SD-61: Ranzenhofer Skips Out On Committee Meetings

by: robert.harding

Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 11:52:24 AM EDT

But I have a question for Mr. Ranzenhofer: Can you call it experience if you don't show up?

According to CANY, Ranzenhofer had the worst attendance record of all the legislators from 2004 through 2007. During that time period, he missed 14 committee meetings. That was more than Legislator Barbara Miller Williams. Why did Ms. Miller Williams miss nine committee meetings? Because she is serving our country as a reservist.

That's right: Ranzenhofer missed more meetings than Ms. Miller Williams did. What is Ranzenhofer's excuse? If elected to Albany, will he decide to charge the taxpayers for his travel to Albany and then decide he doesn't feel like showing up for votes or meetings?

CANY based their report card on the Legislature's committee schedule. So far this year, Ranzenhofer has missed three committee meetings. In fairness, that's not the most meetings missed this year. But when combined with his 2004-2007 figures, that is the second-highest figure of missed committee meetings on the Legislature. The person with the most? Ms. Miller Williams.

And before charges of partisan attacks start flying around, it is worth nothing that the son of the woman Ranzenhofer seeks to replace received an "A+" grade from CANY for his perfect attendance from 2004-2007. That legislator is Ed Rath, who is the son of Mary Lou Rath.

The Mesi campaign took advantage of this yesterday and issued a press release that highlighted a Ranzenhofer quote about being committed to the people. You can read that below the fold.

Again, if Ranzenhofer can't make committee meetings at the county level, how can he be trusted to fulfill his duties in Albany?

ON THE WEB:

Joe Mesi's ActBlue Page

"The taxpayers of this district deserve nothing less than a public servant who is committed to serving them."

Ranzenhofer's actions:

Mike Ranzenhofer was recently caught by Citizen Action New York for having missed the most committee meetings-by far-of any of Erie County's 15 legislators. He has sat on important committees that cover matters such as ensuring the protection of vital community resources like libraries, parks and health centers.

By missing these meetings, Ranzenhofer is sending a clear message to the working families he represents that these important issues simply aren't important to him.

His truancy was such a problem that the report gave Ranzenhofer a "D" grade-making him the only County Legislator to receive less than a "B."

Ranzenhofer's chronic absenteeism isn't a recent problem. In 1995 the Buffalo News in their reporting on Erie County Legislators, noted that Ranzenhofer "hasn't made any particular impact on the Legislature except raising an occasional eyebrow because of his absences."

Ranzenhofer's track record does not give voters confidence that he will be present in Albany representing and fighting for the interests of the 61st Senate District. He has demonstrated for many years that he is not a "public servant who is committed to serving."