Democrats have widened their majority on Erie County Council. What will this mean in 2024?

Erie County Democrats say the verdict from Tuesday's municipal election, which will give them a commanding 5-2 majority on Erie County Council, was clear: Voters want accountability.

Jim Wertz, the outgoing chairman of the Erie County Democratic Party, called the election a “referendum on the state of county government,” and said voters want a council that's more responsive, more transparent and a greater check on Republican County Executive Brenton Davis.

The question is, how does the new council majority intend to do this? And how will any changes affect Davis, who will have to contend with the potentially veto-proof majority for the remaining two years of his first term?

Here are some possibilities.

A Democratic chairperson could call for more public hearings

In recent months, scores of Erie County residents have accused the Davis administration and council of fast-tracking measures and approving projects without much advance notice, transparency or public engagement.

They point to Davis’ push to develop a business park on roughly 200 acres of county-owned farmland in Fairview and Girard townships, and the council's approval of a lease agreement that allows Gannon University to build a water research center inside the Blasco Memorial Library.

Since a council chairperson can call special meetings or public hearings at any time, it is likely that Democrats Andre Horton and Terry Scutella, top contenders for the chairmanship and ardent critics of rushing legislation, will call for more public engagement on controversial, high-interest projects.

"I think it will give a level playing field for the citizens," Horton said of a Democratic chairmanship.

Horton and Scutella have each expressed interest in being chairperson.

Democrats Rock Copeland and Chris Drexel, each newly elected, said they would defer to the seniority of Horton and Scutella. Democrat Jim Winarski also said he would pass on the job because of time constraints of his work schedule.

“I believe there is no one more prepared to lead the body than me,” Horton told the Times-News.

Scutella said he's "definitely interested” in the position and that he's "ready to lead."

In 2022 and 2023, council selected Republican Brian Shank as chairperson despite a 4-3 Democratic majority. The swing vote in each case came from Winarski, whose support for Shank, along with other votes, led to the Democratic Party censuring him in January.

This time around, Winarski said he’s “confident” a Democrat will get the job.

“We’ll see who the candidates are, but I honestly feel it’s going to be a Democrat this year ― which is great,” he told the Times-News.

New majority will try to avoid ‘rubber stamp’ label

When council voted in favor of a resolution that set in motion the development of a Gannon water research and education center inside the Blasco Library, there was an immediate backlash.

Many in the public blasted council for its minimal public deliberations and for rushing to vote on the project with only one day ― the day of the vote ― for public comment.

"They weren’t being heard," Drexel said of the public. "People could see that council had become a rubber stamp and they were frustrated by it."

Drexel during his campaign stated that council Republicans, as well as Winarski, seemed to be "focused primarily on what the county executive wants and not the will of the people who elected them to represent their needs."

Drexel, who defeated incumbent Republican Shank to flip the 5th District seat, said this was a primary driver for his campaign and that the new council will function more as a check on Davis' authority.

Copeland added that "people can expect to see a more thoughtful, deliberative council" starting in 2024.

“I’ve talked with other council members and believe this is a council much more ready to listen to the directives of the public, than the directives of the executive,” he said.

A 5-2 majority might not be ‘veto-proof’

A 5-2 Democratic majority on council could potentially be a veto-proof majority, given that five out of seven council members are required to override a county executive's veto.

But Winarski and Scutella have indicated the goal should not be stonewalling the administration.

"I’m not going to change any of my voting ways just because of party lines," Winarski said. "Sometimes you’re with the Ds, sometimes you’re with the Rs and sometimes you’re all on your own. I just wish people didn’t have to make everything a party issue when it doesn’t need to be."

Scutella also favored a good working relationship with the administration.

"I hope we don't go in with the idea that whatever the administration brings down, we go after it in a negative way," he said. "I think we have to look at the issue, and if there's a difference between the council and the administration, then we figure out how to get on the same page and be civil about it."

Horton, who said he plans to introduce supplemental appropriations in 2024 to help programs in need of funding, said the 5-2 majority shouldn't be counted on to override vetoes.

"Recent history has taught us that everybody who’s registered as a Democrat does not always uphold Democratic values," he said. "We have a 5-2 advantage ― but on paper only."

A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com. Follow him on X @ETNRao.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County Council: What will new 5-2 Democrat majority do in 2024?