Buffalo, NY - Jon Powers, NY-26 Congressional Candidate has announced the endorsement of General Wesley K. Clark.

Fittingly, the Iraq War veteran’s announcement that Clark is supporting his candidacy came just days after Veterans Day.

“General Clark is someone I have admired for a long time both professionally and personally,” Powers said. “It gives me great pride to know he sees in our campaign the same values of service, accountability, and leadership by example that he himself has demonstrated in his service to our country.”

Clark, a 34 year veteran of the armed forces, retired from the military as one of the nation’s most highly decorated military officers since General Dwight D. Eisenhower, and is world-renowned as an expert in foreign policy and national security matters. His many awards and honors include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, The State Department Distinguished Service Award, five time recipient of the US Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two time recipient of the US Army Distinguished Service Medal, The Silver Star, two time recipient of the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and Honorary Knighthoods from the British and Dutch governments.

This afternoon, about 60 professors from D’Youville college stood in protest on porter avenue over contract negotiations that have lagged on since mid summer.

AAUP Chapter President Richard Dowds said “D’Youville College has enjoyed a period of unparalleled success and prosperity over the last decade. Vibrant academic programs and record enrollments have engendered financial strength and stability, which has enabled the college to build new buildings and explore new fields of study. These are important investments in the college’s future.”

Erie County Executive-elect Chris Collins has selected Philip C. Ackerman and Philip M. Corwin to co-chair his transition team. Led by Ackerman and Corwin, Collins’ transition team will work closely with the current administration to ensure a successful and smooth transition for the taxpayers of Erie County.

Both Ackerman and Corwin bring a wealth of business experience to the transition process. Ackerman is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of National Fuel Gas Company; Corwin is the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Talking Phone Book, a publication of Hearst Holdings, Inc.

“I am honored that two men of this caliber would take time away from their busy personal and professional lives to help me deliver for the taxpayers of Erie County,” said Collins. “I promised taxpayers that I would run county government like a business, and selecting Phil Ackerman and Phil Corwin to head my transition efforts will allow me to lay the ground work to do just that. I know these two men want only the best for our community and are volunteering their time and talents to help me accomplish my vision for a brighter future in Erie County.”

“Our transition structure will feature an overall Executive Committee led by Co-Chairs Ackerman and Corwin, with a number of working subcommittees mirroring county government functions and my own top priorities of reform and economic development, “ said Collins. “The transition committee will help me recruit the best and brightest for jobs within my administration and also work to identify areas within county government that are most in need of reform. The committee will be made up of people from the business, civic and government sectors.”

“This is an exciting opportunity to help chart a new course for Erie County,” said Ackerman. “The taxpayers of our community voted overwhelmingly for change last week, and this transition committee will work very hard to make sure Chris Collins can bring about that change.”

Buffalo, NY -

I’ve been hearing that a lot lately.

I admit it. Over the years, I have often let Veterans day pass with little to no remembrance of those who fought and lost their lives for my freedom.

Sheltered by time, distance and the fast paced thing we call life, we tend to push things like the war in Iraq to the back of our minds.

That is until it starts to hit a little too close to home. The tragic loss of Sgt. Daniel Shaw is the first time, over the course of this “war” that someone I have known personally has lost a loved one. The first time I have actually met someone who gave their life for our freedom. Sure I covered these stories in the past, and have met families who have lost loved ones, but this was different. I’ve played poker with Dan. Although I can count on one hand the times I’ve met him, it didn’t matter.

On Sunday, former Buffalo Bill Adam Lingner was on Hardwick’s show promoting a new political social networking site he’s started called Voters Direct. Its mission:

This website has been launched to reduce the impact of money in politics and to return the power to you, the American Citizen.

I absolutely detest MySpace, and Facebook is marginally better than that. At least this site has a purpose, despite having only 29 users signed up as of this writing. It’s homegrown and it’s somewhat different. Check it out.