It has been just over 6 months since I took office.  I am learning a great deal about the county and the state.  I have already sponsored several pieces of legislation including a motion to oppose the windmills in Lake Erie.  This project being proposed by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) is an expensive, unpredictable, and unnecessary money-grab project by NYPA that will provide no significant benefits to our area and cost us dearly in tax revenue, tourism, property values not to mention the devastating impact on the ecosystem of Lake Erie.  Below is  a link to an Op-Ed piece i sent in to the Observer...

http://observertoday.com/page/content.detail/id/540684.html

After months of campaigning and getting out to meet the people, it all came down to yesterday.  The results came in last night and I won!  550 votes to 495.  I am so honored that so many people came out to support me.  I am humbled by all the shows of support.  I really owe a debt of gratitude to those of you that helped me.  From lawn signs and bumper stickers to those of you that told your friends and neighbors about me and what I would like to do.  But now the campaign is over and the hard work must begin.  I will spend the next couple of months getting more familiar with the position and getting to work on an action plan for when I take office.  Thank you again everyone.  I will work hard to exceed your expectations.

SAM BOVA BRINGING CATS IN

Last night me, my wife Kelly and Sam Bova, the owner of Cabana Sam's set out to do something about the feral cat problem in Sunset Bay.  We took the first steps to try and manage the feral cat population.  It breaks our hearts to see them out there in growing numbers.  So we trapped 2 cats and brought them to Feral Cat Focus, a volunteer organization that will take the cats, neuter or spay them and give them a medical work up.  Then we will release them again, but this time they will not be adding to the population.  Our plan is to keep doing this until we can control the cat population in our area.  This organziation www.feralcatfocus.org is an amazing group.  We are arranging a mass trapping in Sunset Bay in the spring.  Feral Cat Focus will come with a group to help us round up and neuter as many cats as possible.  We are hoping to get 20 to 30 cats.  I urge everyone to check out their site and, if possible, donate to keep this worthwhile cause going.

I have truly been amazed how our community has come together to help those who lost so much in the flood.  Of course, the emergency responders went above and beyond as they always do. Our own Sunset Bay Fire Department was key in rescuing people from the trailer park in Silver Creek along with the Silver Creek VFD. It's because of the quick, tireless efforts of our brave volunteers that no lives were lost in this disaster.

I spent some time volunteering in the aftermath of the flood at the Silver Creek Fire Hall, which suffered a lot of damage itself.  The people that came to volunteer were truly amazing.  I even met a couple from NEW ORLEANS!  They cut their vacation short to come help people in Silver Creek.  A little "pay it forward" from some people who made it through Katrina.  All of these people who volunteered, many who themselves lost so much in the flood, are the ones to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude.   Their names will never be in the paper and their pictures will not be on T.V.  But it's those people who came at the early stages of this recovery that we can thank for getting our community back on track. 

NOTE:  Pictured above is the Chicken BBQ put on by the Sunset Bay Volunteer Fire Department for the flood victims on Sunday Aug 30th.  They sold out all of the dinners!

Tonight's meeting at the Sunset Bay Fire Hall went very well.  In to my addition to my opponent for legislator, all three Hanover Town Board candidates including incumbent Fritz Seegert, spoke at the meeting.  We were also proud to have County Executive Greg Edwards there.  He spoke at great length and fielded questions from the Association membership.  That is the first time, that I know of, that a County Executive has shown up to a Sunset Bay Association meeting.  Greg is a great County Executive who deserves our support for reelection.  Also present was Town Supervisor Kathy Tampio. She is another hard-working official who has been at more Sunset Bay meetings than any prior Supervisor.  This was my first chance to speak to a group of people about my passion for things like tourism and removing roadblocks to growth.  It feels like the campaign has really begun!

The Sunset Bay Homeowners Association is hosting a "Meet the Candidates" forum prior to their regular meeting.  I am looking forward to speaking in front of my neighbors in Sunset Bay and explaining why I am running for County Legislator.  It starts at 8 pm at the Sunset Bay Fire Hall on Allegany Road in Irving.  Many other candidates will be there as well including Town of Hanover Councilman Fritz Seegert and Town Board candidate Scott Ferry.  I encourage everyone to come and meet the candidates.

Most people have asked me why I am interested in representing Legislative District 4 in the Town of Hanover.  The reason is simple... I think government needs operate like a business.  I have been inspired by Greg Edwards, our County Executive, who has applied some private sector common sense to county government.  He has lowered property taxes three years in a row and he is trying to do more with less.  That is a journey I would like to be a part of.  I believe that if you are not part of the solution then you are part of the problem.  I am looking to work hard to help solve some problems here in our area.