Looking at these elections
Tuesday's euphoria must fade, winners have much work to do
Imagine, for a moment:
“The voters of Erie County have placed their trust in me for another four years, and I want to thank them for that. I promise them my best work. But let me also say this. The jails were a big issue in this campaign, and I understand why.
“I want all Erie County residents to know that I know there are real problems there. I recognize that they need my full attention. I have some disagreements with the Justice Department and, you know, I don't even set my own budget, but the buck stops with me. The jails are my responsibility and I pledge that you won't regret placing your trust in me. I will use my new term to fix these problems.”
Would it have been so hard for Sheriff Timothy Howard to say something like that in his re- election victory speech Tuesday night? Something that acknowledges an obvious truth instead of dodging it? Evidently so, given what he did say: “First, I want to thank all the voters of Erie County for seeing through all of the negative things that have been said over the last couple of months about our jail.”
That's it. No promises, not even an acknowledgment of the seriousness of the “negative things.”
We hope that was just a case of election night elation, because the “things that have been said about our jail” are facts. Two people did escape, and one of them shot three state troopers and killed one of them. A registered sex offender was wrongly released and is charged with raping a Buffalo woman during his freedom. A double-murder suspect was found starved and dehydrated in his cell. The state and federal governments are suing over civil rights violations at the county's jails.
Those events aren't make-believe. They demand a level of seriousness and humility not much in evidence in any race on Tuesday. Here's hoping Howard gets that, and makes some needed changes.
• • •
The big disappointment regarding Tuesday's elections was the pitiful turn out — about 24 percent of registered voters. We know it's an off-year election and we know there was no real contest in the Buffalo mayoral race, which was decided in September's Democratic primary but, still, it seems that people would place a little greater value on a right for which many have died. Maybe next year.
• • •
In other local elections, some good things happened. The Erie County Legislature became a little more balanced, with Republicans picking up three seats. That still leaves Democrats with a 9-6 majority, but it's one that will require greater cooperation across the aisle. That could be a good thing for voters who like some of the ideas of County Executive Chris Collins but who still want to retain a check on an administration that can be provocative.
Meanwhile, in Niagara County, voters took the ax to their Legislature, approving by an overwhelming 83 percent vote a plan to shrink it to 15 seats from 19. It may not be the most effective way to gain control of government, but voters are clearly expressing their frustration. They want government to operate more efficiently and with less drama. Incumbents take note.
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