County Executive Cites Passion for the Bills and the Community, Strong Working Relationships, Institutional Knowledge as Criteria for Selection

ERIE COUNTY, NY— Today, Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz announced his selection of seven members to serve on a committee representing Erie County as part of the New Stadium Working Group, a panel which will explore the possibility of either building a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills or further renovating Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park to meet the team’s future needs. New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo named his first five appointees to the panel in late February; the Bills have yet to name their seven appointees.

“The individuals who will be representing Erie County in the upcoming stadium discussions are all fervent Bills fans and Erie County residents, as well as community members who are cognizant of the economic realities facing Erie County and the business realities of the National Football League,” said Poloncarz. “The Bills have been a vital part of our community fabric for over 50 years, and we look forward to working with our counterparts from the Governor’s and the Bills’ selections to the New Stadium Working Group as we cement the long-term future of the Bills here in Erie County.”

In addition to County Executive Poloncarz himself, the individuals named to the Erie County committee   include:

•             Richard Tobe, Deputy County Executive, Erie County
•             Maria R. Whyte, Commissioner of Environment and Planning, Erie County
•             Kathleen Hochul, Vice President, M&T Bank Corporation
•             Michael Joseph, President, Clover Management, Inc.
•             Alphonso O’Neil-White, Retired President & CEO of HealthNow New York Inc.
•             Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker, President, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo

The 2013 lease negotiated between Erie County, New York State and the Buffalo Bills called for the creation of a New Stadium Working Group, an advisory committee composed of as many as 21 members and charged with exploring the possibility of building a new stadium for the Bills in Erie County or renovating Ralph Wilson Stadium. Erie County, New York State, and the Bills are each allotted seven slots for the committee, with meetings expected to begin in the coming months.

County Executive Letter Naming Committee Appointees