Looking for One Good Woman

With the election for Erie’s county executive looming, there’s considerable speculation going on about possible candidates.

Political pundits have stated that the Erie County Republican Party is lobbying for a woman to run in the upcoming county executive race. Through the political grapevine I hear that Erie County’s Democratic Committee is also looking for the perfect Ms. “CE.”

My response to both scenarios? It’s about time!

For years I have been yammering about the lack of women within this region occupying higher political office and one of the strongest responses to my challenge has been “what women are there to elect?”

That response has always clearly exhibited the deficient vision and lack of awareness about the intelligent, astute and capable women who live and work in this region. There are a number of women across Erie County who, no doubt, could handle all that the office of County Executive entails. In some cases, these individuals do not have a wealth of political experience or background, but they are exceedingly capable in the business, education, and entrepreneurial sectors in which they achieve. All they need are the votes and a few well-chosen staffers to be able to bring this area from the brink of decay and destruction into a new world order.

With that, I present this short list of potential candidates. They are women who I believe could not only manage, but also revitalize Erie County. Consider this a starting point from which to further the discussion and possibly even cultivate a real life candidate:

• Marsha Henderson — Acknowledged throughout the region as an astute businesswoman and a strategic thinker. Henderson is perhaps best known as the former district president of Key Bank of Western New York, a title she held for seven years. She now works as the vice president for external affairs at the University at Buffalo, a post created to give UB the benefit of her wide-ranging expertise. Along with her professional capabilities, Henderson is also a strong supporter and tireless fundraiser for local arts and community causes.

• Donna Fernandes — Working as the director of the Buffalo Zoo may actually be the ultimate qualifier for the job of county executive, but I digress. Fernandes is highly educated, an excellent administrator and strong in her people skills. She is also obviously devoted to the area. Furthermore, she possesses remarkable fund-raising abilities and a wealth of national connections that could serve this region well. In her time as zoo director, Fernandes has exhibited a strong vision and substantial abilities as a strategic thinker/planner.

• Mindy Rich — A Renaissance woman, Rich has changed this region through her professional role at Rich Products as an ahead-of-the-curve community activist and through her tireless volunteer work. In all of her roles as a professional woman, a wife and a citizen, Rich is a multi-tasker who is well respected in international venues from corporate boardrooms to baseball stadiums, from drug rehab centers to hospital research labs. She also seems to effect change with a respectful eye on the past and a vision for the future, which particularly matters in this community.

• Carol Bronnenkant — Here is a woman who completely personifies determination. A self described “stay at home mom,” Bronnenkant single handedly initiated and then worked to further the restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Graycliff, set along the lake shore in Derby. Once satisfied that the restoration was well under way, Bronnenkant departed the Graycliff project and began a new restoration campaign involving a number of architecturally significant churches in the City of Buffalo. This woman is a true networker who “knows” fundraising and completely understands running a project on a shoestring budget. She is also obviously devoted to our community.

• Sr. Johnice — Founder and director of the Response to Love Center, Sr. Johnice is a one-woman dynamo with lofty ambitions and even loftier standards. She changes people’s lives everyday by teaching them how to take responsibility for themselves. In so doing, she refuses to extend a helping hand to anyone who expects more for less. She educates, feeds, clothes, and at times even houses those in need, always with the reminder that they need to earn while they learn. She’s been recognized nationally for her accomplishments, including her uncanny ability to procure funding and resources where it appears there is none. No one says “no” to Sr. Johnice.

So there you have it. Five capable women, any of which I believe could tackle the job.

Now if we could just get one of them, or a woman like them, to run.

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