Sara Burk-Balbi

Over these last few months, I have had the privilege of being a candidate for Batavia City Council at Large. I was not successful with that campaign but I came away with a deep appreciation for the City of Batavia and for those that want to serve it.   I want to start of by saying Thank You to all of my supporters here in the City of Batavia. I continue to be deeply humbled by your amazing support. I would also like to thank all of the candidates, both Republican and Democrat. You all did a great job and ran a wonderful campaign. My hat is off to each of you. Lastly, I have to thank my family and friend. I truly believe that I have the best family a person can ask for and the greatest friends.

If there is one thing that I can take away from this election is I have made some life long friends and I had the chance to really get out there and meet YOU; our city residents. I am truly blessed to be able to call you my neighbors and to call Batavia my home. So in the end, I am still a winner.

With that being said, I am going to make one more promise to you. You have unleashed the community advocate within me. This will not be the last time you see me. I am going to become even more involved and more educated on the issues. An angel was sent to me this morning. I was out for my morning walk (mind you less then 12 hours after I was told I did not win this election) and an older women stopped me and simply said, “What a beautiful morning. But the snow is coming.” I agreed with her, “Yes the snow is coming.” You see while I was talking to her, I found out that this poor women has to walk everywhere. She has no vehicle and she does not always have enough money to ride the bus or call a cab. So in her world, yes the snow is coming. It physically stops her from doing her every day things. This literally made me start crying on Ellicott Street this morning. It reminded me why I decided to run in the first place; to be able to help out the people who need it most. I will not be afraid to stand-up to City Council and I will continue to fight for those less fortunate. I have a challenge for all of you. Do not let your voice go unheard. Do not just sit there as the train passes you by. Our biggest weapon is our words. Do not be afraid to stand up for what you believe in. There is still a lot of work to be done. To quote Eleanor Roosevelt,” You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.” Please do not stop fighting for what you believe in. We have to let our elected officials know , “The Snow Is Coming!”

My name is Sara Burk-Balbi. I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister. I am a student, a friend and I will be your candidate for the future.

With my deepest and most sincere regards,

Sara Burk-Balbi

Hello, My name is Sara Burk-Balbi and I am a candidate for Batavia City Council at Large. I would like to take this time to thank all the people of Batavia that have been supportive and wonderful during my campaign for City Council. My neighbors, family and friends have encouraged me, walked door-to-door with me and campaigned for me. I am blessed with a lot of support.

I would like to remind each and every registered voter in the City of Batavia to go our and vote next Tuesday. It is important that we exercise our privilege and participate on Election Day. I also hope that you will consider supporting me for City Council. I want to be your Council Person. I want to work for the people of Batavia and I want to insure that your City Council handles issues openly and fairly. I am not a fan of back room politics. I like to make sure that as much that can be discussed out in the open is discussed and executive session material stays private. An open government is a good government.

I pledge that I will work hard. I will represent you fairly and I will be available to listen and to learn. I want to bring new Industry and Retail back into the city. I support fair wage jobs so that families and young people have the means to support themselves again in Batavia. I think the expansion of the Industrial as well as Retail development is by far one of our most important issues.

With increased Industrial and Retail programs comes an increase in property tax revenue that is currently the burden of the home owner. It is not enough to talk about new jobs and “green jobs” and new stores. You must act on them and provide a more intensive effort to make this a reality. Our tax base has to increase in order to see significant savings on our city taxes. You can only cut so much.  You have to depend on an increased base to spread the tax burden to a greater number of tax payers.

I also understand the need to provide services to our senior citizen and youth populations. They require our support and need services that both take care and improve their quality of life. Senior Citizen Programs increase self dependence and Youth Programs decrease incidents of youth crime and delinquency. These are very important programs.

I am humbled at the support and guidance that I have been shown during my campaign.   Next Tuesday, please consider voting for me so that I can serve you. Batavia is such a wonderful place. I would be honored to serve as your Councilperson.

I am endorsed by the City and County Democrat Committee, the New York  State Working Families Party, The Eleanore Franklin Foundation and Senator Kirster Gillibrand.

Sincerely and I thank you for your kindness and support,

Sara Jane Burk-Balbi

Tonight the City of Batavia Democrats are holding another Meet the Democrat Candidates Night at Notre Dame High School.  Sara Burk-Balbi, Phil Ricci and Julie Wallace will all be present as well as Chris Charvella, Candidate in District 8 for the Genesee County Legislature.  It is at 7PM and in the school Cafeteria.  

I would like to take this moment to encourage everyone to come this evening and talk with our candidates.  They are young, bright and caring.  I also encourage you all to ask them questions and give them your idea. 

I should also mention that there are two conflicting meetings that Rose Mary Christian and Legislator Ed DeJaneiro will be attending.  If they have complete those meetings prior to the end of the Meet and Greet they will stop in as well.  Rose Mary is attending a meeting on the expansion of Rte 63-Ellicott Street and Ed has a County Legislature Meeting.

Please join us tonight for our Meet and Greet at Notre Dame.