In Western New York politics, all begins, ends with money
DAN MEYER Political Columnist
"M oney makes the world go around, the world go around, the world go

around. Money makes the world go around, it makes the world go round."

The above phrase is a lyric from the 1966 musical "Cabaret," a very successful Broadway production that became a hit and led to the acclaimed movie that came out in 1972.

It speaks volumes about what most of us already know - the more financial stability you have, whether it be personally or professionally, the more power you can wield and the more clout you can carry, no matter what you decide to do in your life.

In the world of politics, including here in Western New York, everything begins and also ends with money, specifically the candidates for elected office who possess the most moolah and how they use it in their quest to be elected.

In the race for Erie County executive, figures obtained from the state Board of Elections show that three of the four candidates for the top elected position in the county are ready to spend, spend, spend and then spend a little more, with campaign coffers bubbling over with hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Supporters of Democrats Jim Keane and Paul Clark have been very busy this year banging on doors, shaking hands and kissing babies at a very good clip, helping their candidates pull in the needed capital that will likely be used over the next month for television advertisements, lawn signs, bumper stickers and other flashy literature featuring voter-friendly catch phrases as the two men prepare for the Democratic primary on Sept. 18.

Political observers are predicting both men will end up generating close to $1 million, a staggering figure when you think of the economic conditions in this area and what was thought to be the emergence of a taxpayer revolt two years ago following the county's fiscal crisis that occurred in 2005 under the watch of outgoing county executive Joel Giambra.

(Quick side note on the "taxpayer revolt." There's no such thing. While some longtime county legislators were replaced in the last election cycle, the same-old-same-old approach to the budget process, continued use of patronage to award family members and political friends jobs and the general lack of true reform on how county business is handled on a day-to-day basis prove that virtually nothing has changed. The very thought of a taxpayer revolt is just another fancy phrase that some media outlets spew out from time to time.)

Back to Clark vs. Kane: It's going to get real ugly over the next 30 days. Add in the fact that fellow Democrat Jimmy Griffin's apparent lack of money

makes him a virtual nonfactor in the race and you've got the ultimate showdown for who will likely end up sitting in the large cushy chair in the executive suite on the 16th floor of the Rath Building.

And what about Republican Chris Collins? He's on the sidelines watching the Keane-Clark brouhaha, waiting for the Nov. 6 general election and working feverishly to increase the funds in his own campaign war chest.

Financial records from the state show Collins is pulling in cash, but much of it is coming from companies with which Collins has close personal ties. The key question for his campaign will be just how much money from his own personal piggy bank he wants to put into a race where he will be viewed as the obvious underdog.

Then there is Joe Illuzzi, the webmaster of a local politically based Web site. Illuzzi somehow has managed to pull in large amounts of money from very fearful politicians. What does it say about those who hold office and possess the power to make the truly important decisions that impact our region that they continue to bow down to Illuzzi and hand over thousands of dollars to him? He provides "positive press" for those who choose to advertise on his Web site and throws cheap shots at those who have enough common sense to decline.

"Money, money, money, money. Mark, a yen, a buck or a pound, that clinking, clanking clunking sound is all that makes the world go round, it makes the world go round."

(Daniel Meyer is a columnist for the Weekly Independent Newspapers of Western New York. Opinions are those of the author.)