Published: November 05, 2009 10:00 pm      

NIAGARA COUNTY: GOP Chairman steps down

Two days after helping his party score several key victories in local elections, the long-time chairman of the Niagara County Republican Party announced his decision to step down.

Henry Wojtaszek, who has led the local GOP for nearly a decade, said Thursday the “timing was right” for him to hand the party reins off to someone else.

Wojtaszek suggested that someone else may be local attorney Michael Norris, a former Republican commissioner with the county Board of Elections who currently works as an associate with the Lockport firm Seaman, Jones, Hogan and Brooks.

Wotjaszek said members of the county Republican Committee are scheduled to meet Thursday to vote on his successor. He said he intends to offer his support for Norris during that meeting.

“I think he’ll make a great chairman,” Wojtaszek said. “He’s a great Republican and a good tactician and a hard worker.”

Republican candidates have traditionally performed well in elections under Wojtaszek’s tenure. On Tuesday, GOP candidates continued that trend, with Republican Robert Ortt upsetting incumbent Democrat Larry Soos in the race for North Tonawanda mayor and Republican Steve Reiter ousting Democrat and long-time Town of Lewiston Supervisor Fred Newlin. The GOP also continued to maintain a strong hold on decision making at the county level, with members of the Republican-led majority earning victories in seven of nine contested races for seats on the Niagara County Legislature.

“I’ve been there about 10 years, we’ve accomplished a lot and it’s time to move on,” Wojtaszek said.

Wojtaszek, who earlier this year left his job as an attorney with Harris Beach to pursue a failed bid for the statewide GOP chairmanship, said he intends to return to the law firm in the coming weeks. The husband and father of three referenced family as a consideration in the move, saying working for the party took up a lot of time and energy and that “time really does pass quickly.” He thanked his colleagues in the party for their support and said he still intends to remain active in local GOP affairs.

“Our party has never been stronger,” Wojtaszek said. “We recruited outstanding candidates at all levels for public office. Our candidates offered voters ideas for improving our community and then delivered. For that, the voters have consistently given us their support. I am most proud of our work at the county level, where voters have elected a Republican Majority for four straight elections. That is proof that running a good government makes for good politics.”

Norris credited Wojtaszek with doing an excellent job in handling party affairs in recent years and said he is hopeful GOP committee members will allow him to serve as his replacement.

“I’ve been involved in politics for some time and I believe my leadership and organizational skills will lead to continued success for the party,” Norris said.

According to his biography listed on his law firm’s Web site, Norris is a lifelong Lockport resident who received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Niagara University and Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School. Norris was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2006 and engages in general practice, focusing on real estate, corporate, wills, estate planning, personal injury and municipal and election law. He is also deputy corporation counsel for the City of Lockport and town prosecutor in Hartland and Lockport. He previously served as counsel to state Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, and served as a constituent service aide in the senator’s Albany office during law school. Before entering law school, Norris served as chief of staff to former state Assemblyman David Seaman and as an intern to City of Lockport mayors Thomas C. Rotondo Jr. and Kenneth Swan.

In 2000, Norris found himself involved in a controversy over pay he earned while serving as Republican commissioner for the county board of elections. Norris and Democratic counterpart Judith Cirifalco earned salaries for an entire year that did not reflect a 10 percent cut in pay supported by county lawmakers a year earlier. Cirifalco was forced out of her position following an investigation. Norris testified in exchange for immunity from prosecution from the district attorney’s office.

Contact reporter Mark Scheer at 282-2311, ext. 2250.