A Who's Who

[Enough]

A Who's Who in Erie County. I'm so glad to see these County Employees take such an interest in politics

Contributor
Occupation
Date
Amount
Recipient

KOWALEWSKI, ROBERT L
EAST AURORA,NY 14052
ERIE COUNTY
5/27/1994
$400
Franczyk, David A

KOWULESKI, ROBERT
EAST AURORA,NY 14052
ERIE COUNTY
8/15/1993
$500
Gorski, Dennis T

KULWICKI, GREGORY
SPRINGBROOK,NY 14140
ERIE COUNTY
8/26/1993
$250
Gorski, Dennis T

LAGREE, DENNIS G MR
WILLIAMSVILLE,NY 14221
ERIE COUNTY/COMPUTER CONSULTANT
6/21/2004
$1,000
Naples, Nancy A

LAGREE, DENNIS G MR
WILLIAMSVILLE,NY 14221
ERIE COUNTY/COMPUTER CONSULTANT
9/14/2004
$300
Naples, Nancy A

LAGREE, PEGGY
BUFFALO,NY 14221
ERIE COUNTY/DEPUTY COMPTROLLER
9/6/2005
$500
Reynolds, Tom

LEAK, GEORGE DR
BUFFALO,NY 14215
ERIE COUNTY
8/18/1993
$1,000
Gorski, Dennis T

LEE, JENNIFER
ORCHARD PARK,NY 14127
ERIE COUNTY GOP
11/1/1994
$1,000
Quinn, Jack

LENIHAN, LEONARD JR
TONAWANDA,NY 14150
ERIE COUNTY DEMOCRATS/CHAIRMAN
11/6/2006
$1,000
Massa, Eric

LENIHAN, LEONARD JR
TONAWANDA,NY 14150
ERIE COUNTY
9/23/1996
$225
Pordum, Francis

LEVIHAM, KATHLEEN
TONAWANDA,NY 14150
ERIE COUNTY NY
6/30/1998
$250
Ferraro, Geraldine

LEX, SUSAN
CLARENCE,NY 14031
ERIE COUNTY/PROBATION OFFICER
10/21/2004
$500
Reynolds, Tom

LIDDLE, JAMES R MR
HOLLAND,NY 14080
ERIE COUNTY COMPTROLLER/ACCOUNTANT
6/9/2004
$500
Naples, Nancy A

LIDDLE, JAMES R MR
HOLLAND,NY 14080
ERIE COUNTY COMPTROLLER/ACCOUNTANT
9/14/2004
$300
Naples, Nancy A

LOFFIEDO, JOHN
AMHERST,NY 14068
ERIE COUNTY
8/14/1993
$500
Gorski, Dennis T

LOFFREDO, JOHN
BUFFALO,NY 14226
ERIE COUNTY
8/1/1996
$250
Pordum, Francis

LUSIN, ARNOLD DR
EAST AMHERST,NY 14051
ERIE COUNTY
8/25/1993
$500
Gorski, Dennis T

MACCALLUM, JOHN
BUFFALO,NY 14216
ERIE COUNTY
10/7/1996
$250
Pordum, Francis

MALICKI, ROBERT
CHEEKTOWAGA,NY 14225
ERIE COUNTY
10/28/1994
$500
Franczyk, David A

MALINELLI, LYNN M
KENMORE,NY 14223
ERIE COUNTY
8/26/1993
$250
Gorski, Dennis T

MAPLES, NANCY A
BUFFALO,NY 14209
ERIE COUNTY
3/17/1998
$1,000
D'Amato, Alfonse M

MARINELLI, LYNN
KENMORE,NY 14217
ERIE COUNTY/ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATOR
10/12/2004
$1,806
Slaughter, Louise M

MARINELLI, LYNN
KENMORE,NY 14217
ERIE COUNTY/ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATOR
7/1/2004
$500
Slaughter, Louise M

MARTENS, MARIA
CLARENCE,NY 14031
ERIE COUNTY
9/7/1993
$200
Gorski, Dennis T

MASIELLO, MICHAEL
BUFFALO,NY 14222
ERIE COUNTY
8/26/1993
$250
Gorski, Dennis T

MATLA, ROBERT
ELMA,NY 14059
ERIE COUNTY
10/26/1996
$250
Pordum, Francis

MATLA, ROBERT
ELMA,NY 14059
ERIE COUNTY
10/4/1996
$250
Pordum, Francis

MATLA, ROBERT
ELMA,NY 14059
ERIE COUNTY
8/16/1996
$200
Pordum, Francis

MATLA, ROBERT
ELMA,NY 14059
ERIE COUNTY
3/12/1996
$200
Pordum, Francis

MAZUR, THOMAS W MR
HAMBURG,NY 14075
ERIE COUNTY/GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
6/21/2004
$2,000
Naples, Nancy A

