2007 Erie County, New York Executive election

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2007 Erie County Executive election
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Nominee Chris Collins Jim Keane
Party Republican Democratic
AllianceTaxpayers First
Parties
Popular vote150,76781,442
Percentage63.69%34.41%
County Executive before election

Joel Giambra
Republican

Elected County Executive

Chris Collins
Republican

The 2007 Erie County, New York Executive election took place on November 6, 2007, to select the County Executive of Erie County, New York. Incumbent Republican County Executive Joel Giambra, who faced low approval ratings, [1] declined to seek re-election to a third term. [2]

Contents

Both parties sought a "fresh face," [3] and Republicans ultimately nominated businessman Chris Collins. Leonard Lenihan, the Chairman of the Erie County Democratic Party, ultimately endorsed former Deputy County Executive Jim Keane, who served in the administration of former County Executive Dennis Gorski, [4] enabling Keane to win the Democratic primary in a landslide over former Buffalo Mayor James D. Griffin and West Seneca Town Supervisor Paul T. Clark. [5] In the general election, Clark continued his campaign as the Independence Party nominee and Griffin endorsed Collins. [6]

Collins ultimately won in a landslide, receiving 64 percent of the vote to Keane's 34 percent and Clark's 2 percent. [7]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Dropped out

  • Lynn Martinelli, County Legislature Chairwoman [11]
  • Dan Ward, Amherst Town Councilman, 2003 Democratic nominee for County Executive [4]

Declined

  • Mark Poloncarz, County Controller [12]

Results

Democratic primary results [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jim Keane 30,750 53.38%
Democratic James D. Griffin12,51621.73%
Democratic Paul T. Clark14,34224.90%
Total votes57,608 100.00%

Republican nomination

Three candidates were considered for the Republican Party nomination: Amherst Town Councilman Bill O'Loughlin, Secretary of State Chris Jacobs, and businessman Chris Collins. Jacobs announced that he would not seek the nomination, [14] and O'Laughlin announced that he would drop his campaign to instead seek the nomination for County Clerk, [15] leaving Collins as the nominee. [16]

General election

Candidates

Results

2007 Erie County Executive election [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Chris Collins139,65559.00%
Taxpayers FirstChris Collins11,1124.69%
Total Chris Collins 150,767 63.69%
Democratic Jim Keane71,35430.15%
Conservative Jim Keane3,4601.46%
Working Families Jim Keane6,6282.80%
TotalJim Keane81,44234.41%
Independence Paul T. Clark4,4871.90%
Total votes236,696 100.00%
Republican hold

References

  1. ↑ McCarthy, Bob (January 14, 2007). "County Republicans still hopeful". The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York. p. I3. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  2. ↑ Spina, Matthew (February 16, 2007). "Giambra's last stand". The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York. p. A1. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  3. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (February 21, 2007). "Party leaders looking for 'fresh face'". The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York. p. A1. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  4. 1 2 McCarthy, Robert J. (April 26, 2007). "Lenihan endorsement of Keane expected to split Democrats". The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York. p. B1. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  5. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (September 19, 2007). "Keane wins primary for county executive". The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York. p. A1. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  6. ↑ Buckley, Eileen (October 10, 2007). "New Endorsements for both County Executive Candidates". Buffalo Toronto Public Media . Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  7. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (November 7, 2007). "Collins wins in a landslide: Business approach finds wide appeal". The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York. p. A1. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  8. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (January 27, 2007). "Keane joins race for county executive post". The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York. p. D2. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  9. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J.; Meyer, Brian (July 18, 2007). "Griffin's running again". The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York. p. B1. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  10. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (January 18, 2007). "Clark has fundraising lead in race for county executive". The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York. p. B2. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  11. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (May 1, 2007). "Marinelli won't run for county executive". The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York. p. B1. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  12. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (April 24, 2007). "Poloncard won't run for county executive". The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York. p. D1. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Democratic Primary" (PDF). Erie County Board of Elections. 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
  14. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (February 8, 2007). "Jacobs not in race for executive". The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York. p. B1. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  15. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (May 9, 2007). "O'Loughlin considering GOP run for county clerk". The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York. p. B1. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  16. ↑ Meyer, Daniel (May 24, 2007). "Collins says business-like approach toward running our county government is needed". Springville Journal. Springville, New York. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  17. ↑ McCarthy, Bob (September 16, 2007). "County exec race nears milestone". The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York. p. H3. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  18. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (May 13, 2007). "Keane wins Working Family, Conservative endorsements". The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York. p. C7. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  19. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (March 25, 2007). "Independence Party poised to back Clark". The Buffalo News . Buffalo, New York. p. C1. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  20. ↑ "2007 General Canvass Book" (PDF). Erie County Board of Elections. 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
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