Mark Poloncarz

Who is Mark Poloncarz?

Mark C. Poloncarz is the county executive of Erie County, New York. Poloncarz, a Democrat, was elected county executive on November 8, 2011 after defeating the incumbent county executive Chris Collins a Republican by a 53 - 47 percentage point margin. Poloncarz is only the 2nd Democrat to be elected to the position of county executive in the 51 year history of the position. Poloncarz was the elected comptroller of the county at the time of his election as executive.

Poloncarz was a heavy underdog when he entered the race in May of 2011. However, by focusing on issues of providing efficient, yet cost-effective government, reducing waste, fraud and abuse of the public's tax dollars, supporting the "People's Mandates," and properly funding libraries and arts and cultural institutions, Poloncarz was able to chip away a sizable Collins lead until he won in surprisingly easy fashion. Poloncarz also capitalized on his "son of a steelworker" blue collar background against Collins self-proclaimed businessman style.