Politics Now

      The Western New York Chapter of the Working Families Party originally planned to support Democratic incumbent Timothy M. Wroblewski for the County Legislature's 9th District this year.

   But Wroblewski's vote to uphold County Executive Chris Collins' veto of a measure to establish a countywide planning board has apparently scuttled any chance of his securing the line. The party changed its original plans and now will support nobody in the race.

   Working Families Vice Chairman Dave Chudy said Wroblewski acknowledged "trouble" with the bill during his party interview because of significant opposition in some towns.

   "But he said that if [bill sponsor] Maria Whyte needed him, he would be there," Chudy said.

   The override attempt in the Legislature failed by one vote.

   Chudy called the situation a matter of "personal integrity.

   "He wasn't honest with us," he said, noting that Democrat Robert B. Reynolds of Hamburg also voted against the override but told party members he would.

   Wroblewski called the situation a "misunderstanding," adding he thought he was clear with party members that overriding the county executive's veto would not prove popular with many constituents.

   "I told them all along this was not a dead issue," he said. "I just would not support this version of the law because it has no teeth. I just don't remember the conversation the way they do," he added.

   Western New York Working Families Chairman Sam Williams said Chudy was not authorized to speak for the party, but acknowledged it had decided not to support Wroblewski this year.

  -- Robert J. McCarthy