This year’s primary election in Amherst is focused on the fight on the Republican Party ranks The endorsed slate is pro-development and its most-recognized candidate, Dr. Barry Weinstein, who is himself, a developer.
Supervisor Mohan entered the fray with a recent mailing in which he urges registered Republicans to vote for “his” candidates; unknown Mark Klyczek and Deputy Supervisor Roy Wixon. He is also backing Dr. Weinstein. But the real story in this year’s election may be elsewhere.
One Democratic candidate has been quietly and steadily revealing his depth of support in the community and his leadership credibility. Anyone who has driven on North French Road lately knows the depth of support that Democratic candidate Jerry Schad brings to this year’s campaign. Schad has also done something that none of his fellow candidates, Republican or Democrat, have done. While others were working to secure their party’s endorsements in the spring, Jerry Schad invested his time participating in the Association of Towns Seventh Annual Town Finance & Management School. Conducted by the professional staff and counsel from the New York State Comptroller’s office, the program covered the latest information about municipal fiscal accountability, internal controls, legal developments, Government Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 45, and budgeting. Candidate Schad participated in the Association of Towns program his own expense. No other candidate participated; in fact, no member of the Town of Amherst staff participated in the Finance and Management School. So while others were out getting endorsements, Jerry Schad was keeping current on the latest in fiscal issues facing town governments.
Candidate Schad has also quietly served on the Amherst Citizen’s Review Commission which is composed of appointees from each of the Council members and the Supervisor. The CRC was established to review every aspect of the Town Government for adequacy and efficiency. This bipartisan group issued its first report to the Supervisor and Board in March, recommending replacement of the sand filters at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The recommendation was favorably acted upon by the Supervisor and Board. Its second report in July addressed its suggestions for possible efficiencies in Town operations and recommended further investigation by the appropriate town personnel. The Board has not yet acted on those CRC suggestions.
Mr. Schad brings substantial depth to his candidacy. He has thirty-five years of law firm experience with Buffalo’s oldest and largest law firm – Hodgson Russ LLP. He has expertise in tort liability and OSHA issues, which are all too common in the Town’s operations. He is an expert in disability and discrimination law where much of his legal practice was focused in over a decade of his later years with his law firm. He is also a part time administrative law judge, known as an Impartial Hearing Officer, who hears and determines complicated legal issues between parents and school districts which arise under the New York State Education Law and the federal Individuals withDisabilities Education Act.
Schad’s candidacy is one to watch and clearly residents are watching. Quiet hard work works. In the Primary on Tuesday, Schad has a primary fight in the small Working Families Party and he is very optimistic. He reports that he is confident that the candidacy of Michael Peller, the 26-year old son of a Republican, which arose from the WFP designation petition, obtained and notarized by Dr. Barry Weinstein, will fail and he will be selected in the Primary by WFP voters. If he is correct, Amherst residents will see Jerry Schad’s name on three lines on the November 6 ballot – Democratic, Independence, and Working Families Party lines.
Categories: Uncategorized
No Comments »
