O'Loughlin ends career on Amherst Town Board
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

William A. O'Loughlin Jr. has served in his final Town of Amherst board meeting, having never missed one in his four-year term, he said.

"It's been an honor to serve," he said, adding that he doesn't know what he plans to do next.

O'Loughlin said the great thing about life is "You never know what the future brings."

In his final year as an Amherst board member, O'Loughlin ran for the position of county clerk, losing to incumbent Kathy Hochul.

With years of experience as an investment adviser, O'Loughlin said it was his work in the private sector that drove him to run for Town Board in the first place.

"I thought my financial experience could do something - make a difference in lowering the taxes and reducing the town's budget," he said, adding that he never voted for a tax increase in his four years on the board.

In his departure from the board, O'Loughlin has some issues he hopes will continue to be addressed. He said the budget needs to be reduced. In the past it has grown by as much as 20 percent in four years, which some residents can't afford, he said.

"We can provide the same services at a lower cost," he said, adding that the cost of employee salaries and benefits are 50 percent more than the private sector and a huge portion of the budget.

He said the issue is not being able to get the four votes needed to make changes.

"The Town Board should major in major things and make these kinds of hard financial, necessary decisions," he said.

When O'Loughlin was elected he said he received the most votes of any candidate, something he said he was proud of because of the hours spent campaigning.

One of his proudest Town Board votes was to approve Natureview Park.

"Many people saw me as pro-development, pro-business, but I was very proud to be the swing vote needed to set aside a mass amount of real estate," he said.

O'Loughlin was also pleased to see the Police Department reach 154 officers.

"I am looking forward to what comes my way," he said, adding that that's why life is so exciting, exhilarating and energizing. e-mail: jfinch@beenews.com