Politics Now

Every Sunday, we'll publish a quick Q&A with someone from the local political world. Instead of touching on the latest in policy issues and proposed legislation, the intent is to catch a glimpse of the person behind the title. The interviews are done via email.

Barry Weinstein celebrates his victory on election night in November 2009. (Sharon Cantillon/ Buffalo News)

Barry Weinstein

The Basics:
Age: 68 1/2
Party: Republican
Job Title:Supervisor of Amherst
Family: married to Lois, 46 years. 4 daughters, 7 grandchildren
Town: Amherst
Education: State University of New York at Buffalo. BA 1965, MD 1969, JD 1976
Salary: $75,000

Continue reading "Five Questions with Barry Weinstein" »

Every Sunday, we'll publish a quick Q&A with someone from the local political world. Instead of touching on the latest in policy issues and proposed legislation, the intent is to catch a glimpse of the person behind the title. The interviews are done via email.

Stefan Mychajliw, a former television reporter, is running for county comptroller. (Harry Scull Jr./ Buffalo News)

Stefan Iwan Mychajliw Jr.

The Basics:
Age: 38
Party: Endorsed Republican, Independence and Conservative candidate for Erie County Comptroller
Job Title: Business owner, co-founder of “Profit Media Group” public relations firm
Family: Youngest of seven children, proud father of our 6-year-old daughter Mia, who, thank heavens, has her mother’s brains and good looks
Town: Buffalo’s East Side, grew up near William and Fillmore, now lives in Kaisertown
Education: Elementary school: Buffalo Public School No. 33; high school: Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts; college: Syracuse University

Continue reading "Five Questions with Stefan Mychajliw" »

Every Sunday, we'll publish a quick Q&A with someone from the local political world. Instead of touching on the latest in policy issues and proposed legislation, the intent is to catch a glimpse of the person behind the title. The interviews are done via email.

David Shenk

The Basics:
Age: 42
Party: Democratic
Job Title: Erie County Comptroller; Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army Reserves
Family: Married to Polly Shenk (formerly France); Charlie and Caesar (our dogs)
Town: Boston
Education: Bachelor’s degree in management from Houghton College, National Emergency Medical Technician Certification and numerous leadership schools in the Army
Salary: $80,615 as Erie County Comptroller; $7,500 as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves 
(Contributed photograph)

The Questions: 

What's one thing people don't know about you?
I have been a fan of professional wrestling since I was a kid. It looks spontaneous but everyone knows there is a script. In a way, it was great preparation for politics.

I also love to help my wife around “The Shenk 1/3 Acre Farm” (when I have time).

Continue reading "Five Questions with David Shenk" »

Every Sunday, we'll publish a quick Q&A with someone from the local political world. Instead of touching on the latest in policy issues and proposed legislation, the intent is to catch a glimpse of the person behind the title. The interviews are done via email.

Chris Jacobs at his campaign headquarters on Main Street in Buffalo in October. ( Sharon Cantillon/ Buffalo News)

Chris Jacobs

The Basics:
Age: 45
Party: Republican
Job Title: Erie County clerk
Town: City of Buffalo
Education: Canisius High School; law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo; MBA from American University, Washington, D.C.; and a bachelor of arts degree from Boston College
Salary: $79,092

Continue reading "Five Questions with Chris Jacobs" »

Legislator Joseph C. Lorigo at an Erie County Legislature meeting in January. (Sharon Cantillon/ Buffalo News)

Joseph C. Lorigo

The Basics:
Age: 30
Party: Conservative
Job Title: Erie County Legislator, 10th Legislative District (Aurora, Colden, East Aurora, Elma, Holland, Marilla, Wales, West Seneca)
Family: Wife, Jean; and dog, Henry
Town: West Seneca
Education: Canisius College, bachelor of arts, 2003; State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, law degree, 2007; UB School of Management, master of business administration, 2007.
Salary: $42,588

The Questions: 
What's one thing people don't know about you?
I have played the piano since I was 12 years old, and it is truly something I love to do.  I don’t play nearly as often as I used to, but it is still something I do as a way to relax. While I haven’t played in public in quite some time, I used to play dinner music at restaurants when I was younger. There is a part of me that would love to play the piano in a band.

What music have you been listening to lately?
I enjoy a variety, including country music, classic rock and others.

What's your favorite restaurant? 
I really enjoy Tantalus and Rick’s on Main in East Aurora, and Schwabl’s in West Seneca.

