Why Applaud Rep. Brian Higgins (D- 26th, NY) For Violating Terms Of His Two-Year Contract? If He Wants Out, Then Pay Western New York Taxpayers To Get Out. Pay US$1 Million Cost Of Special Election.
Representative Brian Higgins (D- 26th District, New York) Violating Terms Of His Two-Year Contract- If He Wants Out, Then Pay Western New York Taxpayers US$1 Million To Get Out.
Special Election Could Cost Western New York Taxpayers Near US$1 Million. Personnel Costs US$677,000.00 And Facility Costs US$135,000.00.
Representative Higgins Has US$994,955.00 In Campaign Account.
He Should Pay For The Special Election Or Remain In Office Until The End Of His Term- 3 January 2025.
Everyone Seeking To Replace Representative Higgins Should Support His Paying For Special Election.
Kennedy, Brown, Poloncarz Refused To Answer.
Why Applaud Representative Higgins? He Signed Two-Year Contract With Voters For A Salary Of US$174,000.00 Per Year. Additional Benefits Include Up To US$34,000.00 Annual Rent Subsidy And US$79.00 Per Day For Meals. He Retains Frequent Flyer Points- For Airfare Paid By United States Taxpayers.
For Nineteen Years In Office, He Will Receive Approximately US$80,000.00 Annually In Pension Benefits. Plus, Annual Cost-Of-Living Increases.
New York State Department Of Health Shows Life Expectancy For 64-Year-Old Male Is 16.74 Years- That Translates To US$1.36 Million In Pension Benefits.
Previous Compensation For President Of Shea’s Performing Arts Centre Was US$302,416.00. That’s Position He Will Reportedly Accept. A 73.8% Increase To His Salary In The United States Congress.
As of the 2020 Census, each member of the United States House of Representatives from New York State represented an average of 777,529 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 719,298 residents. LINK to United States Census PDF about 26th Congressional District.
From New York State Board of Elections: “The 26th Congressional District includes parts of both Erie and Niagara Counties. Based on budgets submitted from both counties for last year’s General Election, we can provide a very rough estimate of $1.0-$1.5 million for a Special Election in that district. Please note that this budget submission is from the counties to operate an election for the entire county, whereby the 26th Congressional District only contains parts of both, and not the entirety of either.”
The 26th District in New York State includes portions of Erie County and Niagara County. There are 588 election districts within Erie County within the 26th District. There are 87 election districts within Niagara County within the 26th District.
Erie County Board of Elections and Niagara County Board of Elections shared their respective costs, real and estimate, for a special election. Each of the 675 (588 + 87) total election districts requires four (4) election inspectors at each polling station who are paid US$250.00 each per day.
That means US$1,000.00 per election district multiplied by 675 election districts equals US$677,000.00 in personnel costs.
Each polling station receives approximately US$200.00 per day to host the special election. One polling station may host more than one election district. The personnel costs remain the same regardless of the number of election districts hosted in one location. The hosting costs would be US$135,000.00.
New York State permits nine (9) days of early voting- which could increase costs substantially to taxpayers.
If the special election to replace Representative Higgins were to be scheduled for 2 April 2024 when New York State has its Democratic Party presidential primary election, the costs to taxpayers could be lessened.
Timothy Kennedy (D- 63rd District, New York), a member of the New York State Senate, was first to announce his intention to seek the nomination of the Erie County Democratic Party for the special election likely in February 2024 required to replace Representative Higgins. Senator Kennedy did not respond to a request for comment if he supported the use of the campaign funds to pay the cost of the special election rather than have Western New York taxpayers fund the special election.
Byron Brown (D), Mayor of the City of Buffalo, New York, expressed his potential interest in seeking the nomination of the Erie County Democratic Party for the special election likely in February 2024 required to replace Representative Higgins. Mayor Brown did not respond to a request for comment if he supported the use of campaign funds held by Representative Higgins to pay the cost of the special election rather than have Western New York taxpayers fund the special election.
Mark Poloncarz (D), Erie County Executive, has not expressed an interest in seeking the nomination of the Erie County Democratic Party for the special election likely in February 2024 required to replace Representative Higgins. Mr. Poloncarz did not respond to a request for comment as to whether he supported the use of campaign funds held by Representative Higgins to pay the cost of the special election rather than have Western New York taxpayers fund the special election.
“Congressman Brian Higgins Announces Plans to Leave Congress. Member Representing Western New York Will Step Aside in February of 2024 (Buffalo, NY, November 12, 2023). Congressman Higgins shared the news at an event in Buffalo and released the following statement:
It was nineteen years ago this month that I was first elected to serve in Congress and doing this work has truly been the honor of a lifetime. I’ve never lingered on Capitol Hill, I go there on a mission to change my community and return home on the first flight each week because being in Western New York, talking to people here, provides an urgent reminder of what I was sent to Washington to do.
Too often elected officials chase the twenty-four-hour news cycle, focusing on the issue of the day, and when you look back there is little to show for it. We have been deliberate in taking a different approach – committed to finding a focus, fighting for what really matters in the lives of people here in Western New York, and getting things done. I am proud of what we’ve accomplished: steadfast service to veterans, lifesaving flight safety measures, record bipartisan infrastructure and Great Lakes investments, a major increase in the nation’s commitment to fighting cancer, a transformation of our waterfront, and the list goes on. Over the years we’ve put the people of Buffalo-Niagara first and changed Western New York for the better.
I’ve always been a little impatient, and that trait has helped us deliver remarkable progress for this community. But the pace in Washington, D.C. can be slow and frustrating, especially this year. Therefore, after thoughtful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to leave Congress and explore other ways I can build up and serve Buffalo and Western New York.
The Buffalo-Niagara region is a place like none other, a home known for its neighborly heart, a small city with big offerings, and a region with a bright future. I am incredibly proud to have played a role in Western New York’s transformation and forever grateful for the opportunity to represent the good people of New York’s 26th Congressional District.
Congressman Higgins began his first term in the House of Representatives in 2005. He currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee as well as the House Budget Committee. Higgins, whose district borders Southern Ontario is Co-Chair of the Northern Border Caucus and the Canada-US Inter-Parliamentary Group. He is also a longtime Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Cancer Caucus and a member of the Great Lakes Task Force.”
Kevin Hardwick, Comptroller for Erie County, as reported by The Buffalo News, “Due to substantial increases in County spending over the past four years, as well as New York State actions to shift mandated spending onto county governments, the County faces budget gaps starting in 2025 that I believe must be addressed now.”
Mark Cornell, Deputy Budget Director for Erie County, as reported by The Buffalo News, “While we don’t necessarily project major storms ahead, we certainly see clouds forming on the horizon.”
The US$994,955.00 in Representative Higgins’ campaign account was accumulated based on individuals, companies, and organizations believing he would remain a member of the United States House of Representatives.
As such, once he departs the United States House of Representatives those funds should not be his to use to fund other candidates, and to spend on himself, family, and friends. Those funds should be directed to pay the nearly US$1 million cost to Western New York taxpayers for the special election to replace him.
The honorable decision by an individual who many describe as an honorable man…. Pay for the special election. Establish a precedent. Be an example, a good example. We shall see…