Lenihan’s Lackeys

Every once in a while, a story rolls around that really exposes the absurdity of our county government and demonstrates it’s complete uselessness as a representative body.

The real county executive (Len Lenihan) appointed Lackawanna political hack Francis Warthling as the newest commissioner at the Erie County Water Authority. It is a part time job that pays a mere $22K per year. Why would a respectable businessman want such a low paying gig? Well, a water commissioner gets access to the shadow government run by the party bosses and gets to dole out sweet patronage jobs to friends and associates. I felt like I was channeling Jim Ostrowski as I typed that…

The article made me snicker at the absurdity of the proceedings while simultaneously forcing me to throw up in my mouth a little bit. A few choice bits:

With Warthling now secure, Lenihan has had a say in the placement of all three authority commissioners. His party, in theory, has a better chance at placing more of its people into jobs there.

Which is exactly the purpose of a governmental authority that sets water rates and maintains the lines that lose 41% of their water while in transit. I’m sure Mr. Warthling has a depth of experience when it comes to water engineering. Well, maybe not…at the very least, I’m certain he has highly qualified and technically adept engineers at his disposal to help him maintain the system and discover cost efficiencies.

Freshly retired county legislator Edward J. Kuwik holds a $93,600-a-year engineering job that was never advertised and for which no one else knew to apply.

Ok, maybe not. What job does Mr. Kuwik hold at the water authority? He’s a water distribution engineer. Yes, Ed Kuwik has a mechnical engineering degree. He also obtained that degree over 30 years ago and has spent the proceeding years employed as a Math teacher and as a county legislator. I find it quite hard to believe that Mr. Kuwik has spent many of his freetime hours dedicated to the study of cutting edge water distribution and filtration equipment. We could have hired some pointyheaded engineer fresh out of UB to do that job for $40K…I say with confidence that my wife is just as qualified as jolly ol’ Ed to be a senior engineer with the ECWA.

“It is not our thoughts but our actions which dictate who we are,” said Smith, quoting philosopher John Locke, during a floor debate.

I just found it funny that Damone Smith quoted John Locke on the floor of the legislature. What’s next? Lynn Marinelli quoting the words of Jefferson? Let’s move on…

“There is more political patronage at the Erie County Water Authority than in all of Erie County government,” Legislator Kathy Konst said. “Make no mistake, this appointment has nothing to do with good government.”

Well, hip-hip-hooray! A legislator with a conscience! Let’s have a parade. Wait, this just in…

But three Democrats would not go along. One of them, Lancaster Democrat Kathy Konst, was pushing her own candidate. Konst’s Daniel Amatura had served as her campaign treasurer and sits on the Lancaster Town Board, but he also is a construction contractor who has worked with water lines.

So, she was just upset that she didn’t have enough pull with Lenihan to get her patronage pick into the position. At least her candidate had, ya know, actually laid eyes on a water line at some point in his life. So, he had that going for him, which is nice.

“It is a politicized process that doesn’t have to be that way,” said Cynthia Locklear, a West Seneca Democrat “Each of you has the freedom to vote the way you want. I am saying today is the day. Today is the day you can do something. So look inside yourselves and do the right thing.”

This simply reaffirms my belief that Cindy Locklear (the lone Primary Challenge Candidate to win an EC Leg seat) is the voice of reason in this legislature. She has consistently stood up to do the right thing.

Later, when Chairwoman Lynn M. Marinelli, D-Town of Tonawanda, explained the Legislature was following a 58-year-old process dictated by law, Locklear took the unusual step of rising to interrupt the chairwoman in mid-breath to say the law does not say the party boss selects the commissioner.

“That is the elephant in the living room,” Locklear said.

BRAVO! Is it too early to nominate Cindy for County Executive?