Mark Poloncarz

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Mark Poloncarz (born 1967 - ) is the elected Comptroller of Erie County, New York. Poloncarz, a Democrat was elected in 2005 and sworn in on January 1, 2006. Prior to his election, he was an American business and finance lawyer residing in Buffalo, New York.

Poloncarz was elected on a platform of fiscal accountability and cleaning up the finances of the county by acting as the taxpayers "watchdog." He is the first comptroller to be elected after a state control board was instituted to oversee county finances. While he was the endorsed candidate of the county Democratic party, he defeated 2 challengers in the primary and then a Republican in the general election.

Poloncarz has a bachelor's degree from the University at Buffalo and a law degree from the University of Toledo.

Poloncarz was the 2003 - 2004 Buffalo and western New York coordinator and spokesman for the John Kerry presidential campaign. He also was a delegate to 2004 Democratic National Convention. Poloncarz was the founder and first president of the WNY Coalition for Progress, a progressive think tank in upstate New York.

Poloncarz was the first Democrat elected to that position in over 3 decades.

As one of the more popular elected officials in western New York, his name has been rumored for many higher offices, including in late 2006 as a possible successor to New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi should he be forced to resign or is removed.

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Preceded by
James Hartmann		 County Comptroller of Erie County, New York
2006 – Present		 Succeeded by
'Incumbent
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