Turmoil

Picking up where we left off yesterday, we'd be remiss if we didn't address the current investigation into the campaign finances of Senator George Maziarz. For the record, we like George. He's been an excellent advocate for the people he represents, and his reputation for personally returning phone calls made to his office by constituents is well known.

During time in office, George has been a prolific fundraiser. As of his last filing, Maziarz has over $1 million in his campaign account. At this point, all we know that there is an investigation. We don't know if Maziarz is the focus of the investigation, and we don't the what sparked it. We do know that at two members of his staff, both of whom resigned recently, have been issued subpoenas to provide information and documents.

In a nutshell, everything related to this investigation is purely speculation at this point. But that's not what we want to talk about.

Maziarz is not running again - we all know this. What's disconcerting is how uninformed some people are when it comes to what this means to our community and the region as a whole. Maziarz is one of the most powerful people in a New York State Senate that is currently led by a coalition of Republicans and Democrats. That power-sharing arrangement, which keeps the Republican Party relevant in New York, is likely to come to an end if the Republicans lose the majority outright in November. If this happens, the Democrats will control the Senate, Assembly, and governor's seat. And that my friends, would be a disaster for western New York.

This is not about political parties; this about downstate New York gaining control of the state. If you're a Democrat, and you think this scenario will be good for us, you're downright out of your mind. All of New York outside of the city will become an afterthought. Forget about the Buffalo Billion. Forget about any state subsidies for a new Buffalo Bills stadium. Forget about our roads, bridges, and infrastructure. Every excess dollar will find its way to New York City.

Rob Ortt, the mayor of North Tonawanda, is the GOP's chosen one to replace Maziarz. Gia Arnold, a gun-rights advocate, is also running. On the Democratic line, perennial candidate Johnny Destino gets the nod. In our opinion, Ortt has the best shot to hold the seat, and holding the seat is what's important for our area. Not because he's a Republican, because it keeps the seat out of the hands of New York City. If Destino were to win, he'd be an upstate, Democratic senator in a caucus dominated by New York City. In other words, he'd be impotent.

As difficult of a concept as it is to comprehend, Democrats need to understand that voting in a Democratic majority in the Senate will decimate western New York. That's bigger than party politics.