My Cheektowaga Election Day Tradition

Proud I am of my 2009 slate…Stan Kaznowski, who’s been running for this job 32 months straight; Pat Jaworowicz, seeking her 8th and final term; and Jim Rogowski, watch for his name on the ballot down the road for State Senate or Town Supervisor

Wow. After all these months, literally hundreds upon hundreds of hours devoted to campaign activities on two fronts – the Cheekdems, where I wear the hat of Executive Vice Chairman, and downtown at the EC Legislature, where I serve the Majority Caucus, this all finally comes to an end on Tuesday. John Glascott comes out of Cheektowaga with momentum in the Sheriff’s race. If this were the private sector the other guy would have been shitcanned a long time ago, “genuine hero” or not. If John actually pulls this off it will be a huge gold star for our Cheekdems organization. I have my fingers crossed.

I am mentally and emotionally spent. It has been exhilarating and at the same time such a sucky experience. I love the campaigning and the energy of devoting time to a cause that I believe in. At the same time, I have been pulled in directions between Cheektowaga and downtown, all demanding of my time and skills and energy. Whatever happens this Tuesday, over the next couple weeks I am going to do some heavy thinking and soul searching in terms of where I want to be and what I want to do politically moving forward, and to what extent I want to work in government. I do know this – I will not go through another year like this ever again.

In the din of Tuesday’s Election Day activities, a group of us is going to take a break and partake in a tradition that goes all the way back to 1981.

Back then, Pat Jaworowicz, running for the first time for Council, and her future husband Don Wegner, standing for re-election, and a few family members and campaign workers gathered at Roma’s on Genesee St for a “good luck” luncheon. That night Pat won and Don lost, but we kept the tradition going, every time one of us was on the ballot, and it became the Primary Day and Election Day thing to do.

In 1987 it was my turn on the ballot for Council, and I remember my Conservative friends John Abraham and the late “Chicky” Roberto and a couple of their friends just happened to walk into Roma’s for their own lunch engagement. We pulled a couple tables over and invited them to take part — hey without those guys and their endorsement I wouldn’t have even run. I also remember Pat bringing then EC Legislature Chairman Richard Slisz to my luncheon, and him proclaiming me “a big winner” and how flattered I was him just being there. (And yes I did win that night).

The other memorable luncheon was Primary Day 2001… We walked into Roma’s with the surreal backdrop of the news of 9-11 unfolding on the TV screens. That was a bitter and divisive Cheekdems primary year in Cheektowaga, but the events of the day made us realize how really silly and petty our differences really were. I remember then Supervisor Dennis Gabryszak walking into the bar that day around 12:30, coming to our table and informing us that the Governor had ordered that the election be cancelled.

So here we are 2009, and it dawns on me that this will probably be the final time that our group convenes in this setting, in this venue. Heck even Roma’s is no more, our boy Richie finally retired after three decades as a restauranteur, so we scrambled to pick a new place, and settled on Danny’s, down the street. Then I think how different things are; this is definitely Pat’s last election, and if you ever see the name “Jaworowicz” on an election ballot, it will instead be her son Tim. Ray Pugh, a member of our Planning Board and part of our group from day one, isn’t getting any younger either. Then there’s me and my game planning my future endeavors, and surprise, surprise… “Cheektowaga” doesn’t come up in the mix.

And then there is Don… Our dear, dear friend Don Wegner, Pat’s husband, succumbed to cancer in 2007, and this will be the first time that his chair will be empty at this gathering. Don so loved the political arena and Election Day was always a special and exciting day for him. We know that Don’s spirit will be with us as his beloved “Pat-reesh” makes her last hurrah on the Cheektowaga ballot.

Come Tuesday, I will reflect on all the election days of the past, and despite how flithy this business can be sometimes, that there is also something really good in terms of the lifelong associations, friendships and fellowships that are derived from these shared experiences.

My big rooting interests this Tuesday… of course Pat and my Cheekdems council slate… in LD-8, Tom Mazur. “Maze” is a good friend and a consensus builder who quietly gets things done… in LD-12, Bob Reynolds is being deluged with negative campaign flyers, which is too bad. He is such a decent guy and I’d say our best legislator… Props in LD-11 and Lynn Marinelli. Yeah she’s my boss and all, and also a really nice gal and someone I’m proud to work for… and finally Cheektowaga’s own John Glascott.

The Cheekdems and Glascott party starts at 9PM Tuesday over at Leonard Post VFW, 2450 Walden Road, corner Nagel Drive. All are invited. C’mon down and have a beer with me!