George Maziarz Hangs It Up

[NY The Vampire State]

19 years... it's about time.

Maziarz will not see re-election
Athan Kompos, WGRZ
July 13, 2014



BUFFALO, N.Y. - Republican New York State senator George Maziarz announced late Sunday that he is retiring and will not accept a nomination to run for re-election in November. In a statement released to media he said, "As I geared up for another long campaign season, I realized I just did not have the passion and commitment that I have had in the past to see it through." (The complete text of the statement is reprinted below.)

The news comes shortly after Maziarz's chief of staff resigned.

The 61-year-old from Niagara County has served in public office since 1978 and held the 62nd state senate seat since 1995.

A source tells 2 On Your Side North Tonawanda Mayor Robert Ortt is expected to be selected by the Niagara County Republican Committee for the Senate race now that Maziarz is not running for office again.

Calabrese also says Ortt is well positioned to run as his successor as an Afghanistan War veteran and a popular Republican mayor in a community with a strong Democratic base.

Gun rights advocate Gia Arnold of Orleans County is also seeking the Republican nomination and Niagara Falls School Board Member Johnny Destino is running for the seat as a Democrat.


Full text of Maziarz's statement:

MAZIARZ TO RETIRE FROM STATE SENATE

DECLINES NOMINATION TO RUN THIS NOVEMBER


It is no secret to my family and close friends that I have been considering retirement from the State Legislature for the last five years. And as I geared up for another long campaign season, I realized I just did not have the passion and commitment that I have had in the past to see it through.


People will ask me why now and the simple answer is there is never the perfect time to step away. I had the honor of following the late John Daly into the State Senate. I remember him telling me when he left the Senate it was simply time for the next generation of leaders in the Legislature. After nearly two decades in office, I fully understand what he meant and feel that way today.

My second daughter gets married this summer and that is a much bigger priority for me than another grueling campaign. My family has sacrificed enough for my public service through the years and I cannot ask for any more.

To the people of Niagara, Orleans and Monroe counties who I have had the pleasure to represent since 1995, I extend my heart felt appreciation for your continued support. I always told people that being your Senator was the greatest job in the world, one I dedicated myself to 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We accomplished great things and I did my best to help my constituents with any problem … big or small. Thank you for giving a kid from North Tonawanda the chance to fulfill his dream of serving in the State Senate.

[gorja]

The rumor is that he is under federal investigation and a couple of his staff members have already received subpoenas.
Lack of passion and commitment is just BS

[cheekman]

no great loss ... way to long in office again people keep voting these people in office
Maziarz retiring from New York State Senate

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Republican New York State senator George Maziarz announced late Sunday that he is retiring and will not accept a nomination to run for re-election in November.

It was a surprising move for Maziarz, 61, R-Newfane, Niagara County, and leaves Senate Republicans with another seat to try to retain in November as they look to win a majority.

Maziarz, chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, represents a sprawling western New York district that stretches from Niagara County into western Monroe County.

"It is no secret to my family and close friends that I have been considering retirement from the State Legislature for the last five years," Maziarz said in a statement at 10 p.m. "And as I geared up for another long campaign season, I realized I just did not have the passion and commitment that I have had in the past to see it through." (The complete text of the statement is reprinted below.)

Maziarz will finish the remainder of his term, which runs until Dec. 31.

Maziarz's decision comes after he was believed to be under investigation by the now-defunct Moreland Commission for potential abuse of his campaign cash....

City & State reported in May that Maziarz doled out more than $140,000 in campaign funds over a six-year period without identifying what exactly he purchased.....

Maziarz told Gannett's Albany Bureau after the report that his spending was all documented and followed existing laws.

"Everything that was required to be reported was reported," he said.

After Gov. Andrew Cuomo disbanded the commission in March, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara seized the files and said he may follow up on the open cases.

The news comes shortly after Maziarz's chief of staff resigned.

Maziarz has served in public office since 1978 and held the 62nd state senate seat since 1995.

[cheekman]

oh boy there all scrambling to see who the next goofball politician will get the job.. I cant believe how many people loved boy george.. his sister didnt. she said its a political pig pen in his county.
no different in erie county maybe worse.. wake up people vote this long term politicians out of office they do nothing but fill their pockets with bennnies..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p6cAYLUvh4


“Several weeks ago Alisa received a subpoena from the U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York regarding matters related the Senator Maziarz, including issues related to his campaign committee,” Daniel French, Colatarci’s attorney and a former U.S. attorney for the northern district, said in an email. “Alisa is not the target of the investigation and has cooperated fully.”

The Buffalo News reports that Hall is being represented by Buffalo defense attorney and former federal prosecutor Rodney Personius. Personius told the newspaper that Hall resigned and that he represents him in connection with the investigation, but he would not comment further.

Laureen Jacobs, who is the longtime campaign treasurer for Maziarz, has secured an attorney.

Jacobs, a hospital administrator at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, did not return telephone calls last week.

Matt Nelligan, the spokesperson for Maziarz, did not respond last week when asked if the senator or any staff members or campaign workers had received subpoenas from the Justice Department.

Maziarz was being investigated by the Moreland Commission before it was disbanded earlier this year. In May, City & State magazine reported that the panel was looking into the senator’s campaign expenditures, as well as spending by other lawmakers. Bharara has since picked up some of the commission’s work and is reportedly investigating further Maziarz’s campaign funds.

[NY The Vampire State]

Don't vote for whoever the parties endorse.

[FMD]

Has it ever occurred to any of you that voting is nothing but a 'show' to keep people complacent?

[Lee Chowaniec]

Don't vote for whoever the parties endorse.

How sad that this could possibly be the best advice because in today's world the electorate is too ill informed to make a intelligent assessment as to who the best candidate seeking office is - or is too lazy, apathetic or plain stupid; especially those that vote straight party lines.

Yes Vamp, for the most part they (all politicians) suck.

[4248]

NOTA - None of the above is running a national campaign. Tell the status quo we've had enough .

Then I woke up ! -

[sharky]

imagine that, another long term politician turns out to be corrupt

[WNYresident]

imagine that, another long term politician turns out to be corrupt

Not necessarily. It's all relative to the person.

[WNYresident]

So what happens with the campaign cash that he has collected? Does it default back to the local republican party?

[NY The Vampire State]

So what happens with the campaign cash that he has collected? Does it default back to the local republican party?

Possibly that or he can give it to charity or another candidate. Wonder if he will make an attempt to return it to the people who gave it to him.

[4248]

So far unless someone or some committee files a claim he gets to hand it out as he see's fit. Watch his account statements at the Erie County Board of Elections website. Go to campaign finance reports area and type in his name - you can see where its gone and watch where it goes.

Another case of selective persecution - Supervisor Bob Giza admitted buying magazines, club fees, club donations, donations to clubs and for others fund raisers - even doughnut reimbursements to his son. Unless someone with big juice cares - its a common practice.

If Maziars is dumb enough to get knocked out of the box for that - he deserves it. Wonder what his tax funded retirement will average out to be and what tax funded benefits he will have to accept for life !!!!!!!!

[NY The Vampire State]

He got the old insider Albany retirement plan: Quit now, you'll get your benefits and you won't be punished for your wrong doings. How often do we see it?