Donna Littlefield, Associate Real Estate Broker in Western New York

The Importance of Voting

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The Importance of Voting

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While this year may not feature a presidential election – despite all the hype and coverage of candidates from both side of the aisle on the national news outlets – every election is an important opportunity to let your voice be heard when it comes to the politicians who have the most meaningful impact on your life – local, county and state elections. Let’s take a look at how these elections – scheduled this year for Nov. 3 – are important and how they can affect you.

State ElectionsState Elections

Since last year was the biannual election for Assembly and Senate members, as well as the gubernatorial election, there are no races being decided for state offices in 2015. Five vacant seats currently exist outside of Western New York, with special elections planned in those areas to fill the vacancies. However, it’s worth noting that these elections are incredibly important for each of us. Our representatives in Albany decide measures like property tax breaks (or tax caps, as have been in effect for the past few years), rebates and other measures that can mean money in your pocket. These politicians have sway on a state level, so supporting your candidate helps influence decisions that affect not only you and your neighbors, but the overall climate of taxation across New York.

County Elections

While there are few state elections this year, there are several elections of importance on the county level. In Erie County, there are races for voters to decide on for the county executive and all county legislators, as well as the county judges and family court judge. Niagara County also will vote for their legislators, as well as the county district attorney and county clerk. These elections, too, are important on the broader county level as the decisions made in each county’s legislature can impact property taxes, sales tax and other expenditures. Counties are subject to the state tax cap legislation the same as cities and towns, and electing representatives who will work on your behalf to keep spending and taxes in line will help to keep your expenses down, too.

Local Elections

Local elections have the most direct control on you. Town, village and city representatives control the municipality’s purse strings, and as a result make the decisions about spending and tax levies that affect your property most directly. In many cities and towns in both Erie and Niagara counties, councilor and aldermanic elections are being held to determine who will be voting on budgets, spending proposals and tax increases that can impact your property taxes. Residents in Amherst, North Tonawanda, Lockport, Wheatfield, Pendleton, Tonawanda and many other areas will be electing their representatives this year, and turning out at the polls to weigh in on Nov. 3 is the best way that you can have a say in how your municipality levies funds or spends tax revenues.

As the saying goes, if you don’t vote, you can’t complain. Be proactive this year, and get out and vote for the candidates who you feel will best represent you in these governing bodies. For more information, polling location details and sample ballots, visit the Erie County Board of Elections or Niagara County Board of Elections websites.

Community Highlight: Pendleton

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Just north of Erie County, and centrally located between Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Lockport sits the beautiful community of Pendleton. Offering residents all the benefits of country life with ready access to city convenience, Pendleton is a booming community, with many new Forbes homes and other custom constructions popping up throughout the town. Here’s a look at a few of the features that make Pendleton so great!

Schools

Starpoint School District serves the Pendleton community, with four buildings separated into primary, intermediate, middle and high schools. The district is a consistent high performer, and ranked as eighth – the top district in Niagara County – in Buffalo Business First’s ranking of Western New York schools.

Parks

The community also hosts several parks for families to enjoy, including the 22-acre Pendleton Town Park that offers baseball diamonds and cages, tennis courts and playground areas for children, along with barbecue and pavilion space. Depeau and Nine Mile Island parks are also part of the town, and available for community members to rent or visit. In addition, the county’s West Canal Marina is within the town limits, and offers playground and pavilion space as well as a boat launch area to access the Erie Canal.

Commute

Residents in Pendleton also enjoy a fairly reasonable commute to anywhere in the region. Located roughly 30 minutes from the downtown areas of both Niagara Falls and Buffalo, and only 15 minutes from Lockport, denizens can quickly commute to jobs in any of these areas or easy get to nightlife, Sabres games, groceries or anything else they need. Truly Pendleton offers the best of both worlds – casual, spacious life in the open country with city access and amenities to compare with an urban or suburban lifestyle.

Check out these leading properties I currently have listed in Pendleton, or contact me today for more information on showings or open houses scheduled in the area!

4097 Saunders Settlement Road, Cambria

4097 Saunders Settlement Road, Cambria

Beds: 3
Baths: 1.5
Square Feet: 1,356
This picture-perfect ranch includes more than an acre of land and has been completely redone. It also offers plenty of parking for cars, RVs and more. – $179,900

4627 Kriston Lane, Pendleton

4627 Kriston Lane, Pendleton

Beds: 5
Baths: 3.5
Square Feet: 3,621
This gorgeous two-story colonial is newly sided and features large rooms and an in-law apartment. With woods to explore and a large yard, this is a great family home. – $320,000

4598 Killian Road, Pendleton

4598 Killian Road, Pendleton

Beds: 3
Baths: 2.5
Square Feet: 1,608
This property is a custom-built Barden home, situated atop a hill in the rural countryside. With an attached garage, a new roof installed in 2014 – with transferrable warranty – and much more, this is a dream property! – $220,000

Defending Property Owners and Sellers

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As a longtime member and chairperson of the Buffalo-Niagara Association of Realtors’ Government Affairs Committee, I have been actively involved in defending the interests of both my peers and my clients in local, county and state politics, working diligently behind the scenes to advance legislation that benefits homeowners and rally against proposals that negatively impact buyers and sellers.

Donna LittlefieldIn my recent speech to the New York State Association of Realtors, I noted some of the major actions that the committee and the national Realtors Political Action Committee has worked on during the last year. For example, the state Fire Prevention and Building Council voted earlier this summer to not implement a proposal to require fire sprinkler installation in all homes – an action widely rallied against by homeowners, rental property managers and Realtors alike. Our committee also has worked at all levels of government, including at the state level where we continue to support efforts to extend the state property tax cap, an initiative that has helped to keep tax increases moderated and hold municipalities more responsible for governing within their means.

On local issues, the RPAC and Government Affairs Committee has also worked to oppose legislation that affects all property owners, like a recent West Seneca proposal that would have required home sellers to install a new discharge line at their own expense, as well as legislation that would require hard-wired carbon monoxide detectors be installed. Our committee is also continuing to work on the behalf of our clients and neighbors, most recently investigating a proposed natural gas compression facility in a residential area of Pendelton.

The words I used to close out my speech still ring true: “If you are not at the table, you are probably on the menu.” As a real estate agent, active member of the community and homeowner myself, I continue to work diligently on all of our behalves to keep us off the menu – and to make sure that menu keeps only palatable and lean options on the table.

Visit the Buffalo-Niagara Association of Realtors’ website to learn more about the BNAR and our ongoing efforts around the region.