Amherst
Six seeking three Amherst Town Board seats
Six candidates are vying for three seats on the Amherst Town Board and only one is an incumbent.
Republican candidates include Barbara S. Nuchereno, who ran for Erie County Family Court last year, and newcomers Richard "Jay" Anderson and Steven D. Sanders. All three support letting voters decide on Town Board downsizing in a public referendum.
The Democrats are fielding Daniel J. Ward, who is running for his fifth term; Williamsville School Board Member Ramona D. Popowich; and newcomer Toni L. Vazquez. All three have received support from the Amherst Quality of Life coalition of neighborhood groups.
Popowich, 59, is a supervisor of teacher candidates for D'Youville College and was past president and a nine-year member of the Williamsville School Board.
She said she wants to protect public safety services, improve town infrastructure, and encourage green technology, energy conservation and redevelopment. She also said she has a record of fiscal oversight and working with others in public service.
"The Town Board should be modeling the right behavior for our town," she said. "How can our town be a leader if our Town Board is not acting in a responsible manner?"
Popowich is endorsed by the Democratic, Working Families and Independence parties, the Good Government Club, the Amherst Police Club, and the Amherst Volunteer Firefighters United. She has raised about $9,600 and is contributing $3,000 of her own money.
Vazquez, 41, co-owns and manages a West Side medical practice in the City of Buffalo. She is the first African-American candidate to run for an Amherst Town Board seat. She has raised about $18,000 and said she is self-financing with another $10,000.
Vazquez said she wants to lower taxes and stem the exodus of families. She also wants to focus on redevelopment, efficient government through attrition and consolidation, and less political infighting.
"I'm prepared to represent all the residents of Amherst, regardless of their affiliation or their background," she said.
Vasquez is endorsed by the Democratic and Working Families parties, AFL-CIO and Communication Workers of America. She also said she has support from Congressman Brian Higgins, Supervisor Satish Mohan and Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown.
Finally, there's Ward, 61. He's served 14 years as an elected town official, including one term as supervisor. He also served one term as an Erie County legislator and lost races for county executive, County Legislature, State Assembly and Senate.
As a council member, he counts among his accomplishments the creation of Natureview Park and the establishment of the Eggertsville Community Center. Ward touts his reputation as a neighborhood advocate, a pro-environment agenda and government experience.
"I think for individuals and people in particular neighborhoods, they see me as the go-to guy to protect their interests," he said.
Ward is endorsed by the Democratic, Independence, Conservative and Working Families parties, the Amherst Police Club, Amherst Volunteer Firefighters United and the Sierra Club. He carries numerous other union endorsements. He has raised more than $10,600.
Among the Republican candidates, Sanders, 39, is an accountant with his own practice in Cheektowaga. He is also an associate faculty member with the University of Phoenix Online and an adjunct instructor with Medaille College.
Sanders said he favors "intelligent growth" in the town, fair and equitable property taxes, and serving as a financial watchdog to make sure the town gets full value for every dollar spent providing high quality services.
"What I find is resonating most with the public is that I have a CPA and an MBA," he said. "They're looking to someone who is professional."
Sanders is endorsed by the Republican and Conservative parties and has raised more than $15,000 and spent $2,000 of his own money.
Anderson, 32, is a military veteran who worked in medical equipment sales before spending nearly 14 months on active duty including nine months in the Middle East. He has taken college leadership courses and hopes to launch printing and consulting businesses.
Anderson said he wants to lower taxes through efficiency, reform the assessment process, focus on redevelopment and push to remove the Williamsville toll barrier.
"I bring true leadership and a good perspective in how to run government and execute our town budget," he said.
Anderson said he's raised more than $11,000 for his race, and is spending another $4,000 of his own money earned while in the military. He is endorsed by the Republican Party and the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors.
Nuchereno, 48, is a law clerk for Sharon S. Townsend, vice dean of the state's Judicial Institute for Family and Matrimonial Matters. She was previously a private practice attorney for 13 years.
She said she supports redevelopment, fair property assessments, and the maintainance of town services without raising taxes. As a lifelong town resident, she said she understands taxpayer issues and is adept at contract evaluation and mediation.
"I work well with people," she said. "I'm a trained problem solver."
Nuchereno is endorsed by the Republican, Conservative and Independence parties, the Amherst Police Club, Amherst Volunteer Firefighters United, and the Good Government Club.
She has raised more than $21,000 in this race. According to the State Board of Elections, she continues to raise money under the committee established for her run for Family Court judge last year. Nuchereno said her treasurer filed documents to get the name changed long ago, but the state hasn't done it.
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