Select Republican Party faithful are gathered in the Rich Renaissance Atrium, milling within pecking order pockets. Restlessly, they await the appearance of their re-annointed county executive, Joel Giambra.

Following some election night dissertations by Republican Party Chairman Bob Davis and Deputy County Executive Carl Calabrese, CE Giambra steps into the dais spotlight. It is a moment of triumph and celebration for the man, the party, and the many stalwart political foot soldiers who labored for months to reinstate him.

As Giambra passionately delivers his victory speech his message is crystal clear. This second term victory is a mandate for his leadership, and he is a leader who knows best. The future of Erie County is Giambra’s to shape and command and we the residents are blessed to benefit from his wisdom and ideals.

No matter if we the people want to embrace his regionalism plan or desire to even have a say in our future…Giambra is now fully enthroned as the self appointed wise and wonderful wizard.

December 30, 2007

Republican Democrat, and varying political party faithful are gathered in the UB Center for the Performing Arts Auditorium. Liberally interspersed with the politicos are members of the Erie County electorate….the everyday men and women who actually pull the levers that chose county government leaders. All been invited to the swearing-in of County Executive Elect, Chris Collins, as valued members of the process.

As the event unfolds, Collins and his family take center stage where the business oriented leader places his hand on a Bible and promises to uphold a number of idealistic platitudes. Then Collins stands alone on the cavernous stage, shielded in part by a podium bearing the Seal of Erie County. As the spotlight shines upon him, the newly sworn-in leader begins to speak of his election mandate….a term that has ominously echoed through the county before.

Yet Collins defines the term as a challenge for change, rather than his annointing as a ruler. He talks of identifying shared goals and working toward true achievements by partnering with the best and the brightest, no matter their affiliation or connections. He offers the golden carrot of a brighter future through an re-invigorated economy and lower taxes and wraps it all within the encouraging terms of new chances, different paths and better tomorrows.

It’s hard not to want to embrace the new world order of Erie County as defined in County Executive’s dictionary. Only time will tell if his definitions of our future can actually exist and flourish.

 Part of the problem is that there aren't enough good people available to run for office and serve.  It's a dilema that involves the high cost of political campaigns and the invasive nature of the business… that which basically strips a person of any privacy or dignity relative to their life both professionally and personally.  Bottom line, even if you have the money to finance a campaign, why would you put yourself and your family through the frenzied and invasive process?

That being said, there are a handful of political officials out there that I believe are involved for the right reasons.  One of the most outstanding is current Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul.  I have known Kathy for many years in her capacity as a Town of Hamburg Official and also as a woman, wife and mother.  She is a dedicated human being as well as a conscientious government worker.  And as I have heard her say quite often, she made a deliberate choice to return to WNY, leaving behind a lucrative career in Washington, DC and she is proud of her career as a government politico.

Kathy's can do attitude that has helped to tumble the NYS Thruway toll booths, improve the Lake Erie waterfront and lead Hamburg to the forefront of WNY communities, is a positive in this area's political system.  Her direct style of government service is also helping to remove some of the tarnish off the job title of career politician.

We're lucky to have her serving our community and we need to start searching out and electing more like her. 

 A nice gathering of 50 or so interested WNY'ers showed up to listen and ask questions.  Afterwards the lure of Casa di Pizza chow kept both audience and panel members around to chat and exchange contact info.

 The most interesting part for me was listening to the varied perspectives that we panelists offered on the same topic.  Each one of us comes from a different place in writing our blogs but all of us shared the same common denominator …..passion.

 Hopefully our words of wisdom, such as they were, will inspire others to take up the task and join in the fun.

 Kudos to Buffalo News Hub Managers Deanna Russo and Ben Kirst for organizing the event and working hard throughout the WNY Community to establish a BEN blog presence.

 My response to their reports is, what's your point?

 Once upon a time, the purpose of primaries was to allow voters to choose the candidate they wished to represent them in an upcoming election.  Traditionally, these choices were made between two candidates, who were running against each other on one of the two major lines—Democrats or Republicans.  

