It is nice to know that some people are fighting for the taxpayers and not kowtowing to the unions.

Honoring a campaign pledge, Erie County Executive Chris Collins suspended the controversial, union-friendly apprenticeship law that business leaders felt unnecessarily drove up the cost of county-financed public works construction projects.

The Erie County Legislature enacted the apprenticeship law two years ago, despite concerns raised by the business community that the law favored unions, limited those who could bid on projects and, effectively, increased construction costs for the cash-starved county.

The law mandated any firm that bid on a county construction project had to have an approved apprenticeship and training program.

“It was the most anti-business, anti-taxpayer law in the county,” Collins said.

To suspend the law, Collins on July 21 submitted a new set of rules and regulations that withdrew the apprenticeship requirement to the Erie County Legislature. The Legislature’s majority had 60 days to block the new set of rules, but failed to do so.

“We did this in the open,” Collins said. “This has been in the light of the day for the past 60 days. We did not try to sneak it past anyone.”

Last summer, then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer also suspended apprenticeship requirements for all state projects.

Erie County Legislator Michael Ranzenhofer, R-Clarence, said the apprenticeship law drove up construction costs between 20 percent and 30 percent.

“It was so un-American and so unfair,” he said. “There will be no more special treatments.”

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The Albany Project gleefully reports that Baby Joe Mesi has “challenged” Mike Ranzenhofer to three debates.

“We owe the voters of the 61st an opportunity to hear more than sound bites from radio and television ads for such an important election.” said Joe Mesi.  ”I believe Albany is broken and I want to have a debate on how we’re going to fix it, and how we can make our economy work for us.”

Mesi proposes the following town hall debates, which will focus on challenges facing working families of the 61st Senate District:

Friday, October 10th 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm 
Wednesday, October 15th 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm 
Wednesday, October 22nd 6:00 pm -7:30 pm

“I believe that voters want new energy, new leadership, and a real plan that focuses on the issues our working families are facing today,” Mesi added.  ”For voters, the choice is clear: we can continue to elect career politicians who produce more of the same business-as-usual politics, or we can choose the change that we need, here at home and in Albany.”

This isn’t a bold move as Robert Harding suggests. This is an absolutely necessary thing for Baby Joe to do. Underdogs in campaigns are known to “challenge” their opponent to debate, because they have nothing to lose from the exposure. Baby Joe may have won the Democratic primary, but Mike Ranzenhofer is extremely popular in the district, and has an actual record to run on. All Baby Joe has to run on is his boxing career… and a charity that increased awareness about organ donation as much as it increased the bank accounts of Mesi’s family.

But, it’s obvious the kind of campaign Baby Joe is going run from now on. He’s clearly jumping on the whole anti-career politician B.S. line I’ve read too many times in various left-wing blogs that it’s as much a cliché as Baby Joe’s boxing metaphor for his campaign. But, Ranzenhofer is not an incumbent, and has actually proven himself to be agent of reform. As you may recall, it was Mike Ranzenhofer and Chris Collins who started the push for GPS systems in county vehicles, a proven method to save taxpayer dollars.

Albany does need a change. Despite the fact Republicans hold a razor thin majority in the State Senate, it’s undeniable that the Democrats are the ones who run the show in Albany and have for quite some time. If the Democrats gain control of the senate, they will have unchecked powers. And as someone who came to New York from a one party state, I can tell you with personal knowledge that a one-party state is is not one that puts the people first. 

Baby Joe may talk the talk about reform, but he’s a member of the party that stands in the way of reform and progress. That last thing we need is another rubber stamp for the party that’s over-regulating ans over-taxing this state.

The choice for 61st Senate District is clear. We need to elect Mike Ranzenhofer… not just for the district, but for the integrity of the state government, which needs balance, not one-party rule.

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…according to left-wing blog, Rochester Turning.

Something unfortunate has happened: the two Democratic frontrunners to be the candidate for the 26th congressional district (Jon Powers and Jack Davis) have succeeded in beating up each other rather than beating up the Republican candidate, Chris Lee. I am afraid- and this is my own personal opinion, so take it for what it’s worth- that the primary campaign has gotten so negative, that neither of them will be able to win the district this November.

You know, Democrats like to say they’re the ones who want to talk about issues. Well, the Democrats of this race have dominated this election, not with issues, but with attacks.  It doesn’t matter who started it. They both continued it.  And now, i’ve heard, Alice Kryzan has decided to jump into the fray and attack her opponents, quite directly, with a new ad.