MAZUR, THOMAS W MR
HAMBURG,NY 14075
ERIE COUNTY/GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
9/9/2004
$300
Naples, Nancy A

MAZURE, HENRY
BUFFALO,NY 14211
ERIE COUNTY
8/10/1993
$500
Gorski, Dennis T

MAZUREK, PATRICIA
BUFFALO,NY 14211
ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER
8/15/1993
$500
Gorski, Dennis T

MCCULLOUGH, ROSALIND
KENMORE,NY 14217
ERIE COUNTY
4/23/1996
$375
Naples, Nancy A

MEKARSKI, CHERYL A MRS
EAST AMHERST,NY 14051
ERIE COUNTY/ANALYST
9/9/2004
$500
Naples, Nancy A

MENDEZ, ROBERT
LACKAWARRAN,NY 14218
ERIE COUNTY
7/15/1993
$500
Gorski, Dennis T

MENDEZ, ROBERT
LACKAWANNA,NY 14218
ERIE COUNTY WATER AUTHORY/EXECUTIVE
3/31/2005
$250
Higgins, Brian M

MENDEZ, ROBERT
LACKAWANNA,NY 14218
ERIE COUNTY WATER AUTHORY/EXECUTIVE
3/20/2006
$250
Higgins, Brian M

MERRIFIELD, DEBORAH
BUFFALO,NY 14216
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SE
1/31/1994
$500
Kennedy, Ellen T

MERRIFIELD, DEBORAH A
BUFFALO,NY 14216
ERIE COUNTY
8/26/1993
$875
Gorski, Dennis T

MERRIFIELD, DEBORAH HON
BUFFALO,NY 14216
ERIE COUNTY NY
10/20/1993
$500
DNC Services Corp

MINGARELLI, ANTHONY
LACKAWANNA,NY 14218
ERIE COUNTY
8/26/1993
$500
Gorski, Dennis T

MINKLER, CHRISTIAN
AMHERST,NY 14226
ERIE COUNTY HEALTH DEPT/SERVICE COO
5/14/2004
$2,000
Kerry, John

MINKLER, CHRISTIAN
AMHERST,NY 14226
ERIE COUNTY HEALTH DEPT/SERVICE COO
9/17/2004
$500
Higgins, Brian M

MINKLER, CHRISTIAN
BUFFALO,NY 14226
ERIE COUNTY/SERVICE COORDINATOR
11/21/2005
$500
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte

MINKLER, CHRISTIAN
EAST AURORA,NY 14052
ERIE COUNTY DEPT
9/30/1998
$500
Democratic National Committee

MINKLER, CHRISTIAN
EAST AURORA,NY 14052
ERIE COUNTY DEPT OF
3/12/1998
$500
Democratic National Committee

MINKLER, CHRISTIAN
BUFFALO,NY 14226
ERIE COUNTY/SERVICE COORDINATOR
2/23/2006
$400
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte

MINKLER, CHRISTIAN
AMHERST,NY 14226
ERIE COUNTY DEPT OF HEALTH/SERVICE
6/9/2004
$400
Democratic Cmte of New York State

MINKLER, CHRISTIAN
AMHERST,NY 14226
ERIE COUNTY DEPT OF HEALTH/SERICE C
6/9/2004
$400
Dollars for Democrats

continued:

http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/se...ycles=A&page=3

[run4it]

Hate to be dense, but what does it matter if one person contributes a few hundred, or even a thousand, dollars to someone else's campaign?

but wait...Geraldine Ferraro is still in the picture??? Or how far back do these contributions go?

[speaker]

It does matter in that when one of these people want a favor, even if their contribution was only $250-$1000, if their name is not on the list of who contributed--you know the rest. Remember these same people give to many candidate's campaigns. Another way to lobby.

[BigO]

It does matter in that when one of these people want a favor, even if their contribution was only $250-$1000, if their name is not on the list of who contributed--you know the rest. Remember these same people give to many candidate's campaigns. Another way to lobby.

Is this a recent development in politics? People give money for many reasons, the most common being: (1) access and influence; (2) personal relationship with the candidate/organization; and (3) ideological reasons, i.e., they want people making decisions that think like they do.

As far as I know, it's always been this way and always will be this way (unless you move towards total publicly supported campaigns). Who cares what they do with thier money?

