The FFRF Action Fund is pleased to endorse Braiden McElhaney in his campaign for an at-large seat on the Orchard Park (N.Y.) Town Council.
There are two council seats up for election on Nov. 4, Election Day. Two of McElhaney’s opponents are affiliated with the Orchard Park Republican Party and are aligned with “Make America Great Again.” Alongside McElhaney, there is one other Democrat in the race.
Orchard Park is located outside of Buffalo, with a small population of just over 3,000 residents. Zoning disputes related to the construction of a new NFL stadium and small businesses facing economic hardship are among the issues currently affecting Orchard Park.
There is a substantial Catholic community in Orchard Park, and McElhaney shared with FFRF Action Fund staff that most community events organized by the local government are rooted in Catholicism. McElhaney is dedicated to keeping town meetings, proclamations and public events secular and agrees that the Town Council should not endorse a particular religion. He states that he would vote against including prayer in council meetings if elected. McElhaney is openly agnostic and strongly supports the separation of state and church. He believes that personal religious beliefs should be kept separate from public policies to ensure that government resources, programs and laws are inclusive and equitable.
The FFRF Action Fund joins the Victory Fund, Democratic Municipal Officials (DMO), Run for Something, Orchard Park Democratic Committee and others in endorsing McElhaney.
Please learn more about McElhaney by visiting his campaign website here.