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Calhoun, Carter announce campaigns for Erie County legislator, sheriff

Dominique Calhoun and Myles Carter, two names connected to local social justice movements, have announced Democratic Primary campaigns for the Erie County legislator and sheriff, respectively.

Calhoun said her abilities working in the non-profit sector will translate well in equitably allocating money for communities in need. She is running for Erie County’s 1st Legislative District, ehich covers large areas of Buffalo’s East Side.

“We had 5,000-plus people that applied for the Small Business grants,” she said. “Less than 20% received funding. It’s a pandemic and everyone is struggling. So I believe that that program, or the transparency or the way the funds are allocated, can be made better so that we all can benefit.”

Howard Johnson has held the 1st District seat since 2019.

Carter, a fixture at many social justice actions, is campaigning to overhaul a Sheriff's Department he said continually turns a blind eye to the suffering of inmates in the Erie County Holding Center in downtown Buffalo and the Wende Correctional Facility in Alden. Carter said he is not seeking an endorsement from the Democratic Party, rather he is coming to take the sheriff nomination.

“We stand here a phoenix from the ashes of the 30 who have died needlessly under the reign of Sheriff Howard,” he said. “We are unafraid to speak the names of the tragedies surrounding deaths, like our sister India Cummings, and the criminal and decrepit culture that has been made to be the Erie County Holding Center. We stand here to fight for the brothers and sisters of this community of which we all deserve to have restored and returned whole to this community.”

Current Sheriff Timothy Howard is not seeking re-election.

The crowded field for sheriff includes Buffalo Police Chief of Detectives Dennis Richards and Cheektowaga Police Assistant Chief Brian Gould.

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Thomas moved to Western New York at the age of 14. A graduate of Buffalo State College, he majored in Communications Studies and was part of the sports staff for WBNY. When not following his beloved University of Kentucky Wildcats and Boston Red Sox, Thomas enjoys coaching youth basketball, reading Tolkien novels and seeing live music.
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