Published: July 04, 2008 12:24 am            

ERIE COUNTY: Loughran pitches downsized legislature

In response to an area activist’s pleas to reduce the number of elected officials across the region, Erie County Legislator Thomas A. Loughran has submitted a resolution to pare down the Legislature.

Loughran, D-Amherst, is proposing to reduce the Legislature to nine members from its current 15. His proposal came in response to a recent committee meeting during which reform activist Kevin P. Gaughan explained his rationale for reducing the size of government. Gaughan has been presenting before town and village boards across Western New York, urging local leaders to eliminate positions from those governmental bodies.

“How can elected officials stand silent in the face of such an overwhelming argument to eliminate excessive local government,” said Loughran, whose district covers part of the Town of Tonawanda.

“It is time for a bold move forward, and the Erie County Legislature can help to lead the way by setting an example of responsible and meaningful legislative size reduction,” he said.

The resolution’s future in the Legislature is unclear, but if it does gain any traction, the proposal ultimately would be subject to a public vote Nov. 3, 2009. Loughran is calling for a nine-member commission comprised of four county legislators and three members appointed by Erie County Executive Chris Collins and two by Comptroller Mark Poloncarz. The commission would be charged with recommending nine legislative districts.

Gaughan issued a report revealing that, with 439 elected officials, Western New Yorkers pay politicians $32 million per year to administer government, an exorbitant amount compared to much larger regions across the country.

        

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