First, Chris Collins came for the inner- city medical clinics, claiming that the health of poor people is not the county’s business.

He dumped programs at the Jesse E. Nash Health Care Center on William Street and the Dr. Matt Gajewski Center on Broadway, even though state grants and patient fees covered most of the bill.

The Legislature tried to thwart him, to no avail. Primary care has ended at both sites, with Gajewski about to be shuttered and Nash offering only a few ancillary services.

And we did not speak out because we have health insurance and don’t need public clinics.

Then he came for the impoverished day care mothers, slashing their subsidies for child care while they work to lift themselves out of poverty.

He kicked hundreds of children out of the program, with some parents warning that, without this help to take care of their kids, they would be forced to quit work and go on welfare. Those lucky enough to find relatives to watch their tykes nevertheless were forced to forgo the enrichment activities available in well-run day care, activities that can give their kids an educational boost.

And we did not speak out because we are not poor and don’t need day care assistance to keep our jobs or help our children.

Then he came for any county lawmakers who balked at such moves. Claiming to be a nonpolitician, he tried to wipe out any semblance of checks and balances and co-opt a separate branch of government by running his own candidates to take over the Legislature.

And we did not speak out because . . . well . . . that’s politics, and we don’t have time for that.

Then he came for the county comptroller, gutting his 2011 budget and dismantling his auditing staff because he doesn’t like being criticized and doesn’t want anyone keeping tabs on how he’s ruining the rest of county government.

And we did not speak out because we don’t rely on county departments, so it doesn’t matter if there’s someone making sure the bureaucracy operates as it should. We did not speak out because, to be honest, we don’t pay much attention to government at all.

Then he came for the cultural agencies, cutting the small ones completely out of his 2011 budget, after demanding that the big ones sign contracts giving him a death grip on their operations and artistic freedom.

And we did not speak out because we are not cultural officials. We did not speak out because we only go to the movies and don’t care about being a vibrant, intellectually stimulating community. We did not speak out because it’s enough to have just a handful of major institutions forced to market to the lowest common denominator, because that’s running government like a business.

Then he came for the libraries, cutting $4 million from the system’s budget and forcing reduced hours even though usage is up in a down economy. Reduced hours next year will mean reduced access to all that the libraries offer.

And we did not speak out because our kids read e-books and research school assignments from their bedroom computers. We did not speak out because we go to Barnes&Noble for the latest releases. We did not speak out because we don’t need the libraries’ free job-search services.

And then he came for the $74 million reserve fund the county is sitting on. And there was no one left to speak out and say the obvious: that in Chris Collins’ world, this money is to run for re-election on next year, not to serve people.

rwatson@buffnews.comnull