Each year, Arts Services Initiative of WNY asks candidates for elected office to share their positions with the voting public, with an emphasis on the roles of arts and art education in the community. Candidates for each office are asked the same questions; their answers are presented unedited. Our first round of respondents are candidate for the office of Erie County Executive.

 ERIC JONES, GREEN 

Occupation:
Commercial Log Editor, Sinclair Broadcasting (FT)/Realty Edge, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson (PT) 

Please list your top three priorities if elected: 
Sustainable & Smart Development- I will work to curb sprawl, enhance public transportation and encourage the development of renewable energy. 

An Economy That Works for Everyone- A living wage for all workers, increased support for worker owned and cooperative enterprises, and increased scrutiny of IDA tax breaks. 

An End to Pay for Play Politics- Every citizen should have a voice, not just those who fund political campaigns.

What is the role of arts and culture in our community in general, and specifically in Erie County?
Arts and culture play a critical role in Erie County’s quality of life. Festivals, plays, music and other cultural events bring people together. Museums and historical sites educate and entertain. Erie County’s arts and cultural institutions enrich our community, making it a more desirable place to live, work and visit. 

What is the role of arts and culture in your plans for economic development in Erie County?
An investment in our arts and culture is an investment in the local economy. Our museums, theatres, galleries and other institutions make the region more attractive to outsiders looking to invest or relocate to WNY. I would like to have arts and culture included as part of the discussion whenever public funds are being spent on development projects. This includes Canalside as it enters its final development stages, and the proposed plans for the outer harbor. 

How would you develop cultural and heritage tourism in Erie County? 
Millions of people from around the world visit Niagara Falls each year, and only a small percentage of them make their way south to Erie County. We must do a lot more to bring these visitors to our cultural and heritage destinations. This could include the development of tourist orientated transit between Niagara Falls and Buffalo, increased advertising, and partnerships with private tour groups. 

In what ways would you support young people’s access to the arts in order to foster the creative thinking skills needed to ensure a solid future workforce in Erie County? 
There are numerous studies that show the importance of arts education and how it correlates with improved academic achievement. Despite this, arts and music programs are often the first to face cuts in our schools. It’s important to have programs aimed at our youth to encourage their participation in the arts. I would like to see the County and our many non-profit cultural institutions work together to create arts programs for young people. 

Would you vote to decrease, hold steady, or increase operational funding for cultural organizations if elected, and why?
I would oppose any attempt to decrease funding, and I would work with the legislature to find additional funding for cultural organizations. 

Would you support the creation of a committee to discuss dedicated funding for the cultural sector?
This would go hand-in-hand with my desire to increase the amount of public participation in Erie County’s Government. I would welcome any opportunity to bring more voices into the decision making process. 

 MARK POLONCARZ, DEMOCRATIC, WORKING FAMILIES 

Occupation: 
Erie County Executive

Please list your top three priorities if elected: 
-Ensure that all Erie County residents benefit from the economic resurgence we are experiencing. 

-Promote sound budgeting practices to keep Erie County fiscally strong. 

-Protect public safety by investing in infrastructure and emergency preparedness. 

What is the role of arts and culture in our community in general, and specifically in Erie County?
Arts and cultural organizations not only provide cultural experiences, educational opportunity and entertainment, they are also an important economic force. 

What is the role of arts and culture in your plans for economic development in Erie County?
Here in Erie County, every dollar invested in arts and culture results in over nine dollars of economic activity. To that end I’m committed to continuing Erie County’s investment in Arts and Cultural organization to reap that economic benefit. 

How would you develop cultural and heritage tourism in Erie County? 
As the primary funder of Visit Buffalo Niagara, Erie County is a major promoter of cultural and heritage tourism. My administration has a track record of increasing support to arts and cultural organizations years over year and expanding coverage to over 60 organizations. Without County funding, many of these entities would be unable to promote themselves to tourists. 

In what ways would you support young people’s access to the arts in order to foster the creative thinking skills needed to ensure a solid future workforce in Erie County? 
Beyond Erie County’s continued investment in Arts and Cultural organizations, through our public art partnership with the Albright Knox Art Gallery, Erie County is providing area school children with thousands of ‘Art Kits’, to enhance art programs in area schools. 

Would you vote to decrease, hold steady, or increase operational funding for cultural organizations if elected, and why?
Year over year my administration has increased the total amount of arts and cultural funding. 

Would you support the creation of a committee to discuss dedicated funding for the cultural sector?
I reinstituted the Arts and Cultural Advisory board to give the arts community a voice in the funding process.

RAY WALTER, REPUBLICAN, CONSERVATIVE, INDEPENDENCE 

Occupation: 
Assemblyman 146th Dist., Attorney at Magavern Magavern & Grimm 

Please list your top three priorities if elected: 
1.Bringing Economic Prosperity to ALL of Erie County 

2.Stabilizing/Reducing Property Taxes 

3.Fixing our crumbling infrastructure

What is the role of arts and culture in our community in general, and specifically in Erie County?
Art is the representation of a community’s values, history, and people. President Lyndon Johnson said it best when he stated: “Art is a nation’s most precious heritage. For it is in our works of art that we reveal to ourselves and to others the inner vision which guides us as a nation. And where there is no vision, the people perish.” Erie County’s deep reservoir of cultural resources is our region’s calling card and our community’s treasure. 

What is the role of arts and culture in our community in general, and specifically in Erie County?
Arts and Culture play a huge role in bringing people and their disposable income from outside of Erie County into Erie County. The revenue and attention generated from cultural tourism will help to fuel our regions rebirth. 

How would you develop cultural and heritage tourism in Erie County? 
Foster a closer relationship between Visit Buffalo Niagara and our arts and cultural attractions. Dedicate the County’s Occupancy tax to the VBN and our cultural organizations. Create a new committee made up of key members of the VBN and cultural organizations that will look for ways to drive people to Erie County. 

In what ways would you support young people’s access to the arts in order to foster the creative thinking skills needed to ensure a solid future workforce in Erie County? 
Our schools play a crucial role in providing access to art and music to our children. Unfortunately the educational policies of our current Governor and those who support him have diverted resources away from these critical programs. I have fought hard in the state Assembly to restore funding to our schools in order to avoid these cuts. The County can do much more to support our schools and as County Executive I will seize the bully pulpit to fight against the over testing and corporate takeover of our school systems that steals resources away from art and music. 

Would you vote to decrease, hold steady, or increase operational funding for cultural organizations if elected, and why?
At a minimum hold steady and I would look for ways to increase funding in order to make Erie County even more attractive to cultural tourism. I would continue to support smaller cultural organizations that enhance the quality of life for our residents. We also need to simplify the process for cultural organizations to receive county funding and look at making it a multi-year application rather than annually. 

Would you support the creation of a committee to discuss dedicated funding for the cultural sector?
Providing dedicated funding to the cultural sector will be a central platform of my plans as County Executive. The Erie County Occupancy Tax generates millions of dollars that could be divided between the VBN and our cultural sector. With the growth in available hotel rooms in Erie County this source of revenue looks like it will be growing at an increasing rate for some time. The VBN and cultural sector working together synergistically will enhance that revenue. 

ASI Candidate Survey: Buffalo City Comptroller
ASI Candidate Survey: Buffalo Common Council 
ASI Candidate Survey: Erie County Legislature
ASI Candidate Survey: City of Niagara Falls