Erie County Democratic Party censures County Councilman Jim Winarski
The Erie County Democratic Party voted unanimously Saturday to censure Democratic County Councilman Jim Winarski for repeatedly breaking ranks and siding with the council's Republican minority.
The censure, which functions as a symbolic rebuke, comes after Winarski formally seconded the nomination of Republican Brian Shank as chairman during the council's Jan. 3 reorganization meeting. Winarski voted against the nomination of Democratic colleague Mary Rennie and voted instead to elect her vice-chairperson.
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Winarski, who was elected in 2021 and who represents the county's 4th District, which includes the southeastern portion of the city of Erie, also voted to elect Shank chairman during council's 2022 reorganization meeting.
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"This censure is about selling out leadership when we have a majority on council," said Jim Wertz, chairman of the Erie County Democratic Party. "(Winarski) stepped up and actually nominated Brian Shank against three very qualified and veteran council Democrats."
Wertz added that the censure — which was voted on by roughly 40 Democratic Party committee members — was also a reflection of Winarski's voting record, in which he's often been the 4-3 swing vote that's delivered policy victories to the Republican minority — and in turn, Erie County Executive Brenton Davis.
Winarski voted to approve the 2023 county budget of $561 million in November despite three nay votes from his Democratic peers who had reservations about the roughly $7 million deficit and Davis' attempts to plug it with one-time funding sources.
Winarski also voted alongside Republicans in eliminating the second round of $3.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission. He also voted to approve $2.5 million in unrestricted gaming revenue toward Project Resolve, the manufacturing initiative championed by Davis.
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Wertz said Winarski's loyalty to the party has been questioned since Winarski served on Erie City Council. But because City Council was comprised only of Democrats, it was "difficult to see the shades of gray," he said.
"Now that he's been placed in a tight majority-minority situation, that has become much more clear," Wertz said.
"Folks in this community who work hard to defend party values and to elect Democrats up and down the ballot feel betrayed at the end of the day when they see someone sitting in office explicitly working against the community's best interests."
Winarski could not be reached for comment Sunday. However, Winarksi told the Times-News in November that his tendency to break party ranks had nothing to do with politics.
"It isn't about a 'D' or an 'R' with me," he said. "At no point whatsoever do any of my votes come down to siding with one party or the other. It's deciding what I honestly believe is the best for Erie and Erie County."
On Sunday, Davis posted on his campaign Facebook page that the censure was proof that Democrats were choosing politics over progress and people.
"I am not surprised by these cowardice tactics. Can't win? Don't agree? Intimidate," he said of the Democratic Party. "I am proud of the County Council bipartisan majority who chooses Erie County's people over party. This is what good governance is all about."
A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNRao.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Jim Winarski: Erie County councilman censured by Democratic Party