Who is your political hero? 
My political hero would have to be Abraham Lincoln. He was someone who believed in what was right and stuck to his principles. I also admire him for his ability to unify the country after it had been torn apart by civil war.  I sometimes think that the nation is more divided today than it has been in years, which I find troubling.  Nobody is ever going to completely agree on everything, but I would like to see people working together to do what’s best for the people, not necessarily what’s best for themselves or their party.

What's the worst part of your job? 
Not being able to be in two places at once. There are always meetings, charitable fundraisers, festivals and other events going on. I would like to attend them all, but sometimes I am logistically unable to.

-- Denise Jewell Gee

Each week, we'll publish a quick Q&A with someone from the local political world. Instead of touching on the latest in policy issues and proposed legislation, the intent is to catch a glimpse of the person behind the title. The interviews are done via email.

Terry McCracken celebrates at Democratic headquarters at the Adam's Mark Hotel on election night November 2011. (Derek Gee/ Buffalo News)

Terry McCracken

The Basics:
Age: 51
Party: Democrat
Job Title: Erie County Legislator, 8th district
Family: Married to Kristin; children --   Patrick, Jill, Michael, Kim and our dog Hank
Town: Depew
Education: attended Canisius College
Salary: $42,500

Continue reading "Five Questions with Terry McCracken" »

Every Sunday, we'll publish a quick Q&A with someone from the local political world. Instead of touching on the latest in policy issues and proposed legislation, the intent is to catch a glimpse of the person behind the title. The interviews are done via email.

Lynne Dixon celebrates a victory at the Erie County Republican Committee's campaign headquarters at the Adam's Mark Hotel in November 2009. (Derek Gee/ Buffalo News File Photo)

Lynne Dixon

The Basics:
Age: Ask Siri, she has all the answers.
Party: Independence
Job Title: Erie County Legislator, 9th District
Family: Husband, Tim.  Four children:  Jack, 14; Erin, 12; Owen, 9; and Caroline, 6. I am also blessed to still have my parents, as well as three siblings who all live in the area.
Town: I have lived in Hamburg for the past 14 years.
Education: West Virginia University, Bachelors in English.
Salary: $42,500

Continue reading "Five Questions with Lynne Dixon" »

Every Sunday, we'll publish a quick Q&A with someone from the local political world. Instead of touching on the latest in policy issues and proposed legislation, the intent is to catch a glimpse of the person behind the title. The interviews are done via email.

Kevin Gaughan goes door to door in 2010 during a government reform effort.(Adam Wolffbrandt/ Buffalo News File Photo)

Kevin P. Gaughan

The Basics:
Age: 58
Party: Democrat
Job Title: Attorney and civic activist
Family: Bachelor poster-child (but working on it), with five sisters and one brother, each of whom are smarter, funnier and far more charming than me 
Town: Buffalo
Education: Harvard University, A.B. American History; Georgetown University Law School, JD; London School of Economics, graduate studies in International Relations

Continue reading "Five Questions with Kevin Gaughan" »

Every Sunday, we'll publish a quick Q&A with someone from the local political world. Instead of touching on the latest in policy issues and proposed legislation, the intent is to catch a glimpse of the person behind the title. The interviews are done via email.

Assemblyman Sean Ryan, D-Buffalo, is a the former chief of staff of the Erie County Legislature. (Sharon Cantillon / Buffalo News)

Sean Ryan

The basics
Age: 47
Job title: New York State Assemblymember, 144th District
Family: My wonderful wife of 16 years, Cathy; we have two daughters: Bridget, 12, and Kate, 13.
Education: Bachelor’s Degree from SUNY Fredonia, Law Degree from Brooklyn Law School
Party affiliation: Democrat
Previous work experience: Attorney in private practice; executive director and general council of the Buffalo Neighborhood Stabilization Company; chief of staff of the Erie County Legislature; board member of many non-profit organizations including Buffalo Niagara River Keeper, Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Autistic Services Inc, Coalition for Economic Justice, and the City of Buffalo’s Living Wage Commission.
State salary: $79,500

Continue reading "Five Questions with Sean Ryan" »

Every Sunday, we'll publish a quick Q&A with someone from the local political world. Instead of touching on the latest in policy issues and proposed legislation, the intent is to catch a glimpse of the person behind the title. The interviews are done via email.

Legislator Timothy Hogues, left, takes the oath of office during the first session of the year in January. (Sharon Cantillon / Buffalo News)

Timothy Hogues

The Basics:
Age: 40
Party: Democrat
Job Title: Erie County Legislator 1st District
Family: Wife, Melissa; son Christopher, 12; daughter, Destiny, 7; and son, Joseph, 5.
Town: Buffalo
Education: Bachelor of science in business administration, State University of New York at Buffalo
Salary: $42,500

Continue reading "Five Questions with Timothy Hogues" »