District Offices:

1104 Union Road (Southgate Plaza) West Seneca, NY 14224 Phone: 675-8817 Fax: 677-2306 E-mail: bove@erie.gov

Christina Wleklinski BOVE was elected Erie County Legislator for the 9th District to represent West Seneca and South Cheektowaga. Christina had no political party endorsement when she ran and was referred to as the "People's Candidate." The people alone endorsed her candidacy with two Primary Day victories. She went on to win the legislative seat in the General Election by beating two opponents, one of whom was the sitting incumbent. Legislator Bove has never represented the "status quo". Her loyalty and commitment is to her constituents. During her campaign for legislator in 2009, Christina walked all 64 election districts. She believed in the importance of speaking with the people face-to-face.

Christina was raised in a blue collar family in the Polish American tradition where hard work and education were top priorities. She graduated from Nardin Academy and went on to earn Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Education. She set her goal and achieved her advanced degree, Summa cum laude. Christina was a classroom teacher for 11 years. At a time when school systems were closing schools and laying off teachers, Christina transitioned into the Corporate World and had a successful business career with Fortune 500 Companies. Her business clients, composed mainly of multi-billion dollar corporations described her with words such as trusted, hard working, and tenacious. She helped corporations save millions of dollars to their bottom line.

Christina wanted to make a difference in her town of West Seneca and ran for Councilmember. As a Councilmember, she cut the cost of government and secured grants and funding for community projects. Her focus on the needs of her community as well as the people whose lives were impacted by her efforts, became so compelling that she resigned her corporate position to serve as Councilmember full time. She is involved and committed. The below are some examples of her efforts:

• Coordinated Operations at the Senior Fitness Center saving the Taxpayers $100,000 per year.
• As Project Manager, Renovated the Senior Center with a $90,000 HUD Grant.
• Saved the Taxpayers $600,000 in 2009 on Health Insurance Costs, Preventing a Tax Increase for 2010.
• Secured a $700,000 NYS Grant – for 3 Solar Energy Projects – Saving Electricity Costs & the Environment.
• Lobbied Erie County for HUD Stimulus Funds to Repave Streets – Received an Extra $100,000.
• Recruited a Grant Writer to bring more money back to West Seneca Taxpayers.
• Built a Sledding Hill at Sunshine Park as a Safe Winter Destination for Children
• Supported Peer Counseling and Youth Engaged in Service Projects for West Seneca Students.

Legislator Bove has the courage and conviction to do what is right for Erie County. She serves on three legislative committees. She is the Chair for the Public Safety Committee, Vice-Chair for Economic Development and a member of the Finance and Management Committee.

Presently, Legislator Bove is co-sponsoring a Local Law which would require all pawnshops and secondhand dealers to be licensed and subject to hold, record and report to the police all merchandise they receive in order to give the police a chance to ensure that the items are not stolen. Giving law enforcement the tools they need to help prevent burglaries and thereby protecting families and neighborhoods is important, not only for West Seneca and South Cheektowaga, but for all of Erie County.

Legislator Bove and her husband Jim have two sons and two grandchildren.