When a member of the liberal netroots is willing to concede that the Democrats chances to take the 26th district are lost, then I think that says a lot.

So, while the Democrats in the race put personal attacks before the issues, I call on my liberal blogger friends to put party loyalty aside and give a serious look at Chris Lee. Look at his experience. Look at his vision. If you can put the country and the 26th district before your party, you will see that Chris Lee is the right person to send to Congress.

The race for the 26th district doesn’t have to be about party loyalty. It should be about sending the right person to Congress. I’m new to Western New York. I came from a state that is being crippled by loyalty to a party that has driven out the population and businesses. I left a state of increased taxes, not increased opportunity. I’ve come to a state being crippled by overregulation, high taxes, a corrupt political establishment. and ridiculously powerful unions.

Jon Powers isn’t going to put the district before party loyalty. He’s got the endorsement of local Democrat party leaders and the unions that have been a part of the problem. He’s already got the support of the Democrats in Washington, salivating over the idea of a new yes-man to join their ranks.

Jack Davis is as bad a Democrat as he was a Republican. He sees this race as being about him. He truly is his own special interest.  But, the attacks he’s engaged in with Jon Powers, and now Alice Kryzan, have shown that personal ambition trumps the issues and concerns of the voters.

I may be new to the area, but I see there is hope for Western New York. Just as Chris Collins has been able deliver real reform as Eric Country Executive, Chris Lee can deliver real reform in Congress. 

If all is lost for the Democrats in NY-26, it’s time to get on board with Chris Lee.

UPDATE: Here’s Alice Kryzan’s latest ad.

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WBEN has audio of Chris Collins’ speech to the Republican National Convention last night, and had this to say about it:

Erie County Executive Chris Collins was in the spotlight at the Republican National Convention Wednesday evening.

He voiced his support for Gov. Sarah Palin as the vice-presidential nominee, saying there is an individual on a major ticket with experience in local government. Collins said Palin “brings a body of knowledge and experience too few in Washington have.”

Collins explained his use of Six Sigma makes government more accountable and responsive to residents’ needs, and also noted the response to the threat of Hurricane Gustav was an example of meeting residents’ needs.

Collins was among many urging folks to give to organizations best assisting in hurricane relief efforts.

WBEN also noted that Collins is seen as a rising star in the Republican Party:

Even before Chris Collins made a speech at the RNC, he was already making friends in the Republican party across the state and across the country. New York GOP Delegate Russ Gugiono tells WBEN’s Steve Cichon that some in Downstaters were so impressed with Collins, that some are even considering the County Executive a possible Gubenatorial candidate ion 2010. You can hear Steve’s report by clicking here.

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WBEN reports:

When he speaks, you’ll hear it LIVE on WBEN. Word from the Rath Building is that Erie County Executive Chris Collins will, indeed, speak before the Republican National Convention tonight.

Collins had been slated to speak about Buffalo, Erie County, and Western New York last night, but was bumped when the speakers list was contracted following a shorten schedule Monday night as the Gulf Coast waited for Hurricane Gustav to make landfall.

The Collins speech is set to come just before 8 o’clock. Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin will speak and officially accept the nomination of the party for Vice President closer to 11 oclock eastern.

He is slated to speak just before 8 PM. 

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WBEN reports that Erie County Executive Chris Collins won’t be speaking at the Republican National Convention tonight in order to accommodate speakers who were slated to speak yesterday. Collins may still get to speak later this week.

I heard Collins being interviewed on WBEN last weekend, and I thought he was very impressive. I hope he’ll still get his moment on the stage.

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The Buffalo News’ Bob McCarthy gives us the story:

Chris Collins crafted a reputation for himself on his march to the county executive’s office last fall with a simple yet effective slogan: “Elect a chief executive, not a chief politician.”

Now Collins travels to St. Paul next week for the Republican National Convention and the biggest political stage of all. In fact, Collins will literally stand on that stage when he addresses the convention in prime time on Sept. 2. The theme that night is “reform,” and the spin already surrounding the Collins appearance is “who better to speak of reform than Chris Collins?”

This is an official, certified big deal for the county executive. The GOP is thrilled to showcase a successful businessman who campaigned on a pro-business platform and won a big victory in an overwhelmingly Democratic county. He will be presented as living proof that such an approach can work, and fit nicely into the purpose of modern day conventions.

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Great idea. Love it. 

Of course, I’d love to see Byron Brown have a GPS system in his car.

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The Buffalo Bean has learned that Chris Collins and Christopher Lee had a very productive meeting on Friday and that Collins is now a financial supporter of Lee’s campaign.

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