BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Some potential voters say their phones are ringing off the hook, and they don’t like what they’re hearing.
Dozens of people have reported on the News 4 Facebook page receiving calls where the caller ID shows up with the same number. When they pick up their phones, most of the time, no one talks.
However, at least twice, the caller claims to be with the Mark Poloncarz campaign. A spokesman addressed these phone calls just a short time ago.
Poloncarz campaign spokesman Peter Anderson said, “We have gathered more than 20 complaints just on the phone, here at headquarters, from people who are understandably pretty angry about being pestered by this person. We’ve also registered complaints on Facebook and on other websites. Some of these complainants say they’ve been getting anywhere from five to 14 phone calls every day, from this person who is not associated with this campaign.”
The number calling residents is 716-250-7491, or 716-207-****, the last four digits never being the same. Mark Poloncarz posted on our Facebook page that his campaign believes the calls are being made outside of WNY and being redirected through a local number. He stresses they are not coming from him or his campaign.
Poloncarz released this statement:
“My campaign is receiving complaints from voters about harassing phone calls from someone claiming to be associated with my campaign. These calls are not coming from my campaign and we are investigating where these calls are coming from. It has come to our attention that similar calls are being placed in Suffolk County allegedly on behalf of Steve Bellone, the Democratic County Executive candidate.
“If folks are receiving these calls, I ask that you please record the phone number they are coming from, what they are saying along with the time and date and call my campaign office at 896-2680 or emailinformation@markpoloncarz.com . Thanks for your patience and understanding.”
Republican candidate Chris Collins released the following statement:
You can’t believe anything this guy says. Phone calls are being made on behalf of him by his special interest allies and he is saying its not him. People are telling us they’ve had it. Voters will not be fooled by Mark Poloncarz’s denial. This bogus press conference is nothing but smoke and mirrors because he won’t answer these questions: what did he know about ballot fraud at the Erie County Board of Elections, and when did he know it?