Republicans in the City of Niagara falls broke with county leadership and endorsed a Carl Paladino backed candidate for New York State Senate. The City of Niagara Falls Republican Committee endorsed Niagara Falls School Board Member, John Destino over incumbent Republican, George Maziarz in the 62nd Senate District.

Destino was joined by the Buffalo businessman and 2010 Republican gubernatorial nominee during a Monday Night Press Conference in Niagara Falls.

“I think that this is a day we will all remember. This is a major endorsement of John’s candidacy. The first of many by people who want more from their elected representatives than John’s opponent has been giving,” Paladino said.

Not long after Niagara Falls was drawn back into the 62nd State Senate District, Maiziarz was endorsed by the Niagara County Republican Committee. During that May vote, the Niagara Falls Committee supported Maiziarz 127-6. But since then, some say, things have changed.

“Right now, if you did a straw poll, Johnny would come out ahead,” said Niagara Falls Republican Committee Chairman, Robert Krause.

One Niagara Falls Republican Committee member accused the County Committee of Bullying its members into supporting Maziarz.

“It’s supposed to be a fair and equitable process,” said Candra Thomason. “It’s supposed to be a choice. But nobody was given that choice. Nobody was given an opportunity. Johnny wasn’t there. Johnny wasn’t given an opportunity to speak,” Thomason added.

Paladino went a bit further, “The intimidation of the people by George Maiziarz, over the last couple of months is probably the most revolting political exercise that I’ve witnessed in my lifetime. The people that George lost contact with don’t want him around anymore. I’m talking about the Republican rank and file in Niagara County.”

Maziarz, who’s declined to respond directly to Paladino in the past, told YNN Buffalo’s Ryan Whalen it may be the Niagara Falls Republican Executive Committee that’s being intimidated.

“There’s always a few people who will be influenced by some Erie County sources and they’re free to what they want to do and I just wish them well. You know, this is going to be decided by the voters and that’s where I’m putting my attention,” Maziarz said.

Maiziarz will face a man in a September primary that he once endorsed. Maiziarz not only backed Destino in a race for Niagara Falls Mayor last fall he appeared at various public events and fundraisers with him. Destino came less than 700 votes from defeating incumbent Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster.

“But you know it’s a free country. People can do what they want to do. Seven months later he decided he wanted to run for State Senate. That’s what American democracy is all about,” Maiziarz said.


Destino said he’s running to bring reform to Albany. And while he denied his challenge of Maiziarz was personal, Destino didn’t pass up a chance to clarify their relationship during his run for Niagara Falls Mayor.

“Well I don’t know how tight we were. His support toward the end of my candidacy for mayor just disappeared. Often times I was left to fight the good fight by myself. I don’t know if there was polling that indicated I didn’t have a chance but when they didn’t want to be associated with what they thought was a losing proposition they bailed on me,” Destino said.

Paladino owns a luxury hotel in Niagara Falls, but his support of Destino is connected to a promise he made to challenge the Senate Republican establishment in Albany by aiding candidates who hope to knock off incumbent lawmakers this year.

“The days of the George Maizarz’s of this world are coming to an end. The days where a candidate, an incumbent, can intimidate a population are coming to an end,” Paladino added.

Maziarz has been endorsed by the Republican, Conservative, and the Independence Parties in Niagara County. He insisted this latest endorsement doesn’t bother him.

The new 62nd Senate District includes all of Niagara and Orleans Counties, plus the town of Sweden and Ogden in Monroe County.

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