Candidate Rodriguez has big plans for city

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By Michael Loffredo

Bengal News West Reporter        

          This year a young, Hispanic and driven man is trying to take the power of the city of Buffalo into his own hands. 

          Sergio Rodriguez, 33, is an adopted son to the city.  A native of the Dominican Republic, Rodriguez came here to attend college. Rodriguez received his associate's degree from Medaille College in 2007 and in 2009 he received his bachelor’s degree from D’Youville College. Now he has his sights set on becoming mayor and making Buffalo a better place. 

            “This is a dream come true,” said Rodriguez. “I came here with a mission, with a clear purpose.”

Born into poverty in the Dominican Republic, Rodriguez knew that he wanted to be a politician and an elected official since his early years.

            “My grandmother made me stand up on a chair at every family party and act out being the president of the Dominican Republic by giving a speech,” said Rodriguez. “My parents were very politically active in the Dominican Republic as well which also had an influence on my dream. Both these parts of my childhood helped plant a seed in my mind.”

            Rodriguez’s campaign revolves around four central issues: education, crime, unemployment, and poverty.

            Since 2005, Buffalo has only had one man in charge. Many think Byron Brown, current Mayor of the city of Buffalo, has done a lot of good. Canalside became a popular destination downtown, the waterfront has been booming as of late, and  President Barack Obama said in a recent trip to the Queen City “Buffalo is on the rise. Buffalo is making a comeback.”

           Rodriguez thinks the city is far from that point.

           “We're not on the rise,” said the Republican and Progressive party candidate.  “The last thing we want to do is continue on the current path that the institution has placed for Buffalo. That path means more population decline in this city, as about 20,000 people will leave this city for more prosperous suburbs and we will just keep getting poorer.”

            Another hot topic among city residents the abandoned houses that line the city streets. Numerous homes are decrepit, empty, and overall hurting Buffalo’s landscape and population.

           Rodriguez discusses his plans to get rid of abandoned homes:

            When voters hit the polls on Nov. 5, some city residents will look at Rodriguez’s name in the voting booth and not  know who he is due to the fact that this is his first time running for public office. Registered voter Matt Braun  believes in Rodriguez and thinks he will do a lot of good for the city.

            “I think it is a question of integrity. Brown lost all of that by putting stuff under the rug and hiring a buddy to take care of it,” Braun said.  “Sergio is honest and actually cares about Buffalo. He understands the city and its issues while Brown is just another part of the bureaucracy. We need an honest man in charge, and that honest man is Rodriguez.”

              Rodriguez said that  Brown declined his invite to debate. He believes he is “worried about all the work and campaigning in the community that my campaign has done.” 

             Rodriguez  went on a “Jeep Tour” during October campaigning through city neighborhoods, handing out flyers and meeting with sidewalk goers, as he stood out of the top of a Jeep Wrangler.

            “Whether it’s in a McDonalds drive-thru or at an event, I hand someone my flyer and tell them to vote for me,” he said. 

With Election Day looming, Rodriguez has one thing to say: “Vote for the person, don’t vote for the party. Vote for solutions. I am presenting Buffalo with a choice that this city hasn’t had in nearly a decade. Lets get this thing done.”