Raymond C. Herman holds a B.A. in History and an MLS degree from the University of Buffalo. He earned his J.D. degree from Pace University. Mr. Herman had a distinguish 34-year career in the Erie County District Attorney’s Office. Most notably Mr. Herman served more than a decade in the District Attorney’s Appeals Bureau. According to Westlaw, he has argued more than 149 appeals in the Appellate Division and the New York Court of Appeals, with countless other unreported appellate cases before the Erie County Court. After leaving the Appeals Bureau, he was named an Assistant Bureau Chief in the Buffalo City Court, where he mentored and taught young assistant district attorneys who were responsible for handling criminal trial cases. In 2018, he retired from the Erie County District Attorney’s Office. Mr. Herman is a tenor and a member of the Buffalo Choral Arts Society. He also serves on the boards of directors for the Network of Religious Communities and Opera-Lytes.
Robert C. Freeman holds a J.D. degree from the University at Buffalo School of Law and is a partner in the law firm of Nesper, Ferber, DiGiacomo, Johnson and Grimm LLP where he concentrates his practice on estate planning and real estate. Previously, Mr. Freeman completed internships with U.S. Senator Charles S. Schumer, the NYS Supreme Court and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office where he worked in the Felony Trials Bureau. As an undergraduate at the University of Buffalo, Mr. Freeman completed an honors research thesis entitled: The Queen City Takes Its Crown of Thorns: Western New York In The Great Depression. Mr. Freeman has been an active volunteer for several civic organizations including Skating Athletes Bold at Heart (SABAH) and the Saint Vincent De Paul Society. He currently resides in Snyder, New York.
J. Matthew Plunkett holds a B.A. in Economics and a J.D. degree from the University of Buffalo, as well as an M.B.A. from Syracuse University. He has been a practicing attorney since 1984 and has served as an adjunct instructor at SUNY College of Buffalo, Daemen College, and the University of Buffalo. Mr. Plunkett has served as counsel to the New York State Senate Committee on Local Government and as Deputy Town Attorney for the Town of Amherst. Prior to attending law school, he worked at an engineering firm in central New York. He is married and resides in Amherst.
Paul W. Wolf is President of the Buffalo Niagara Coalition on Open Government, a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization comprised of journalists, activists, attorneys, educators and other concerned citizens who value open government and freedom of information. Mr. Wolf also holds a J.D. degree from the University of Buffalo and is a partner in the law firm of Berzer & Wolf, in Williamsville, New York. Previously, he served as the Chief of Staff for the Buffalo Common Council. He is also an adjunct instructor at University of Buffalo. He resides in Getzville.
Maureen Krause holds a B.A. in Sociology from Niagara University and a teaching degree from Buffalo State College. She is currently retired after a long career in public service. She is the former Administrator of Admission for the Buffalo Housing Authority, the Director of Neighborhood Revitalization for the City of Buffalo, and the Manager of Youth Services for Buffalo and Erie County Workforce Development, and has been an active volunteer for many civil organizations throughout Erie County over the years. She is widow with four children, eight grandchildren and one great grandchild and has been a resident of the Town of Angola for ten years.
BrittanyLee Penberthy holds a J.D. and LL.M. from the University at Buffalo School of Law. She is admitted to practice law in both New York and Connecticut. She is a partner in the law firm of Penberthy Law Group LLP and is also presently serving as Deputy Town Attorney for the Town of Evans, and the Deputy City Attorney for the City of Tonawanda. Ms. Penberthy is an active member of the Town of Amherst Planning Board. She resides in Amherst, New York.