GOP candidate pins hopes on his message in uphill Erie County executive battle

Assemblyman Ray Walter picked NRG’s soon-to-be-shuttered Huntley power plant as the backdrop for his latest campaign proposal in his bid to unseat County Executive Mark Poloncarz. The plant’s closing is sure to create a tax revenue shortage for the Town of Tonawanda and the Ken-Ton school district, but Walter says his new plan for how sales tax revenue will be distributed in the county would help ease residents burden. 

“Businesses closing put a greater burden on hardworking taxpayers of Tonawanda,” the Amherst Republican said. “If Tonawanda residents receive their fair share (of sales tax revenue) it will help cover the cost of the Huntley plant.”

Walter’s tax plan, which he calls the Fair Share plan, would change the way that sales tax is divided, taking the larger portion that goes to the county’s three cities – Buffalo, Lackawanna and Tonawanda – and redistributing it in a way that would see each municipality get approximately the same amount for each resident.

The plan is a key platform in an ambitious race that has him up against an opponent with a number of advantages, perhaps most importantly a sizable war chest. The incumbent Democrat’s campaign last reported having more than $646,000 on hand in the July periodic reporting paperwork while Walter’s recently formed county executive campaign fund reported having $52,356 on hand in the same filings.

The campaign cash chasm isn’t his only challenge. The county has low unemployment and large-scale construction projects, so it is difficult to criticize Poloncarz on the economy. The incumbent Democrat was also boosted by positive headlines for his handling of last year’s super snowstorm, including praise from Gov. Andrew Cuomo. In the aftermath, Poloncarz did receive some criticism of his handling of the storm, but mostly from officials in less populated areas of the district.

Walter also has a name recognition problem. While well-liked in his Assembly district, Walter’s status as a member of the minority in a state house dominated by Democrats does not give him the kind of visibility that comes with being at the helm of county government.

Aware of all this, Walter has been hitting the campaign trail hard, touring the county non-stop over the last few weeks and making dozens of stops at diners and community events to reach out to voters in an effort to grow his name recognition.

Walter acknowledged the advantages for Poloncarz, who he describes as a “caretaker county executive,” but said he believes he can overcome those obstacles by getting the message out about his tax plan and other initiatives he describes as the kind proactive governing his opponent does not engage in.

“We have ideas,” Walter said. “That’s the main thing. People are crying out for ideas on how to bring prosperity to all of Erie County.”

Walter will be getting help from his party, at least at the county level. Erie County’s GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy, who was on hand for the candidate’s press conference, said county Republicans will be there to support Walter, financially and otherwise, as he works to gain a foothold in the race.

“We’re completely dedicated to this race,” Langworthy said. “Ray will have the money to get his message out.”

For a while, it didn’t look certain that the GOP would find a candidate to take on Poloncarz. Several Republicans – including County Clerk Chris Jacobs and County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw – toyed with the idea before ultimately bowing out.

Langworthy said he believes the party found the right candidate to shake Poloncarz from his position and that Walter’s aggressive campaigning is going to end up surprising the incumbent.

“He think’s he’s got a comfortable lead and he’s going to sit on it,” Langworthy said.

Meanwhile, Poloncarz said he is confident that his record will give him the votes he needs to keep his seat.

Reached by phone hours before a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of capital improvements at a Buffalo park, Poloncarz disagreed with Walter's and Langworthy’s claims that he was not out meeting with constituents and getting his message out. The ribbon cutting was a prime example, he said.

And responding to claims that he has a lack of vision or is a passive leader, Poloncarz pointed to the reduction in the unemployment rate, noting that he walked into the county executive’s office with the rate at almost 9 percent following the tenure of Republican Chris Collins. The rate is now 5.1 percent.

‘We have tremendous plans with regards to our economy and health and human service delivery in Erie County,” Poloncarz said. “I mean, the greatest way to affect the residents of this community and to create a stronger Erie County is to create jobs, and that’s exactly what we’ve done these last four years.”

Poloncarz said that if he seems comfortable in the race it’s because he has shown that he can run a stable county government, working with the legislature to pass budgets that create modest surpluses each year without raising taxes, while also maintaining services for residents.

“I’m running on my record because I’m proud of my record,” Poloncarz said, “and I believe people will respond to it.”