| Dennis E. Ward | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Known for | Western New York Democratic politician |
| Home town | Amherst, New York |
| Title | Commissioner, Erie County Board of Elections; Democratic chairman for Amherst |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse | Michele M. Iannello |
Dennis E. Ward, usually cited in newspaper accounts as Dennis Ward, is a Democratic politician from Western New York. He is currently the Commissioner of the Erie County Board of Elections.
In October, 2010 Dennis Ward was involved in a political controversy involving the downsizing of the Erie County Legislature from 15 seats down to 11. Erie County Legislator Thomas A. Loughran said the Democratic elections commissioner was teaming up to block a public vote to shrink the Legislature, and was doing so partly out of concern for his wife’s political future. [1]
Loughran, a Democrat from Amherst, said he knew this because Democratic Elections Commissioner Dennis E. Ward told him so. According to Loughran, he confronted Ward on the telephone Sept. 27, the day legislative aides heard rumors that Ward and Republican Elections Commissioner Ralph M. Mohr might knock the downsizing referendum off the Election Day ballot over a legal technicality. “I said ‘Dennis, this can’t be right that you can impede this process,’ ” Loughran recalled. Michele M. Iannello is Ward’s wife, a Kenmore Democrat who served two terms in the County Legislature before losing last year to Republican Kevin R. Hardwick. Ward told The Buffalo News “I can state unequivocally that I have never mentioned my wife, ever, in connection with the referendum, period,”. [1]
Legislature Clerk Robert M. Graber recently said that Ward, also in a telephone conversation Sept. 27, 2010 revealed that he was determined to block the public vote because he believed neither the Republican nor Democratic organizations really want a smaller Legislature. According to Graber, Ward first signaled that he would disqualify the referendum on the grounds that the question prepared for voters was incomplete—it failed to mention the Legislature would go from 15 to 11 members. Graber said Ward grew angry when Graber and other Legislature aides filed last-minute papers to fix the problem. Graber said Ward asked him, "Whose side are you on?" While Ward denies Graber's account, he and Mohr days later cited another technicality as they formally disqualified the proposition on Oct. 1. [1]
The commissioners said neither Graber nor any Legislature official, let alone the Legislature itself, certified as true and accurate the text of the ballot proposition, nor the text of an explanation voters could turn to for more information as they decided the matter at their polling place. The elections commissioners insist that no relevant county official certified key documents, which they consider a fatal error. The commissioners also argue that a provision of the state Election Law requires that “the clerk of the political subdivision” should transmit the papers to the Elections Board. That’s County Clerk Kathleen C. Hochul, not Legislature Clerk Graber. The commissioners registered the objection even though Legislature clerks throughout the last decade arranged the paperwork for Erie County’s referendums. That included a 2009 proposition championed by Iannello and allowed by both Ward and Mohr. Graber said he recalls Loughran calling him soon after he talked to Ward on Sept. 27. Graber said Loughran told him that Ward had raised a concern about Iannello’s political future. [1]
A State Supreme Court justice ordered the county's two elections commissioners to place the matter on the ballot, and they will do so. But they have appealed the order by Justice Frank A. Sedita Jr., and if they win the appeal, they will either print new ballots or simply ignore votes cast on the referendum, said Democratic Elections Commissioner Dennis E. Ward. However, the front of the ballot is crammed. It must make room for judicial races and a governor's race that required a second column because there are so many candidates. Plus, the Town of Amherst has a downsizing referendum, too. Further, the ballot's type is already so small to fit all the races, magnifiers will be available on Election Day to help voters who need them, Ward recently told county legislators. "All of the referendums have to be on the back," Ward said. "There is just no room." [2]