As far as the comment about bakers and mechanics, I posit that government employees are more likely to donate to political candidates because there are in a political environment 40 or more hours a week.

What if your boss or friend was running for office? You might give him a few bucks (for anyone of the reasons stated above). This more likely to happen in a government environment. How many bakers and mechanics are running for office? Probably not many.

Just my two cents.

[Enough]

Is this a recent development in politics? People give money for many reasons, the most common being: (1) access and influence; (2) personal relationship with the candidate/organization; and (3) ideological reasons, i.e., they want people making decisions that think like they do.

As far as I know, it's always been this way and always will be this way (unless you move towards total publicly supported campaigns). Who cares what they do with thier money?

As far as the comment about bakers and mechanics, I posit that government employees are more likely to donate to political candidates because there are in a political environment 40 or more hours a week.

What if your boss or friend was running for office? You might give him a few bucks (for anyone of the reasons stated above). This more likely to happen in a government environment. How many bakers and mechanics are running for office? Probably not many.

Just my two cents.

You are correct, this is the way it has been for years and years and would not change without major reform. But you should care "what they do with their money", because it's the money that decides the influence. Whether it be an employee or union for jobs and contracts or developers for permits or contracts. You write, "What if your boss or friend was running for office"? Is that why you got the job? Because that person is your friend? (Friends & Family plan comes to mind).

The theory is Politicians in general are in it for the money. Their decisions are influenced by who is giving the money. All you have to do is look at Byron with the Police & Fire contracts. Why is he pushing so hard for the raises to be reactivated? For years contracts and jobs have been given based on who is giving. I don't think people realize how much is at stake.

Watch who is giving the money today and who is benefitting tommorrow.

[speaker]

This is no recent development. Been happening for decades. Not everybody is 'required' to 'donate'. Appointees, plum jobs are the ones most often in the sites, and I'm sure this practice has dwindled in the recent past. But it is nothing new.

As BigO said: "Is this a recent development in politics? People give money for many reasons, the most common being: (1) access and influence;..." and therefore technically illegal.

[Cgoodsp466]

Is this a recent development in politics? People give money for many reasons, the most common being: (1) access and influence; (2) personal relationship with the candidate/organization; and (3) ideological reasons, i.e., they want people making decisions that think like they do.

As far as I know, it's always been this way and always will be this way (unless you move towards total publicly supported campaigns). Who cares what they do with thier money?

As far as the comment about bakers and mechanics, I posit that government employees are more likely to donate to political candidates because there are in a political environment 40 or more hours a week.

What if your boss or friend was running for office? You might give him a few bucks (for anyone of the reasons stated above). This more likely to happen in a government environment. How many bakers and mechanics are running for office? Probably not many.

Just my two cents.

So you have a problem with Bakers and Mechanics. These peole have morals. More then I can say about public sector employees.The political enviroment you mean sewer. These A holes give money to protect their jobs,becuase they couldnt make it as a baker or mechanic. "Just my 2 cents"

[BigO]

These A holes give money to protect their jobs,becuase they couldnt make it as a baker or mechanic. "Just my 2 cents"

Listen, I'm not trying to defend the practice. I was just trying to point out that this really isn't a new issue.

What makes you think these people are "A holes"? Do you know all of them personally? If you don't, then you should refrain from making a blanket statement like that.

This problem is not exclusive to the public sector either. Non-public union members do the exact same thing, albeit indirectly by way of dues. Unions take part of the dues and donate to political candidates. Why? Because they want to protect thier members' jobs. Is there a difference becuase one contribution is direct and one is indirect? The end result is the same despite the slightly differing means.

[Enough]

Hate to be dense, but what does it matter if one person contributes a few hundred, or even a thousand, dollars to someone else's campaign?

but wait...Geraldine Ferraro is still in the picture??? Or how far back do these contributions go?

The point is, when you look at the list of contributors there's a large contingent of municipal employees that feel the "need" to donate money to these politicians. You don't see a large contingent of bakers or mechanics donating to politicians? With the many charitable organizations you could donate your hard-earned money to why do they donate to this?

Is it a coincidence or is there an underlying reason why Municipal Employees feel the need?

[speaker]

The point is, when you look at the list of contributors there's a large contingent of municipal employees that feel the "need" to donate money to these politicians. You don't see a large contingent of bakers or mechanics donating to politicians? With the many charitable organizations you could donate your hard-earned money to why do they donate to this?

Is it a coincidence or is there an underlying reason why Municipal Employees feel the need?

You've got to be kidding. Contributions go under the same category as the 'dinners' that go for $100-$1000 a plate, and all municipal managers, supervisors, etc., are 'invited'.