February 25, 2009

ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATOR RAY WALTER EXPOSES POLITICAL MAILING PAID FOR AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE, CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION

(Clarence, NY)- Erie County Legislator Raymond W. Walter (4th District) has called on Erie County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz to investigate political mailings being sent at taxpayer expense by the Democratic Majority in the County Legislature.

"This mailing is clearly political grandstanding." stated Legislator Walter. The legislature's 2009 Rules of Order, unanimously approved by all fifteen legislators, states that "references to political parties and/or party affiliations are prohibited on all legislative mailing." "How can we be trusted to enact laws when we cannot follow our own rules?" questioned Legislator Walter. "People want change and we give them politics as usual," added Walter.

The political mailing was slated to go to more than 8,000 Erie County Elections Inspectors, "[o]n behalf of the Erie County Legislature Democratic Majority," notifying them of a raise in the daily stipend to inspectors in the 2009 budget. Elections inspectors will be paid $145 in 2009 for each day worked at a voting booth. The cost of the political mailing was estimated at $5000. As a result of Legislator Walter's inquiry, the Administration has directed that the mailing be stopped until the Comptroller completes his investigation.

Legislator Walter delivered a letter to County Comptroller Poloncarz asking him to investigate the matter. "The Comptroller has a tip line to examine waste, fraud and abuse in county government. I hope that he will investigate and put a stop to political mailings paid for at taxpayer expense," stated Walter. "I was able to stop this particular letter from going out at taxpayer expense. We need better controls to make sure that such letters are not sent out in the future. I intend to introduce a measure in the near future to put a stop to this practice."

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