Naughton seeks legislature seat

Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, September 6, 2007

Charles J. Naughton will seek the 8th District Town of Wheatfield seat in the Niagara County Legislature.

Endorsed by the Democratic and Working Families parties, Naughton is contesting the Independence Party ballot line as a write-in candidate in the Sept. 18 Primary.

Naughton has pledged to introduce several proposals in his first month in office, including:

•Niagara County Open Meetings Law – Drastically reduce secrecy in local government.

•A New Ethics Law – Require disclosure of conflicts of interest. Outlaw the profiteering of public funds.

•Reduce the size of the Niagara County Legislature from 19 to 11 members effective upon the next census reapportionment.

•Repeal the “Niagara County Motorist’s Tax” paid only by Niagara County residents and businesses at the Department of Motor Vehicles offices.

In 1999, Naughton campaigned to reform the Niagara County IDA, proposing to establish a “Legislative IDA Oversight Committee” and deny tax breaks to companies that would compete with existing businesses or that do not provide good wages for employees.

“Since the current legislature has done nothing to address these issues, I will renew those ideas and I will propose further reform to give local governments a voice in tax break decisions,” Naughton said.

Naughton has a broad range of private and public sector experience. He has worked as a taxi driver, a mover, a painter and in a Niagara Falls industrial plant. He worked 25 years as a Niagara Falls firefighter, rising to the rank of battalion chief. Naughton has served as the Town of Wheatfield attorney, Niagara County Human Resource director and risk manager, and is a former chair of the Niagara County Democratic Committee.

While working as a full-time firefighter, Naughton also went to school full time, and graduated with honors from Buffalo State College and the State University of Buffalo Law School.

Naughton is currently a practicing attorney who concentrates his legal practice on state and local government, labor and family law.

He and his wife of 29 years, Deborah Deuro-Naughton, live on Jennifer Court.