Democrats Endorse Lawrence Dupre to Succeed Howard Johnson in County Legislature

Howard Johnson, Lawrence Dupre and Jeremy Zellner

The Executive Committee of the Erie County Democratic Party tonight overwhelmingly affirmed Lawrence J. Dupre as Howard Johnson’s successor in the County Legislature’s 1st District. This follows Tuesday’s meeting of the district’s rank-and-file committee membership, who enthusiastically chose Dupre to fill the vacancy created by Johnson’s recent resignation.

Dupre, previously an aide to Buffalo Common Councilmember Bryan Bollman, is now community coordinator for Erie County Central Police Services and a prominent member of Buffalo’s Unity Coalition.

An official request has been sent to the County Legislature that Dupre be appointed to the LD 1 seat. He will then be on the ballot in the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election, and the winner of that contest will complete the remainder of Johnson’s two-year term, which expires at the end of 2025.

LD 1 includes significant portions of the Ellicott, Fillmore, Lovejoy, Masten, and Niagara Buffalo Common Council districts. “I am pleased, proud, and very humbled to have the opportunity to take my commitment to serving the people of Buffalo to the next level,” said Dupre, who holds a degree in criminal justice. “In Councilman Bollman’s office, and through my work in the county’s Central Police Services Department and with the Unity Coalition, I have seen first-hand the many challenges the people of this district face. I remain as committed as ever to helping them meet and overcome those obstacles as we build a stronger, safer, better community, for today and for the future.”

“It is hard to think of anyone better prepared to follow Howard Johnson than Larry Dupre,” ECDC Chair Jeremy Zellner said. “His background and experience make him far and away the best choice, and that is why the committee members in LD 1 strongly endorsed and recommended him to the executive committee, and why we followed their lead tonight.”