Erie County Legislator Edward Rath placed a friendly wager with his colleagues in the Legislature on the 16^th annual Battle of the Books, and on Aug. 2, when Clarence Library once again won the battle, Legislator Rath claimed victory. Today, he upheld his end of the bet, providing a pizza party and award presentation for the winning team.

The Erie County Legislature utilizes its committee process to fully vet the vast majority of actionable items. Committee meetings allow the necessary time to meet with commissioners and experts to discuss the pros and cons of each decision put before us. As a result, the legislature and Erie County as a whole are more accountable for their actions.

When it comes to repairing the damage done to our roadways this past winter, I am discouraged that the County Executive has not been more aggressive when approaching the problem. His immediate response has been that we simply can’t do better. Instead of telling residents we can’t, we need to figure out how to say we can and deliver the services their taxes pay for.

As the fiscal house for Erie County, I was happy to support an audit of the Legislature to ensure we were operating as efficiently as possible. Last week the Comptroller’s Office released its findings, highlighting inappropriate expenses and improper contract practices under Democratic leadership. 

Legislator Edward Rath is hosting a Business Forum at ECC’s North Campus in the Gleaser Hall Auditorium, 6205 Main St., on Tuesday, May 13 at 6 p.m. Held in partnership with Buffalo Niagara Partnership President and CEO Dottie Gallagher-Cohen; Visit Buffalo Niagara President and CEO Patrick Kaler; Empire State Development WNY Regional Director Christina Orsi; and ECIDA President and CEO Steven Weathers, the event will include a presentation from each of these critical agencies on the future of economic development and growth in Erie County.