(HAMBURG) - As he continues to make individual connections with residents, taxpayers and voters within the 146th New York District, candidate Brad Rybczynski (pictured above) isn't shying away from his long-time affiliation with Organized Labor here in Western New York. 

In fact, "Like I would expect any Union Member to, I wear my Union affiliation on my sleeve," Rybczynski tells WNYLaborToday.com.

The former executive director of the Buffalo Building & Construction Trades Council has already garnered endorsements from the Buffalo Building Trades, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 17 and Buffalo Professional Firefighters Local 282 in the race for the Assembly seat, which is now held by Republican Jack Quinn, who's announced his intention to seek State Senator William Stachowski's seat in the 58th District.  The 146th Assembly District stretches from Hamburg down to Collins and over to Holland and Sardinia.

"I've gotten some good reaction from people (when they find out of his connection to Labor)," Rybczynski said.  "But when some people smirk and ask me why, I talk about the twenty-nine (non-Union) miners who recently died in West Virginia.  The safest mines are Union mines.  But I'm not getting into any arguments.  No one wins then.  But I'm not shying away from Labor and I'm proud that Organized Labor has endorsed me."

While it's early in the process, Rybczynski says he's gotten favorable responses from a number of other Unions whom he has sought endorsements from, including the Hamburg Police Benevolent Association and the United Food & Commercial Workers. 

"It's a bit early for the endorsement process to have begun.  Many will be made late this summer, so right now I've focused on meeting with area Democratic Committees, including those in the Towns of Boston, Eden and Evans, and have been attending as many as two community events a night across the district in order to continue meeting people," he said.

A life-long resident of Hamburg, Rybczynski is a graduate of St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, and holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Mercyhurst College in Erie Pennsylvania.  His professional background is in government affairs, business development, public relations and marketing, first as a senior legislative aide with the Erie County Legislature, then as executive director of the Buffalo Building Trades Council - where his main focus was to bring funding to the Western New York Region for construction projects and to ensure local women and men were employed on those projects - and then as government affairs liaison at the Erie County Medical Center.  Recently, Rybczynski started his own governmental consulting firm and has further branched out into the field of renewable energy with a local consulting and procurement firm.

While he's never run for public office, Rybczynski's mother - Cathy - serves as clerk in the Town of Hamburg.  Both his mother and father, Julian, have roots and have made commitments to Organized Labor over the years.  Rybczynski said his father was a Unionized train engineer with the United Transportation Union.  Rybczynski's mother, he said, while working for a local nursing home, once refused to cross a picket line even though she was not a member of the Union.  "She quit that job out of principle and took another at more than a ten-thousand-dollar-a-year pay cut.  It was tough on our family.  We almost lost our house," said Rybczynski, describing the impact his mother's decision had on his family.

The 34-year-old Rybczynski - who with his wife and their four children live in Hamburg - tells WNYLaborToday.com he's running his campaign on three specific issues:

Reform of New York State Government and Public Authorities - "People want reform of government in Albany.  There can be no more 'three men in a room" negotiations.  Rules of the Legislature must be changed.  For instance, there's a need to rotate committee chairmen.  There must also be accountability.  There are ten-thousand state authorities in New York.  It becomes a shell game to move money around without any accountability.  There are entities such as NYSERDA (the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) that has no accountability whatsoever.  It's allowed to set their own rates and reimbursements."

Creating An Environment For Businesses To Create Good-Paying Jobs - "And that includes reform of the state's Industrial Development Agencies.  It's ridiculous to give Bass Pro thirty-five-million dollars without requiring it to pay its employees a decent living wage.  So what does the City of Buffalo really get in return?  Companies receive such a great deal (in taxpayer subsidies) and they can't pay the 'little guy' a decent wage?  That shouldn't stand in the way of any company who makes a decision to locate here in Western New York.  I also plan to stand up for the Wicks and Scaffold Laws, as well as payment of the Prevailing Wage Rate on construction projects, but will also look to streamline the building permit process.  There are so many state fees attached to those permits.  Instead, we have to help those companies and get rid of those additional costs... but... they have to agree to pay people a decent wage."

Nothing New and Earth-Shattering: Listen To What People Have To Say - "While I've been out talking to people on the campaign trail, many voters have told me they have never met a candidate running for public office.  They feel disconnected.  That's why the mantra of my campaign is, 'Bringing Your Voice To Albany.'  I believe that's very important."

In a prepared press release, Rybczynski stated, "I plan to run a positive campaign, one that focuses on bringing needed reforms to a broken and misguided system in Albany.  My campaign will be about 'real people,' with 'real issues,' and not a rehash of the same tired and worn approach we have all had enough of.  Too many elected officials forget who they really work for: the voters, taxpayers and residents of their district.  Many politicians only see their next political office or campaign for another term, not the people they were elected to represent.  As I knock on doors across the district I'll gather the concerns of the people I'm asking to 'employ' me and bring those concerns to Albany.  I will be spending the bulk of the campaign on the streets, going door-to-door to talk with the constituency to hear first-hand what they're looking for in an elected official.  I humbly ask all voters, regardless of party affiliation, speak with me, tell me their concerns and consider casting a vote for me.  It's my intention to bring my experience in the private sector and government, a genuine love for our community, and my passion for helping others to the New York State Assembly.  I plan to couple this with the concerns and needs of the residents of the one-hundred-and-forty-sixth Assembly District to bring 'real and much-needed change' to Albany.  It's time to breathe new life into our political and governmental system and to find what works and to take an ax to what does not."

In regards to his community involvement, Rybczynski has served on the Town of Hamburg Youth Board and continues to serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals as its vice-chair.  Rybczynski has also coached little league baseball with Lake Shore Little League and varsity baseball at St. Francis High School, is the current president of the Alumni Association at St. Francis, and is a founding member of the VFW Post 1419 Men's Auxiliary.  He also holds membership with the Sons of the American Legion, Post 527 and is a third degree in the Knights of Columbus #2220.  In 2003 Rybczynski was honored to be recognized by the Polish newspaper, The Am-Pol Eagle, as one of its Citizens of the Year.

Rybczynski, meanwhile, also holds a committee spot for the annual Western New York Construction Career Days event, which is held in Lake View at the Operating Engineers' 400-acre sprawling training facility, for the purpose of introducing the Unionized Construction Industry to thousands of area high schools students across the region.