With wife, brother vying, what’s party chief to do?
Iannello offered a more diplomatic explanation, suggesting two ambitious politicians who just happen to be related.

“We’re both in the same business,” she said, “and timing is everything.”

I have the answer for Dennis…. Quit, get out of the business and this should go for the other two. This race has become an embarrassment but is also very typical of 3 self serving, greedy individuals. I could understand Dan wanting to run, after all he has been in this business as she like s to call it, longer than she has. Iannello is barely wet behind the ears as an Erie County Legislator, she has not even started to represent this district yet feels she is qualified to hold the easiest job in New York politics? She is in it for her own self interests just as she is in the legislature. Name me one thing of any substance she has done for the 10th Legislative District… I can’t think of any.

She claims she is all about reform, openness, transparency in government yet votes against anything that would actually correct the dysfunction in Erie County. Yet you can count on her vote when ever there is a union issue on the table, yup, she will vote for the unions each and every time. By the way,,,, where is her office these days? I can’t seem to find her yet I was told she moved from downtown into a plush office some where in the district.

Family ties complicate State Senate race : City & Region : The Buffalo News

Sunday get-togethers at the Wards must be fascinating this summer.

How many families, after all, have in-laws running against each other for a major political office?

And to boot, the winner of this family feud, if there is one, could end up altering the political power structure of the state.

The battleground race for the State Senate pits Amherst Town Council Member Daniel J. Ward against Erie County Legislator Michele M. Iannello of Kenmore, who just happens to be married to Ward’s brother, Dennis.

The primary between Iannello and Ward adds a bizarre twist to a race that already features former heavyweight boxer Joe Mesi.

“I’m not running against her; she’s running against me,” said Ward the candidate, not the husband. “I was the first to announce.”

Not so, says Iannello.

“I began looking at this race in December of 2007,” she said. “I didn’t come late to this campaign.”

Ask anyone familiar with the contest, and you may hear stories of how it has divided not only the Wards, but Amherst’s Democratic leaders, as well.

Keep in mind, Dennis Ward is chairman of the town’s Democratic Party, as well as Erie County’s Democratic elections commissioner.

Despite that, his brother, Amherst’s longest serving Town Board member and a onetime candidate for county executive, won the town’s endorsement rather handily.

“She’s just another opponent as far as I’m concerned,” Dan Ward said.

Candidate Ward isn’t shy about expressing displeasure with his sister-in-law’s decision to enter the race.

“I stood up at her wedding,” he said. “Do you know of any families like mine?”

Iannello offered a more diplomatic explanation, suggesting two ambitious politicians who just happen to be related.

“We’re both in the same business,” she said, “and timing is everything.”

She also is quick to note that she’s running with her husband’s blessing.
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