The Democratic lineup for Erie County Legislature is in, and Legislature Chairwoman Barbara Miller-Williams is out.
The Erie County Democratic Committee met this morning at the United Auto Workers Region 9 headquarters in Amherst to choose candidates for the 11 new Erie County Legislature districts.
Here's the latest list released by the Dems:
- 1st: Timothy Hogues
- 2nd: Betty Jean Grant (i)
- 3rd: Lynn Marinelli (i)
- 4th: Jeremy Zellner
- 5th: Thomas Loughran (i)
- 6th: Toni Vazquez
- 7th: Thomas Mazur (i)
- 8th: Terry McCracken
- 9th: Jon Gorman
- 10th: Christina Bove (i)
- 11th: none
*(i) notes incumbent
Most notable is the absence of Miller-Williams from the list. She is on the outs with Democratic leaders after caucusing with Republicans in the Erie County Legislature.
"I think it's a disservice to the constituents in the 1st District," Miller-Williams said this afternoon after learning of the committee vote. She plans to appear on a new line on the November ballot and is also seeking nominations from the Working Families and Independence parties.
The Democrats also nominated Mary Lou Pew in the 11th District, but she declined the nomination after this morning's meeting, said Erie County Democratic Chairman Len Lenihan.
For more on the Legislature races, check out News Political Reporter Robert J. McCarthy's story, Surprise picks made for county elections, which appeared in today's Buffalo News.
McCarthy explains why party leaders are hand-picking the candidates, who the Republicans are considering for each district and what the most surprising development is in this weekend's nominations.
--Denise Jewell Gee
