Hamburg Sun

Special to The Sun

Erie County Executive Dennis Gorski has
recently positioned himself with the media
as an underdog in the Democratic primary
race for county executive, claiming that
despite his stellar record and an adminis-
tration that most people "applaud as a jewel,"
he has been denied the Democratic Party's
endorsement by County Chairman Vincent
J. Sorrentino, for strictly political reasons.
His opponent, David Swarts, the three-
term county clerk, received the endorsement
by a 33-20 vote of the Democratic Executive
Committee on April 8.
Gorski said Sorrentino wanted patronage
jobs which he (Gorski) refused, causing the
rift between the two leaders.
Being questioned at this juncture by the
Gorski campaign is the fairness of the en-
dorsement process itself.
Sorrentino says it wasn't his decision alone,
but that 32 other Democratic leaders on the
Committee preferred Swarts.
"Nothing could have been fairer,"
Sorrentino said, "it's a very democratic pro-
cess."
Gorski disagrees. "Anybody who believes
that it is a democratic process is naive," he
I said. "... to suggest that Sorrentino doesn't
have control over the committee is ludi-
crous."
Gorski's opponent sees it a different way.
"What has not come out yet is that of the 20
votes Dennis Gorski received, 15 people
work for him and four others had relations
on the payroll." Swarts said, "Of my 33
votes, only one works for me."
"Many of the town leaders who supported
me didn't want Dennis Gorski at the head of
our ticket."
State Assemblyman Robin Schimminger,
D-Kenmore, was also considered by the com-
mittee for the endorsement.
He discounts the idea that anyone was
coerced to vote for Swarts. "The committee
voted freely and in their free choice, the
committee weighed various factors. One of
the factors, obviously, was the preference of
the county chairman.
"But no one was fearful or forced to vote
(for Swarts)," he said.
On the other hand, Sorrentino maintains
that those who supported Gorski were actn
ally forced to do so.
"Most of those who voted for Gorski had n
choice — if they wanted to keep their jobs,"
he said.
However, one member of the Executive
Committee who voted for Gorski and who
spoke on condition of anonymity, said he
didn't feel pressured to support Gorski. "And
I don't believe anybody else (who voted for..
Gorski) did either," he said.
"We work for him. We feel he is doing a
great job. It's natural to be loyal."
Swarts' endorsement, however, has caused
a furor within the party that has been cel-
ebrated widely in the media.
Among party members, many of them scur-
rying to take sides and others delicately
trying to remain neutral, there is a wide
range of opinions on the wisdom of the
committee's decision.
One elected official said, "This is going to
be a totally negative campaign. Now it's kill
or be killed. It's going to be one attack after
another."
But Swarts says he doesn't want it that
way.
"I vowed not to get into the gutter," be
said. "But if Dennis Gorski and his hench-
men really get rotten —I will respond. But
I will strive to keep it on a higher level."
Gorski also wants to campaign on the high
road, although he says he is prepared and
expects attacks on his record.
"I suspect my opponents will criticize me.
I'm the person with the record." Gorski said,
pointing out that, in an era of deficit spend-
ing and political opportunism, his
administration has had seven straight bal-
anced budgets and a "scandal-free"
government.
In spite of the political rhetoric and charges
and counter charges, many sources feel that
if the campaign is relegated to substantive
issues the public may be the real winner
here.
One Southtowns committeeman, who
spoke on condition of anonymity, summed
up the feelings of many in the party.
"I hope the two candidates keep the cam-
paign positive and focused on the real issues
that effect the voters," he said. "Otherwise
both men belie their oft-repeated statements
that they seek to serve the public good."