Ranney nominated as Erie County mental health commissioner

April 09--Michael R. Ranney, director of intensive adult health services in the Erie County correctional system, was nominated Thursday as the county's new commissioner of mental health.

If confirmed by the Legislature, Ranney would assume the post with 25 years of clinical and administrative experience that includes working with those who have mental health and substance abuse issues.

"Michael is an excellent candidate for the position ... with a skill set that includes extensive field experience working for Erie County and in the private sector," County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said in a news release.

Poloncarz added that Ranney's familiarity with mental health law, experience working with families and children, and advocacy for those with mental illness will serve him well in his new role and will strengthen the department.

Ranney, 56, had been director of adult health services since 2005. He would succeed former Mental Health Commissioner Ellery Reaves, who left the post last fall.

Former Department of Social Services Commissioner Carol Dankert-Maurer had been announced by Poloncarz in December as Reaves' successor. However, Dankert-Maurer asked Poloncarz to pull her name from consideration after meeting with the Legislature'sHealth & Human Services Committee in January.

Meanwhile, Poloncarz's pick to serve as labor relations commissioner, Steven Miller, met Thursday with the committee, which unanimously approved his nomination and forwarded it to the full Legislature for action.

Miller is a past president of Local 1129, Communication Workers of America. Some legislators initially had questioned whether Miller's union background might make him unsuitable for the post, but he allayed those concerns.

"Please be assured I know whose interests I'm looking out for: the taxpayers of Erie County," Miller told lawmakers.

He would succeed David A. Palmer, who left the job after being named personnel commissioner a year ago.

email: hmcneil@buffnews.com

___

(c)2015 The Buffalo News (Buffalo, N.Y.)

Visit The Buffalo News (Buffalo, N.Y.) at www.buffalonews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC