Amherst Times

Democratic Chairman Len Lenihan’s Letter to Committee Members Points To Achievements…Asks If Democrats Want “To Go Back To Fighting Each Other” 

Written by Glenn Gramigna, Editor   

Erie County Democratic Chairman Len Lenihan is coming out fighting in response to the recent announcement by Cheektowaga Chair Frank Max that he will challenge him next fall. In a recent letter to county Democratic committee members, Lenihan drew a sharp contrast between the shape the party was in when he took over six  years ago and the much better condition it’s in now.

Among other things, he pointed to the election of Brian Higgins to Congress, Mark Poloncarz as county comptroller and Kathy Hochul as county clerk, the establishment of a 12-3 Democratic majority in the county legislature, and the successful campaigns of five Democratic Supreme Court candidates in the last four years as examples of his achievements. Chairman Lenihan contrasted this record with the fact that Republicans controlled the 27th District congressional seat, the county legislature, and the county comptroller’s office while Republicans elected one SC Justice after another before he came on the scene.

“Do you want to continue moving forward or…do  you want to go back to fighting each other,” he asked. “I look forward to communicating with you regularly over the course of this year so we can continue our success.”

The full text of his letter follows… 

A little over 5 years ago we embarked on an important new journey. Working together our task was to restore credibility and vision to a County Democratic Committee that had lost its way. The challenge was huge!

THEN

• The Erie County Democratic Committee was deeply in debt.
• Erie County had a Republican Congressman in the 27^th District.
• Erie County had a Republican Legislature.
• Erie County had a Republican Comptroller.
• Every Supreme Court Candidate ECDC endorsed against a Republican over a seven year period was defeated.
• Worse yet, our reputation was badly injured by the level of division within our party that was on display for all to see. Many statewide officials and candidates told me they dreaded coming to Erie County out of fear of getting caught up in the civil war that gripped us.

Today, some five years later, I am proud to report to you that by pulling our party together and working in a unified fashion we have arrived at a much different place!

NOW

• Our party debt has been reduced by more than 70 percent: from $ 225K to 65K.
• Democratic Congressman Brian Higgins won the 27^th District after 12 years of Republican domination.
• The Erie County Legislature evolved from an 8 to 7 Republican controlled body to a 12 to 3 Democratic controlled body in 3 short years.
• Democrat Mark Poloncarz took over the Erie County Comptroller’s office after more than 30 years of Republican domination.
• The election of five Democratic Supreme Court Judges in the last four years has put an end to Republican domination of State Supreme Court.
• We made history in 2005 by supporting Byron Brown for Mayor of the City of Buffalo.
• In January 2006, in special recognition of ECDC’s rebuilding and unifying success, the NYS Democratic Committee chose Buffalo and Erie County to host the 2006 New York State Democratic Convention.
• In 2007, we proudly supported Jim Keane for County Executive and we elected a new County Clerk with the victory of Kathy Hochul succeeding Dave Swarts who became DMV Commissioner under Governor Eliot Spitzer.
• Lastly, since we took over, we have provided well over two million pieces of literature and mail services to hundreds of candidates at the town, county and city levels of government resulting in numerous Democratic victories in previously-held Republican seats.

This resurgence was accomplished by the hard work of everyone: you the party leaders; hard-working committed volunteers from throughout Erie County; and a dedicated staff at Democratic HQ who upgraded operations with the latest technology available for political campaigns.

This dramatic turnaround happened for a few basic reasons: We made a decision to start fighting Republicans

— instead of each other. We put principles ahead of personality. We recruited and endorsed candidates that put community first.

2008 brings us new challenges—not the least of which is the election of a new and hopefully Democratic President. In order to keep the progress we have achieved, we must stick to our principles and maintain the unity we have worked so hard to win.

There are those who were part of the past regime who would have you believe that it is time to move back to the way it was. During the course of this year you will have to make a very basic decision. Do you want to continue moving forward with the new culture we have created here at Democratic Headquarters and throughout our party? Or do we want to take the focus off fighting Republicans and go back to fighting each other?

Supporting candidates who believe in our Democratic Party philosophy is important to the future of our Country, State, and Community. I look forward to communicating with you regularly over the course of this year so we can continue our success.

Sincerely,

Len Lenihan

Chairman ~ Erie County Democratic Committee