With a packed house of Democrats in the hall in County Executive Mark Poloncarz' home city of Lackawanna, the incumbent made his re-election candidacy official with a rousing call for another term Tuesday evening.
Poloncarz seeking a second term isn't a surprise because there is $400,000 in the campaign till for the race against State Assemblyman Ray Walter, the Republican candidate.
Both sides say the central issue is the county executive's record in office, with Walter attacking it and the incumbent delivering a full-throated defense of what he has done and will do in the future.
Poloncarz told cheering supporters the unemployment rate has dropped from nearly 9 percent to 5.5 percent.
"Now, percentages don't mean anything if jobs have not been created," Poloncarz said.
"But, the real fact is since the beginning of 2012, there's been more than 20,000 private sector jobs created in the Buffalo Niagara metro market and in February and March of this year it was the highest recorded job total for our region in those months ever."
Poloncarz says county government is better run than when he took office and county finances are more solid. He says roads are in better shape, the library is in better shape and economic development tax breaks are going to those who create jobs.