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Monday, July 14, 2014
BY SCOTT LEFFLER
scott.leffler@eastniagarapost.com


The attorney for a former staffer of state Sen. George Maziarz confirmed today via a statement that his client has been subpoenaed as part of a federal investigation.

A statement released today by an attorney for Alisa Colatrci, former chief of staff for Sen. Maziarz, said, "Alisa received a subpoena several weeks ago from the US Attorney in the Southern District of New York regarding Senator Maziarz, including his campaign committee. Alisa is not a target of the investigation and has cooperated fully."

Colatrci resigned from Maziarz' staff Wednesday, along with fellow staffer Marcus Hall, who is said to be represented by a Buffalo defense attorney, but has declined to comment.

A statement released Sunday night by Maziarz doesn't mention the resignation of the staffers or the investigation into the use of campaign funds.

Maziarz campaign committee spent more than $140,000 of campaign funds over a six-year period without specifying what the money was spent on — more than any other member of the state Senate or Assembly, including $39,000 to a company owned by his brother, according to documents released earlier this year by the now-defunct Moreland Commission.

The chairman of the Niagara County Democratic Party said the issues are all inter-related. Nick Forster had called for Maziarz' resignation in May when the details of the Moreland Report were made public. He renewed calls for an investigation into Maziarz' campaign finances Friday following reports of Hall's and Colatrci's resignations.

Sunday night Forster said the cloud of speculation surrounding Maziarz' campaign finances goes beyond the senator's office itself, reaching to the senator's circle of friends and colleagues.

Meanwhile, North Tonawanda Mayor Robert Ortt has reportedly said he'll consider running on Maziarz' petitions on the Republican and Conservative Party lines. Ortt — or anyone else the parties designate — has until Friday to file certificates of substitution to fill the vacancy created by the Maziarz' declination of candidacy. Ortt told Buffalo media that he first learned of Maziarz' declination through media reports Sunday night.

"Ortt is part of George's inner circle. So I don't even know if he's going to become unscathed in this," Forster said, suggesting another candidate may still emerge.

Another candidate for the 62nd District seat also questioned Ortt's assumed replacement of Maziarz on the Republican and Conservative petitions. Gia Arnold said at press conferences in North Tonawanda and Albion today that Ortt and Maziarz are too close for her liking.

"Now that Senator Maziarz has withdrawn for dubious reasons, he wants to continue this culture of corruption by anointing the mayor of North Tonawanda as his replacement," Arnold said. "I believe we have had enough of this type of representation in Albany. Isn't it time we put the residents first? Isn't it time we break-up the good ole boys club?"



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1 comment:

  1. I am VERY disappointed with George considering the direction this is going. I don't know him personally but something about him made me more comfortable with him than I usually am with politicians BUT, it's Niagara County; I should have known better.

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