Niagara County Legislator Jeffrey Elder announces run for 145th Assembly District

Submitted on behalf of Jeffrey Elder

Niagara County Legislator Jeffrey Elder announced his candidacy for the New York State Assembly in the 145th District. Elder is a 26-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force and brings over four decades of public service to his run for the State Assembly. 

“I’m running to fight for the hardworking families in our community,” Elder said. “For too long, our community has been neglected by our leaders in Albany. For almost a decade under the current representative, our region has sent more tax dollars to Albany than we get back. Angelo Morinello has failed to deliver on his campaign promises. It’s time our tax dollars are reinvested in revitalizing and improving our community.”

Born and raised in Niagara Falls, Elder enlisted in the Air Force after graduating from LaSalle Senior High School. There, Sgt. Elder rose up and earned the prestigious distinction of serving as a crewmember on Air Force One, serving under presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Elder logged over 6,000 flying hours on various aircraft to include Air Force One, and received numerous medals and accolades for his service. After a decorated career in the military, Elder retired and spent the next decade serving in the federal government at the Pentagon, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the state Department of Homeland Security, and finally, the Department of State.

After returning home to Niagara Falls, Elder was elected to the Niagara County Legislature in 2021, representing the 4th District in Niagara Falls. As a member of the legislature, Elder worked with his Republican colleagues to pass bipartisan legislation to lower the cost of gasoline in Niagara County. He has fought tirelessly in the legislature for programs to support veterans and youth in Niagara County, while securing thousands of dollars in county funding for community organizations in Niagara Falls and organizing the city’s Juneteenth Festival.

Elder was inspired to first run for office to revitalize his community.

“I have seen firsthand the decline in Niagara Falls and struggles of working families,” he said. “Too many of our families are struggling to make ends meet and keep up with rising costs. More attention needs to be given to our children in providing more safe activities. We need to rebuild an economy that works for everybody by creating good-paying jobs, fighting for fair wages, lowering the costs of health care, housing, child care, and education, and lowering the tax burden for our middle-class families.”

He added, “My whole adult life, from the Air Force to the County Legislature, has been dedicated to service. I will serve as an independent voice for our region. Too much of politics is dominated by the extremes of each party. I am a common-sense Democrat who believes in fighting for working families, supporting our police, and defending our democracy and freedoms, for all Americans, and we must defend the reproductive rights of women.”

Elder is a resident of Niagara Falls with his wife, Vicki. He has two daughters, Brianna and Danielle, and four beautiful grandchildren: Gianna, Aiden, Giovanni and London. 

The 145th District covers the City of Niagara Falls; as well as the towns of Cambria, Grand Island, Lewiston, Niagara, Porter and Wheatfield; part of the City of North Tonawanda; and the Tuscarora Reservation.