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County executive gauging state support in Bills lease talks

WBFO News photo by Eileen Buckley

For Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, the Democratic National Convention offers more than discussions in party politics.

The convention presents a chance to meet face-to-face with "state officials about what the state can contribute to the reconstruction of Ralph Wilson Stadium," Poloncarz said in a live interview on WBFO and AM970.

It's believed the Buffalo Bills are seeking over $200 million in improvements for their home stadium, a price tag the cash-strapped county is unlikely to afford on its own.

"We're still talking."

Beyond the Bills, the convention agenda "is a busy day" for the first-year county executive who is making his third trip to the national political gathering.  Poloncarz says the mornings are for meetings while the night is for listening to the many speeches from the convention floor. 

He hopes the three-day event will highlight a "message of inclusiveness" and make the case that "the Democratic Party truly stands for the working man."

From his perspective, Poloncarz believes last week's Republican convention failed in its effort to connect with the American people who have been "talking more about Clint Eastwood that Mitt Romney."

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Jay joined Buffalo Toronto Public Media in 2008 and has been local host for NPR's "Morning Edition" ever since. In June, 2022, he was named one of the co-hosts of WBFO's "Buffalo, What's Next."

A graduate of St. Mary's of the Lake School, St. Francis High School and Buffalo State College, Jay has worked most of his professional career in Buffalo. Outside of public media, he continues in longstanding roles as the public address announcer for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League and as play-by-play voice of Canisius College basketball.