Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz was sworn in Friday for his fourth term as Erie County Executive. Poloncarz says this will be his final term as Erie County's leader.
Poloncarz says the county has changed from when he first took office in 2012. "County government had been run like a business, abandoning its true owners, the people," says Poloncarz. He says there was much work to make Erie County what it is today, but it has been done. Poloncarz says the county's economy is the strongest it's been in decades. "The world knows about our comeback story," says Poloncarz.
Poloncarz says there is work to get done in 2024. "Yes, we will build the stadium, finish ErieNet, continue to strengthen health and mental health programs for all residents. But we will not stop there," says Poloncarz. "We will continue to invest in our roads, parks and libraries make our community more climate resilient, and water cleaner" to help provide for generations to come.
Poloncarz warns there are dark clouds ahead, coming from within. "There is a cancer that is threatening our democratic republic. Smart stable governance is ridiculed and defamed to undermine trust in our public offices. Self anointed patriots spit upon the core principles of the Constitution they claim to be supporting. science and law are dismissed. opinion and slander are considered equally with fact," says Poloncarz. He adds history will decide if they are patriots.
Poloncarz defeated Chrissy Casilio in November.
