Zellner Elected to 7th Term as ECDC Chair

Also nominated to continue serving as Democratic BOE Commissioner

Erie County Democratic Chair Jeremy J. Zellner has unanimously won a seventh two-year term at a reorganization session where party members also elected an expanded leadership roster.

Zellner was also nominated for another four-year term as Democratic Board of Elections Commissioner, a recommendation requiring approval by the Erie County Legislature.

The meeting at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center included remarks by Rep. Tim Kennedy, Attorney General Letitia James, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, state Senator Sean Ryan, and County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

“When I spoke to our membership today, I told them that I am as excited about our future and as honored by their support as I was that first day in 2012,” said Zellner, whose 12-year tenure makes him the second-longest serving party leader in modern times, behind only Joseph F. Crangle. “And I made it clear that though I carry title of chair, the real leadership of the Erie County Democratic Committee resides with them.

“Together, we have become the dominant party in Western New York, free of the internal divisions of the past with a remarkable record of success,” Zellner said. “And the best is yet to come as we make Erie County bluer than ever for Kamala Harris, keep Mike Keane as District Attorney, send our new Vice Chair April Baskin to the state Senate, and elect Kara Buscaglia and Jeff Harrington to Family Court.”

ECDC’s Seneca Street headquarters has become the hub of Democratic campaigns across Western New York, Zellner added, noting the extensive volunteer mobilization now underway there for the Harris-Walz ticket.

Zellner began as a party volunteer in 2004, rising to ECDC executive director and Democratic chief of staff at the County Legislature before becoming Chair. He has been Democratic elections commissioner since 2017. Democrats also elected nine party Vice Chairs:

Erie County Legislature Chair April Baskin, Town of Tonawanda Democratic Chair John J. Crangle Jr., Adam S. Fogel, Karen Hoak, Howard Johnson Jr., Lavonya C. Lester, Fillmore Common Councilmember Mitchell P. Nowakowski, Amelida Ortiz-Weinmann, and Benjamin M. Swanekamp. Previously, the party had seven vice chairs. Party Secretary Jennifer L. Hibit and Sergeant-at-Arms Ivory L. Payne were reelected, and Olivia M. Owens was elected as the new party treasurer.

“This is an outstanding leadership team, with six of our 12 positions held by women in a year when women’s rights, once again, are under siege from a MAGA Republican Party dominated by Donald Trump,” Zellner said. Follow ECDC at www.ecdems.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.