Mohan won’t seek new term in Amherst
Supervisor cites election promise, wishes of family; says politics limited achievements
Amherst Supervisor Satish B. Mohan, following the pledge he made when he was elected, will step down when his term ends Dec. 31.
The 73-year-old Mohan, whose independent campaign changed the political landscape in Erie County when he beat a well-known incumbent in 2005, said he made the decision several weeks ago.
He and his wife were with their son, daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter in New York City when they discussed his seeking another four-year term.
“I looked at everybody’s eyes, and, ah, nobody said this,” he said, as he nodded his head.
As he spoke those words Friday afternoon in his Town Hall office, Usha, his wife, shook her head.
“He promised one term only,” she said.
“I tried to convince them that really, in a society, we came with nothing and we have everything today. So we have a duty to serve this society,” Mohan said.
“Dad, you have served four years,” his children told him.
Mohan’s popularity was linked with his image as a bright and independent leader, but he quickly met resistance in Town Hall. Some, encouraged by his refreshing apolitical start, were disappointed that town government did not quickly become more effective.
He said he would not do anything differently, but he blamed politics for not achieving all that he set out to do.
“Democracy, in my opinion, is not well served by career politicians; they tend to have their primary focus on the next election,” he said.
Mohan recalled that four years ago he promised to accomplish five goals: lower taxes by 15 percent, minimize flooding and sinking of homes, establish a fair property assessment, retain the young and educated in the area, and restore integrity and a sense of economy to town government.
“I could not lower taxes by 15 percent in one year; there was no political will on the Town Board,” he said.
For three years, he kept the tax levy at $73 million, where it will remain for next year’s budget, he said. But the stable taxes resulted from using millions of dollars of fund balance.
He also took credit for reducing the number of full-time employees and the cost of health care premiums. Several flood mitigation projects will be undertaken this year, he said, and the town is undergoing a full reassessment.
“I feel that I have been able to fulfill my promises to the extent that politics permitted me,” he said.
Had he decided to run again, he could have faced some stiff competition from Barry Weinstein, a Republican Council member.
A poll conducted in January by Barry Zeplowitz and Associates indicated that if an election were held at that time, Mohan, who was elected as a Republican but became a Democrat last year, would lose to Weinstein, who intends to run for supervisor this fall. Weinstein attended Mohan’s announcement, as did Alice Kryzan, who ran for Congress last year.
When asked if she plans to seek the supervisor’s seat, she said she expects to have an announcement soon.
Mohan did not make any endorsement Friday. He said he will study the agendas and platforms of the candidates and then make a decision.
His family felt the job took a toll on him, but he does not.
“I work 12 hours, seven days a week, but I feel very satisfied that I’m doing something positive,” he said.
He plans to return to the University at Buffalo to teach and do research in the civil, structural and environmental engineering department, where he is an associate professor.
“I would like to retire as a teacher, which I’ve always enjoyed,” he said.
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