Wilson Supervisor Joe Jastrzemski announces candidacy for Niagara County clerk

Seeks position after current clerk announced his retirement at end of his term

Citing his record of cutting government spending while still providing superior services, Town of Wilson Supervisor Joe Jastrzemski has announced his candidacy for Niagara County clerk.

Jastrzemski, who is beginning his 10th year as supervisor of the Town of Wilson, has spent the past 18 years as the project coordinator of the Niagara County Sheriff's Work Program. He is active in the community, serving as a member of the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency. Jastrzemski previously served as member of the UAW community action committee, United Way labor advisory committee, and Niagara County parks committee and as past president of the Lions Club of Wilson.

As Wilson town supervisor, Jastrzemski implemented sound budgeting practices and streamlined town government. He reduced town taxes almost 10 percent while maintaining the high level of services town residents have grown to expect.

Among his accomplishments as supervisor are a dredging of the Wilson Harbor, a rebuild of the Wilson Boat Launch, reduction in town Highway Department personnel and entering into a shared services agreement with the City of Niagara Falls that saves Wilson taxpayers more than $71,000 per year.

"In Wilson, we have led the way in Niagara County by showing that you can do more with less," Jastrzemski said. "That's the kind of leadership we have received from our current County Clerk Wayne Jagow and, if elected, I'll use my experience in Wilson and the sheriff's office to look for ways to make the clerk's office more efficient."

As Clerk, Jastrzemski said his top priorities would be looking for more ways to improve wait times at all the local DMV locations, pushing for greater Internet-based services for residents and working with local state representatives to fix what he called an outdated cash grab from Albany.

"In recent years, a huge push has taken place encouraging residents to do business locally to keep those dollars in the community," Jastrzemski said. "In these instances, the work is done by local employees, yet the state still demands almost 90 percent of the revenue be sent to Albany. I will be asking our local representatives to re-examine this formula to make it more equitable for local government."

Earlier this week, Jagow announced his intention to retire from office at the end of his term. Jagow had served county residents for the past 20 years. Jastrzemski thanked Jagow for his impressive record.

"Like many people in our area, I'm lucky to count Wayne Jagow as a friend," Jastrzemski said. "Wayne has done an amazing job for Niagara County, and it is a huge loss for him to retire. If elected as his successor, I will have huge shoes to fill."

Jastrzemski lives in the Town of Wilson with his wife, Kathryn Trusso Jastrzemski.