About Mark Poloncarz
Mark C. Poloncarz is Erie County New York's eighth County Executive. Since taking office as Executive in January 2012, Mark has returned county government to its core mission of providing the programs and services that residents demand as effectively and efficiently as possible, while also ensuring that we invest in our libraries, arts and cultural institutions, infrastructure and address issues of poverty.
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In 1981 Karl Hand, a neo-nazi sympathizer, organized a “whites have rights” rally in Buffalo and called on others to join him. I remember it clearly because there was a big lead up to it and counter protests were scheduled. The community was on edge, worried about what might happen. On the day of the event Karl Hand was joined by no one. A swarm of media and counter protestors were there but no one other than Hand showed up … read more
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BY Mark Poloncarz Erie County Executive (This Column originally appeared in various editions of the Bee Group Newspapers in July, 2017.) I recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to join my counterparts from across the country for a special meeting of the County Executives of America Association, a nonpartisan organization that includes elected officials from more than 700 counties nationwide. The CEA brings these individuals together to discuss a multitude of national issues and their effects at the county level, as … read more
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By Mark Poloncarz May 25, 2017 When a government issues a budget it is usually met with yawns from the public, if it is even noticed at all. However, if you ever want to understand what an administration’s priorities are and if it upholds its campaign promises, whether it is on the local, state, or national level, all you have to do is review its first budget proposal. A budget is much more than spreadsheets on a page; it is … read more
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History 101 in the Trump era By: Mark Poloncarz May 2, 2017 The last few days will not go down in history as the best days of the Donald Trump presidency, or for that matter any presidency. In the span of less than forty-eight hours President Trump: (1) invited a brutal dictator to the White House; (2) tweeted an incredibly inaccurate statement about Andrew Jackson and the causes of the Civil War; and (3) cut short an interview when pressed … read more
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Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz March 29, 2017 State of the County Address Burchfield-Penney Art Museum Final as Prepared for Delivery Thank you Tom Quatroche for that gracious introduction and the work you do every day to ensure ECMC, our region’s only level one trauma center, is the best it can be. I also thank you and ECMC’s Board of Trustees for your steadfast commitment to ensuring ECMC does not become a financial albatross to the county. Working together … read more
