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62nd State Senate District - Partnership Evaluation

Senator George Maziarz is being challenged by Niagara County Sheriff Deputy Brian Grear for the 62nd SD seat. Senator Maziarz has the Republican, Conservative, Independence & Working Families party lines. Deputy Grear has the Democratic line, although he is a registered Republican. Deputy Grear previously ran for Niagara County Sheriff in 2005. Deputy Grear did not return the Partnership questionnaire; his website indicates that his campaign issues include:

• Taxes
• Bloated State Budgets
• State Mandates
• Loss of Jobs
• Loss of Population
• Environmental Issues

Senator Maziarz has served in the Senate since 1995. His top priorities are working to reduce the tax burden through a property tax cap, continuing to fight to make sure Western New York employers benefit from access to low cost hydropower and seeing the construction of a new terminal at the Niagara Falls International Airport completed. He believes that the top issue for employers in the district is the high cost of doing business in New York State. He currently serves on the Energy Committee (Chairman) as well as the Finance Committee.

Senator Maziarz  believes that employers should support his campaign because he will push for a property tax cap and small business STAR exemption and he will push for lower energy costs for local businesses, more tax incentives for renewable and alternative energy sources and he will fight to reduce taxes and regulation on energy production.

• Voted “yes” on the TIF Bill, which the Partnership supports, and “yes” on retiree health insurance protection legislation, which the Partnership opposes.
• Sponsored legislation to protect Niagara Power Project hydroelectric power for businesses within the state located within thirty miles of the Niagara project.
• Sponsored legislation in the Senate mirroring the Hoyt IDA "reform" bill, which the Partnership opposes.