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Email: "Changes may bring downsizing"
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Just how many elected positions do we need in Chautauqua County? Apparently just enough so almost everyone can hold public office. In fact, we have so many offices for election, it has hurt our democracy. According to county Democratic election commissioner Norm Green, about 179 positions were up for election in Chautauqua County alone. However, only 50 of those positions were contested. Green also noted in his commentary, published in the OBSERVER on Oct. 25, that there are a total of 80,500 voters in the county. From Tuesday’s results, only about 35 percent of those registered voters turned out. Which really begs the question: How much government is truly functioning properly in our area? Voters in Erie and Niagara counties obviously believe less may be more effective. Voters in Niagara County this week overwhelmingly approved the downsizing of its Legislature from 19 to 15 while four Erie County towns have approved less representation on their boards, reducing the numbers from five to three. “I think it’s the right thing to do,” said downsizing supporter and Legislature Chairman Bill Ross, C-Wheatfield in the Niagara Falls Gazette. “You’ve got to show people that you are willing to do more with less. If you don’t set an example for your employees, you’re going to run into difficulty.” For our part, too many are not always “willing to do more with less.” It’s why: ¯ Two candidates battled for an $11,000 town highway superintendent post to ultimately maintain only five miles of road. ¯ Many public employees are receiving pay raises while private-sector wages are frozen or reduced during a recession. ¯ Our current batch of county lawmakers have rejected a Legislature reduction each time it comes before them. Forget it ever being part of a referendum vote. They may actually lose their job. We know how tough it can be to get a number of residents to run for office. Just take a listen to the video posted at www.observertoday.com where the Republicans thanked those who ran for office. “We really appreciate you guys stepping up and running. Not a lot of people do it.” But we have also seen the opposite — once they reach office, they cannot and will not step down. They pile up the perks and the pensions. That is not what public service is all about. Our silver lining from this election, we hope, is the dedication of many first-time candidates who ran on the platform of reducing government. If they keep their word — and politics is kept to a minimum — it will begin to happen. ¯ ¯ ¯ All readers are invited to take part in our “Blind Side” contest, which goes through Nov. 13. See the ad on Page A9 for more information or go to our Web site to view the trailer. ¯ ¯ ¯ Questions about the election or OBSERVER will be taken on Monday morning during “Viewpoint” on WDOE. News director Dave Rowley has invited me to be a guest from 9:05 to 9:30 a.m. John D’Agostino is the publisher of the OBSERVER. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 366-3000, ext. 401.

 

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