Press Releases: 02/28/08 Mills announces Additional Springville HEAP Outreach 02/28/08 Mills Announces Orchard Park HEAP Outreach 02/15/08 Mills Announces Springville HEAP Outreach 02/05/08 Bee Column 02/08 01/04/08 Mills announces HEAP outreach efforts

John J. Mills - District 13 March, 2007 Mills demands reforms in Erie County Government When I became your County Legislator in 2006, county government was in disarray. Taxes were rising, the county's credit rating was falling and the county's assets were crumbling. Part of the reason for the events that occurred was that the government, your representatives, were not being held accountable for their actions. One of the reasons that I wanted to become a county legislator was to reform county government, to make it more effective, more efficient and more accountable. Last year, the county legislature approved a series of reforms to the Erie County Charter. These reforms were part of a package of reforms recommended by the Charter Revision Commission. The reforms included holding public hearings before voting on a local law, making certain positions less politically influenced and making financial decisions more transparent to the public. These reforms were passed by your vote on the referendum last November. The reforms are a good start to make your county government more accountable. However, further reforms are necessary. I have proposed a local law which would require any elected county official to be removed from office if he or she is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor. Simply put, we cannot tolerate our elected officials, who are in office to create and/or enforce laws, violating these same laws. When elected, an official takes an oath of office to uphold the constitution and laws of New York State. Breaking a law, whether a felony or a misdemeanor, is a violation of this oath. To date, the legislature has taken no action on this law. This week, I will demand a public hearing on this law. The public is entitled to have a voice on how they are governed. Another item which has not been acted upon by the legislature is holding evening sessions of the legislature. Government should be open and transparent to those whom it represents. The majority of Erie County residents who are employed are working at the time that the legislature meets. This does not allow individuals the opportunity to properly observe and evaluate their representatives. Voters cannot make educated choices without sufficient information. Holding evening sessions will allow the public greater access to their representatives and to information on how they are being governed. Another reform that I will pursue this year is reducing the size of the legislature from fifteen to nine members. Erie County includes urban, suburban and rural areas. There are issues distinct for the northtowns and the southtowns. Everyone is entitled to a voice in their government. However, fifteen voices are too many. Fifteen voices costs taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars extra each year, when nine voices could get the job done even more efficiently. Many governments across the country are run more efficiently and effectively with fewer representatives. Fifteen voices increases the temptation for passivity, patronage and pork. Erie County can be effectively governed by a legislature of nine committed public servants. A legislature of fifteen is merely a reminder of big government that needs to be reduced. Erie County has made some reforms to make county government more transparent and accountable. More reforms are needed. I will continue to pursue these reforms. You should never wonder what your government is doing for you or who is governing you. You are entitled to more. You should not accept less. As your representative in County Hall, I know that I won't. I would like to hear your thoughts on reforming county government. Please contact me at my District Office, located at 431 Main Street in East Aurora. My telephone number is 655-5650. You can also reach me by email at jmills13@erie.gov. Back to District 13 Homepage