With my left hand on a Bible being held by my wife Jean and my right hand raised, I took the oath to office and began my term as the 10th District legislator at the beginning of this month. It was with great honor that I took my seat in the Legislature Chambers, thinking how grateful I am for this opportunity and thank you for your support.
After a few congratulatory handshakes, the legislature got down to business. Among the issues discussed during my first session was: should the county bond $7 million to fund a lawsuit judgment. Needing eight votes out of 11 for approval, the item was held to be discussed further in the Finance and Management Committee. There were a lot of unanswered questions that needed to be answered. The Legislature can reconsider the item at its Jan. 26 session.
I soon discovered that my private sector experience will be a great benefit to me as I debate and research issues, but more importantly, it will be my experiences with my constituents that will best prepare me for the Legislature floor. Each vote I take must represent the needs of the residents and what will best serve them.
How to best be familiar with those needs is by reaching out to constituents and this will be achieved through District Outreach Meetings, attending town and village board meetings, and meeting with issue-drive organizations, such as business associations, chambers of commerce, and neighborhood groups. I am also available to meet for a cup of coffee or at my place of business at a time that is convenient for you.
I have decided not open a district office, which will save thousands of dollars annually on unnecessary rental and utility costs. Erie County is one of the last counties in New York State to operate legislative district offices and historically they have generated very little foot traffic. Residents are best served through community outreach programs where I am in their hometown and available to meet one-on-one. A district office in West Seneca is by no means convenient for a Holland resident, which is why meetings will be scheduled throughout the district.
I started attending board meetings to meet with officials and make myself available to answer questions related to the county. Improving the working relationship between town and village officials and the county is an issue that I made one of my first priorities and am pleased with the progress already made. For example, I was recently alerted to an issue with the condition of Bullis Road by an Elma board member who had been contacted by residents who were upset with the severity of potholes. I contacted the Department of Public Works to get an update and was told that patching could be done as soon as possible. This is exactly how governments should work – sharing of information and resolving problems.
I will continuously tour the county’s roadway system to familiarize myself with the current condition. I encourage anyone with a question about a county road or bridge to contact me so I can provide you with a history of work previously done, as well as any plans for repair or reconstruction.
If you ever have a concern or need my assistance, please contact my Legislative Office at 858-8922 or email joseph.lorigo@erie.gov.