POWER COALITION: Republican activity and money

The Gazette revealed last month that Wojtaszek’s Republican ally, state Sen. George Maziarz, paid Zito nearly $20,000 for four months of work on his staff in 2001.

The job from Maziarz and the work for the coalition occurred while Zito was living on a disability pension and would have had to limit other sources of income in order to retain the pension.

Republicans getting jobs for associates extends beyond the coalition, as many other Republicans have gotten state jobs with the New York Power Authority, with whom the coalition had been negotiating a 50-year settlement deal.

County Legislator Malcolm Needler, R-North Tonawanda, and former Republican Assemblyman Rob Daly are both employed by NYPA.

And the Republican connection doesn’t stop there. A former aide to Republican Gov. George Pataki worked as a lobbyist on behalf of the coalition.

The lobbying firm Mercury Public Affairs earned more than $150,000 doing work for the coalition. Some coalition officials want to hire the firm again.

Harris Beach’s political action committee, as well as some of its members, are regular contributors to Republican political campaigns, including those of Sen. George Maziarz. The firm has billed the coalition for nearly $250,000 in legal fees since being hired in October 2004.

Another Harris Beach attorney, Michael Townsend, has been a NYPA trustee and recently became vice chairman of the power authority’s board.

Recent published reports have revealed the settlement deal reached with the power authority in June 2005 is worth about one-fourth the amount hired consultants told coalition officials they should seek.

Niagara County Democratic Chairman Dan Rivera said there are three words that perfectly sum up the whole situation, “pork, patronage and politics.”

“You don’t get anywhere unless you kiss ‘Boss Maziarz’s’ ring. It’s a sad state of affairs,” Rivera said. “Basically, it’s a political employment office. That’s what’s happened with local authorities and commissions.”

Culture of corruption permeates all aspects of politics, Republican, Democrat, Independent, it doesn’t matter anymore. When people get into office for self gain, to help friends and pay back for political contributions, who gets hurt? The people that pay the taxes and that’s us.

It clearly goes across party lines, districts, elected offices.
George Maziarz, I liked the guy until I started finding articles like this and started talking to people in his district. Dam shame….