtaszek said simply that Cole is a repeat offender and Banks-Dahlke is not.

“This is a pattern,” Wojtaszek said. “This is like the sixth one he has filed late.”

Wojtaszek said he did not believe Banks-Dahlke deserved the same treatment.

“I think people deserve the opportunity to right the ship,” he said. “If it was her third or fourth time in a row, I certainly would be filing a complaint against her.”

Banks-Dahlke said her July report was filed a few days late because her campaign treasurer was out of town on business at the deadline and left the information with another campaign supporter who could not file it on time due to a personal emergency. She said her campaign contacted the officials at the state board of elections immediately to tell them about the problem and to inform them that the paperwork would be late. She said the state board gave no indication that the situation would be a cause of concern for her campaign.

“We stayed in touch with them the whole time,” she said.

Official endorsement

Niagara Falls Republicans threw their support behind City Court judge candidate Charles Pitarresi this week. City Republican Committee Chairman Frank Pannozzo said members of the committee believe Pitaressi has the “qualifications, practical experience and personal judgment” needed for the job.

Clairvoyant decision makers?

In a miraculous feat, members of the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency’s Board of Directors issued a two-page press release on decisions made by the body immediately following the meeting in which the decisions were made.

Members of the press were provided with a written account of Wednesday’s meeting, including the board’s acceptance of several tax incentive packages for various companies and the approval of loans for three area small businesses.

It was really something, as if board members knew what they were going to do before they even did it.

A sound bite

Members of the Niagara County Legislature’s Economic Development Committee received a presentation this week from Roy “Honcho” Gregory, a man Legislature Chairman Bill Ross described as the “barbecue king of Niagara County.” Ross asked the committee to support his resolution to give Gregory’s organization, the Fraternal Order of the Eagles in Wheatfield, $2,500 in support of this weekend’s Smokin’ Eagles Barbecue Championship at The Summit mall.

After Ross finished with his eloquent introduction of the county’s main man at the barbecue pit, Niagara Falls lawmaker Sean O’Connor asked the first, hard-hitting question about the committee’s guest.

“He didn’t bring any samples did he?” O’Connor quipped.

Contact Mark Scheer

at 282-2311.

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