Looking ahead while remembering the past was a common theme in remarks made by four Polish-Americans who were honored for their legal and or political success by the Advocates Club on June 30 at Polish Villa II in Cheektowaga. The Advocates Club is a Pol-Am organization for those in the WNY legal community. Its president Tom Kobus presented awards to Erie County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz, Buffalo City Court Judge David Manz, Buffalo Council President David Franczyk and North District Council Member Joseph Golombek, Jr.
Poloncarz, who is running for Erie County Executive, recalled meetings with former Erie County Clerk Alfreda Slominski and former Erie County Executive Dennis Gorski.
Poloncarz said, “Before I took office (in 2005), I sat down with Alfreda Slominski who was a Polish attorney herself. A lot of people forget she was an attorney. She gave me a few bits of advice. She said, ‘If the other elected officials think you’re doing a good job, you probably are not. That means you’re not getting in there, cleaning up the mess and digging in and finding out how to do a good job in Erie County government.’”
Poloncarz also spoke of meeting with Gorski. He said, “I look forward to continuing in Dennis’ role of being an advocate of the people. Someone that ensures we have good government going forward and have a balanced budget on an annual basis.”
Kobus noted that Poloncarz was the first democrat to run for county comptroller since Slominski succeeded Henry Nowak when Nowak won his congressional seat in 1974.
Regarding the Distinguished Service Achievement Award, Poloncarz joked: “I’m a little worried, Usually they give these awards at the end of a career.”
Kobus said of Council Member Golombek as he presented him a Distinguished Service Award: “I don’t think there is a harder working district council man in the city of Buffalo who really knows his area and his people know him. He’s highly respected by those who he serves with. He has a distinguished record on the council.”
Golombek Jr. thanked the organization for the honor and said, “Going back to my father who passed away a few years ago… who was born in Sandomierz, Poland, my Polish heritage has been very important to me as has been my Roman Catholicism and I hope that it shows.”
Another Distinguished Career Service Award was presented to Judge Manz. He remarked, “I appreciate the organization’s recognition. I’m back on the campaign trail. I love the job I do in Buffalo City Court…. I’m cognizant of my Pol-Am heritage all the time. I think I have learned wonderful lessons from my father and my mother and I take those every day to work with me and I appreciate this recognition.”
Kobus introduced honoree David Franczyk while acknowledging David’s father Stan. Kobus said, “There couldn’t have been a stronger advocate for Polonia. His son David has done an outstanding job, not only representing the Fillmore District, which is not an easy endeavor, but compiling a distinguished record as council president.”
Franczyk recalled growing up in the 1960s with a keen eye on politics. He said, “I remember crying myself to sleep when Judge (Victor) Manz ran for mayor…. and the split vote [that caused him to lose the race]. Politics was a very passionate thing when I was growing up.”
Franczyk added, “I don’t know what will be the legacy or future of that kind of representation on the East Side. Things have changed, demographics have changed, assimilation has taken hold. In all those years since the Polish immigration came to Buffalo and established St. Stan’s in 1872. It’s amazing that it has held this long. Except for one council member they have been Polish-American council members.”
“It’s a whole different world. It’s not that old world but that is interesting to remember. Polish American democrats and republicans are always fighting each other. Going back to the 1890s they were going at each others throats…. They fought like cats and dogs.” He remembered one time when they did get together years ago after a Methodist minister referred to Polish immigrants as “cattle” and they got him to publicly apologize.
“When it matters, people can work together when the issues are important enough,” he said.