O’Loughlin throws hat in county executive ring
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

William A. O’Loughlin Jr.

Amherst Town Board Member William A. O’Loughlin Jr. has announced his candidacy for the position of Erie County executive.

O’Loughlin, who has served on the Town Board for three and a half years, said he has gotten a taste of government and wants to pursue it at a higher level.

He is the first Republican to officially announce for the position, which will be decided in November 2007.

Included in his platform is improving business throughout the county and keeping young adults in the area.

“I will energize and engage the business leaders of our community to work with me to use their contacts to persuade division heads of major corporations to bring their spouses and take a look at all we have to offer in Western New York,” he said during his announcement last Thursday at Amherst Town Hall.

O’Loughlin added that he will focus on hiring the best people for positions and will work to help re-elect officials who are doing their jobs.

“I plan to enthusiastically work with both Republican and Democrat elected officials throughout Western New York,” he said about focusing on a bipartisan work ethic.

While forming a strong county office, O’Loughlin said he will spend time in the community visiting every town and village — not just once in a while but all the time.

“I will have two offices — the second will be my car,” he said.

According to O’Loughlin, it is for the people in those towns and villages that he wants to be in the office of county executive.

O’Loughlin will also focus on the heavy tax burden he said residents face year after year.

“I’m not going into county hall to raise taxes. We’ve had enough of that,” he said. “It’s time to get our fiscal house in order and off the backs of the property owners and consumers of Erie County.”

O’Loughlin said he is a conservative businessman and an independent Republican who believes in solid business growth, fighting for lower taxes and reducing the size of government.

O’Loughlin is the resident branch manager of O’Loughlin Financial Group and Brookstreet Securities in Williamsville. He has 40 years experience as a financial advisor.

In addition to his service on the Town Board, he was recently appointed by Gov. George E. Pataki as a commissioner of the New York State Insurance Fund, New York’s largest workers’ compensation and disability benefits carrier.

Two other public officials have announced their candidacy for the position — Amherst Town Board Member Dan Ward, and West Seneca Supervisor Paul Clark, both are Democrats.

e-mail: jfinch@beenews.com