Poloncarz is a local business lawyer who has always worked in the private sector (not a career politician) and has no ties to County Executive Joel Giambra, in other words a qualified breath of fresh air.

Bob Whelan is stating he is the more qualified of the two because he has more experience, but is also trying to run away from his close friendship with Joel Giambra.

I think it’s time the people of Erie County learned the true story of Bob Whelan.

While Whelan is registered as a Democrat, if his longstanding relationship with Joel Giambra is any measure, he should be registered as a "Giambracrat." If Whelan was a true Democrat, he would not even be running - he would have stepped aside when the party chose Poloncarz over him for the endorsement.

His running in the primary would never happen in the Republican Party. They focus on one thing and time and time again are resulted with victories because of it - party unity. This year is no exception, they have one candidate and no primary. Right or wrong they act together.

In these days of mistrust in career politicians, especially one closely aligned with the county executive, if Whelan is a true Democrat he should put his party before his ego and tow the party line.

Primaries are wonderful where there are many candidates, but in this case the party has already chosen, and in my eyes, Mark Poloncarz was the right choice for the party’s endorsement, and is the right choice again on primary day.

Bob Farmer