My Priorities for Erie County, District 11
My approach isn’t ideology-driven. It’s systems-driven:
- Invest early to reduce costs later
- Coordinate across towns, not in silos
- Align county priorities with real local needs
- Make public dollars transparent and accountable
County government works best when it does the unglamorous work well: maintaining what we have, planning for the long term, and coordinating across communities so costs don’t quietly fall on working families.
Jump to: Affordability | Transparency | Infrastructure | Broadband | Greenspace | Public Services | Regional Collaboration | Leadership
Think Regionally, Act Practically
Many challenges facing the Southtowns don’t stop at town lines. Roads, utilities, emergency services, healthcare, broadband, and environmental protection are shared systems — even when governance is fragmented.
I approach county leadership with a regional mindset: looking at how decisions in one area affect costs, services, and outcomes across the entire system.
That means:
- Investing early to avoid higher costs later
- Coordinating across towns instead of duplicating efforts
- Designing policies that reinforce one another
- Treating public dollars as part of a long-term cycle, not a one-year fix
See how this affects your town: Eden, Brant, Evans, Boston, Orchard Park, Collins, Gowanda, North Collins
County government is uniquely positioned to do this work well — if it chooses coordination over silos and planning over reaction.
Keep Costs Down for Working Families
For too many Southtowns families, costs are rising faster than wages — even for people working full-time in union, public-sector, and service jobs. Property taxes, utilities, healthcare, and basic necessities squeeze household budgets while government decisions often feel disconnected from those realities.
At the county level, I will:
- Be honest about how budgets, contracts, and capital projects affect taxpayers
- Prioritize investments that reduce long-term costs over deferred maintenance
- Push for transparency in utility pricing, fees, and public-private agreements
- Ensure county policies don’t shift costs onto working families while shielding large interests
Local impact: Rising utility and tax pressures in Boston and Orchard Park, infrastructure costs passed to rural homeowners in Eden and North Collins, economic fallout from state facility closures affecting Collins and Gowanda.
Affordability requires looking at the full cycle of costs, not just what shows up in a single budget year.
Demand Accountability in Government
Trust erodes when decisions happen behind closed doors or get explained after the fact. County residents deserve to know how their money is spent, why decisions are made, and who benefits.
As a legislator, I will:
- Support clear, accessible reporting on county spending, contracts, and capital projects
- Ask hard questions about major expenditures, subsidies, and development deals
- Advocate for open, documented decision-making processes
- Push for transparency that includes long-term impacts — not just headline numbers
Local impact: Stadium-area oversight in Orchard Park, waterfront investment decisions in Evans, redevelopment planning after state facility closures in Collins and Gowanda.
Good government isn’t flashy. It’s consistent, transparent, and willing to own outcomes.
Invest in Roads, Water, and Public Systems
Roads, bridges, water systems, public buildings, and emergency services are the backbone of daily life and local employment. When infrastructure is neglected, costs rise later and communities pay the price.
County government can:
- Maintain and upgrade critical infrastructure before problems compound
- Support local jobs tied to public works and maintenance
- Plan capital projects with full lifecycle costs in mind
- Coordinate with towns and villages to avoid duplication and waste
Local impact: Road safety needs in Boston, water and sewer upgrades in North Collins, shared infrastructure challenges in Brant and Eden, deferred waterfront infrastructure in Evans, village infrastructure needs in Gowanda.
Infrastructure decisions should prioritize durability and long-term resilience — not short-term patches.
Expand Broadband Where It Matters
Reliable, affordable broadband is no longer optional. It affects education, healthcare access, agriculture, small businesses, and emergency response.
Erie County’s investment in ErieNet, an open-access fiber network, is a critical step toward closing long-standing gaps — especially in rural communities.
My focus:
- See ErieNet through to completion in underserved areas
- Ensure last-mile connections so fiber in the ground becomes real service
- Encourage competition and affordability
- Treat broadband as essential infrastructure
Local impact: Limited connectivity affects students and businesses in Eden, Brant, Collins, Gowanda, and North Collins. Expanded service opportunities in Boston and Evans as buildout continues.
Protect Parks, Farms, and Waterways
The Southtowns’ natural assets — farmland, parks, waterfronts, and open space — are central to our identity and economy. Once lost, these spaces are difficult or impossible to recover.
County government can:
- Protect public greenspace and farmland from short-sighted development
- Support responsible waterfront management and public access along Lake Erie
- Invest in parks, trails, and conservation
- Balance economic development with long-term environmental stewardship
Local impact: Sturgeon Point and waterfront access in Evans, farmland preservation in Eden and Brant, Chestnut Ridge Park investments in Orchard Park, natural corridor protection in Collins, Gowanda, and North Collins.
Preserving greenspace isn’t anti-growth — it’s smart growth.
Support Working Families and Public Services
County decisions shape the stability of services people rely on — from public health and emergency response to social services and administrative systems.
I will prioritize:
- Protecting the reliability of public services
- Supporting healthcare workers, first responders, and public employees
- Evaluating policies based on real-world impact
- Ensuring administrative systems are accessible and humane
Local impact: EMS response challenges in rural areas like Brant, Gowanda, and North Collins, healthcare access pressures across the Southtowns, county services relied on by seniors and disabled residents throughout District 11.
Public services are interconnected. When one system fails, costs and strain shift elsewhere.
Coordinate Across Communities
The Southtowns are distinct communities, but we face many of the same challenges. County government works best when it helps towns collaborate rather than compete.
I support:
- Regional coordination on infrastructure, emergency services, and public health
- Grant strategies that benefit multiple communities
- Shared planning that respects local identity
- County leadership that aligns town, village, and state efforts
Local impact: Shared service needs across Eden, Brant, Evans, Collins, Gowanda, and North Collins; regional planning pressures from growth in Orchard Park and Boston.
Regional collaboration isn’t about centralizing control — it’s about making local government work better.
Show Up and Do the Work
District 11 deserves representation that shows up, listens, and takes the work seriously.
As your legislator, I commit to:
- Being accessible and responsive
- Listening before legislating
- Focusing on practical solutions
- Representing the district with consistency and integrity
This means showing up in Eden, Brant, Evans, Boston, Orchard Park, Collins, Gowanda, and North Collins — not just during election season.
What County Government Can Do
County government has specific authorities and limitations. Here’s where the county can act:
- Infrastructure: Plan and fund road maintenance, water systems, and public facilities
- Broadband: Coordinate ErieNet expansion and pursue grants for connectivity
- Parks & Land: Invest in county parks, support conservation programs, manage waterfront access
- Public Services: Fund emergency response, public health, and social services
- Oversight: Provide transparency on spending, contracts, and major development deals
- Coordination: Align efforts across towns, villages, and state agencies
Some issues require state or federal action. I’ll be clear about what county government can and cannot do — and advocate at other levels when needed.
Get Involved
I’m running to represent District 11 with care, seriousness, and accountability. These aren’t ideological positions — they’re lived concerns across the Southtowns.
Want to see how these issues affect your town? Visit our community pages for local priorities and projects.
Have a concern or idea? Contact me and let me know what matters to you.