Jaros calls for investigation into campaign letter that included her information

Amherst Town Clerk Susan Jaros has requested criminal and civil investigations into the mass distribution of her personal information.

The investigations would involve the Erie County Board of Elections and attorney Jeffrey Marion in connection with the publication of the information. Marion ran against Jaros for the town clerk position.

Her request for an investigation was prompted by the publication of Jaros' absentee ballot application in Marion's campaign literature, mailed to Amherst residents a few days prior to the Nov. 6 general election.

In the literature, Jaros' reason for her absence, her travel destination and the days when she would be absent from her home were revealed and highlighted in yellow.

Jaros said such information is protected from publication by New York privacy laws.

She has contacted Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark, U.S. Attorney Terrance Flynn, the Department of Investigators of the New York State Board of Elections and the Eighth Judicial District Attorney Grievance Committee.

"About 1,200 Amherst residents made the effort to fill out the same form as I did," Jaros said. "I have received numerous telephone calls from residents who say they usually vote by absentee ballot but will not vote in future elections because they do not want to run the risk of having their private information released to the public."

Jaros added that her goal in calling for the multiple investigations is to help the public regain confidence that privacy laws are being observed and enforced.

"I waited until after the election before filing my requests for investigations because I did not want the voters to think that I was doing this for political gain," she said. "I think the public must be protected."

Marion said, "I consider the charges to be completely and utterly baseless."

A call requesting comment from Erie County Board of Elections Commissioner Dennis Ward was not returned prior to press time.