Two Candidates to Decide On for 57th Seat
Information Compiled By Eric Ortner
North Buffalo Rocket / West Side TimesThere will be a very important election on Tuesday, March 28. This vote will regard the 57th State Senate Seat, which was vacated on January 1, 2000 when former Senator Anthony Nanula took the oath of office for City Comptroller. There are two people in contention for the State position. Alfred T. Coppola and Renae Kimble are the State Senate candidates.
Both candidates have the credentials for the position. However, because it is a special election, it is more important than ever to get out and place your ballot. That is because historically there have not been large voter turnouts for special elections in Buffalo. The fact that only one of the candidates is from the City of Buffalo may influence many area voters' opinions on this important decision.Delaware District Councilmember Alfred T. Coppola
City of Buffalo Delaware District Councilmember Alfred T. Coppola is one of the two candidates. He is endorsed by the Erie County Democratic Party, the Green Party, the Independence Party, the Conservative Party, and Working Families Party. Mr. Coppola is a lifelong resident of Buffalo. He has a significant record of achievements resulting from his past 17 years in office.
Mr. Coppola has an exemplary record of constituent services which include tax assessment challenges, crime awareness and prevention, environmental concerns, along with business and neighborhood development and beautification. Al Coppola has most recently been in the public forefront in regards to Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation. He was influential in creating a settlement between Niagara Mohawk and the City of Buffalo as a result of the Power Corporation over-billing the City.
In his efforts for Crime awareness and prevention, Mr. Coppola has provided funding for Crime Prevention Specialists. Al has also worked as a liaison between the community and police department. He sends periodic mailings to block contacts to make them aware of crime trends, and door-to door scams along with neighborhood-specific problems.
The Councilmember has a strong environmental record and has advocated city-wide recycling, expanding the program to include apartment buildings and businesses. Al's office has been actively involved in the annual Glad Bag-a-Thon. The Delaware District cleans up the most amount of trash.
Alfred T. Coppola has been instrumental for neighborhood Development in the Delaware District. He has been able to secure funding for the rehab of the casino in Delaware Park, along with the creation of playgrounds and an Ice Rink in North Buffalo.Niagara County 2nd District Legislator Renae Kimble
Renae Kimble calls herself a Democrat. She is endorsed by the Niagara County Democratic Party, and the Erie and Niagara County Republican Parties. She is a Niagara County Legislator elected to the position on November 2nd 1993, representing the Second Legislative District in the City of Niagara Falls, and was re-elected to her fourth 2 year term in November of 1999. Her list of degrees includes an Associate in Arts Degree in Liberal Arts/Social Services, a State University of New York at Buffalo Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, and a Juris Doctor Degree from State University of New York at Buffalo Faculty of Law and Jurisprudence.
Her platform centers on Economics. She believes her record as a Niagara County Legislator shows a history of job development and support for small businesses. Ms. Kimble takes credit for allocating funding to create 1,000 new jobs at Tele-Tech. She was the sponsor of the grant application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Micro Enterprise Program.
The County received a $600,000 grant to provide technical assistance and capital, with the goal of creating viable and productive small business in Niagara County. In 1996, the County was awarded an additional 1.8 million dollars for this program. Legislator Kimble believes that as a member of the Micro Enterprise Assistance Program, more than 125 small businesses have benefited from the technical assistance.
Ms. Kimble is the former Chairwoman of the Administrative Committee in Niagara County. She was influential in promoting and developing a local law establishing a County Code of Ethics. Legislator Kimble was also responsible for the establishment of the Citizens Against Hospital Merger which helped stop Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center from closing.
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