Following the primaries, those candidates selected from each party spent the next two months vying for the political office in question.  Then on election day, voters made their final choice.  That was it, neat and simple.

These days, candidates have perfected the art of worming their name onto multiple voting lines on the election ballot.  Further, where there used to be two or three party lines there are now an extensive and confusing array of party lines  to the point that even the most experienced of voters is tempted to randomly pull the voting levers just to be able to quickly escape the overwhelming experience.

 The races where I find this over proliferation of candidates most concerning is the judgeships.  There candidates have found ways to get their names included on every line, with every party, no matter their affiliation.   So really, the primary is the election in advance with the added twist of the party affiliation serving as irrelevant.

 Growing up I always admired politicians and the political process as a career where one could serve the community and make a difference working together.  These days however, politics has become a business of big money, unfair election processes and manipulative behing the scenes deal making that has virtually eliminated the voters.

 A light turn out?  I wonder why people make the effort to go the polls and vote at all.

 Unfortunately, our last show featuring the Hope Chest Dragon Boat Team of breast cancer survivors, along with some terrific WNY woman musicians who are playing to raise money for breast cancer reseach, never made the transition from live broadcast to podcast.  Following that show, further production challenges seemed to dictate temporarily put the show on hold until all bugs could be ironed out.

 In the mean time I am working on various projects that will hopefully bring WNY to the media forefront and continue to impress on all of us the wonderful lifestyle we enjoy here in the Queen City and her surrounding communities.

 Hope you listeners miss me as much as I miss broadcasting the show.  Please stay in touch and keep checking the blog as I will try and post more often now that the show is on hiatus.

They are looking for men, and especially women, in the arenas of politics, business, entertainment, media, and sports.

I have a list, but I thought I would see what suggestions any of you might have.

Name away…….

 UNFORTUNATELY, THIS SHOW HAD TO BE POSTPONED UNTIL TUESDAY AUGUST 21ST… SORRY FOR THE LAST MINUTE NOTICE. TUNE IN TUESDAY AUGUST 21TH AT 7PM FOR BUFFALOSTYLE 20: HOPE CHEST DRAGON BOAT TEAM*****

Boats are a commonly enjoyed summer sight across Lake Erie’s horizon.

     Yet over the last four years there has been a water-worthy vessel cresting the waves of the Niagara River in a form and manner that is anything but common.     

     The particular craft in question is known as a Dragon Boat.  It is constructed in an ancient Chinese tradition of honoring the dragon as a fierce, but kind, female mythological creature.  Interestingly, this crew of this Dragon Boat is comprised of fiercely dedicated and kind WNY female creatures bound together by one common denominator… breast cancer.   

 Hope Chest is the name of the remarkable group of woman who pilot this dragon boat and together with their trainer/organizer/leader, Laurie Dooley, they have become an inspiration to breast cancer survivors throughout Western New York.      

     On Monday August 27th Hope Chest will further expand their impact as WNED’s Think Bright programming will broadcast a documentary about the team on Time Warner Cable Channel 21. 

 The ultimate aim is to promote this documentary, beautifully crafted by WNY’er Jon Hand, to an international level so that breast cancer survivors around the world will hear and witness the Hope Chest women’s very special message of hope.     

     Join me on Buffalostyle this Tuesday as I talk with members of the Hope Chest Dragon Boat Team.  We’ll chat about the team, their competitions, their breast cancer struggles and the filming of the documentary.  And for a sneak preview of the film check out their website http://www.hopechestbuffalo.com/album/gallery.asp.     

     Call in live at 886-9696….or listen later at buffalostyle.wnymedia.net

It was a hot night in the studio as members of the jazz group, From All Directions joined me to talk and play music on Buffalostyle.

Unfortunately, representatives of Under the Scope Magazine never made it to the studio.  But their absence allowed extended time for these four talented and personable young men from Williamsville to play jazz music of a caliber way beyond their years.

Give a listen and enjoy both the music and the talk…..