Rep. Brian Higgins speaks during the New York State Democratic Convention in New York, Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins, who represented Chautauqua County for his first eight years in Congress, appears to be following what is becoming an all-too-common path for longtime legislators. Last weekend, he announced he would be resigning from his seat that he was elected to last year.

Speculation in The Buffalo News is that Higgins is looking to take over as president of Shea’s Performing Arts Center. Though he would not speak to that issue, the outgoing congressman did share some of his frustrations with the current climate.

“Congress is not the institution that I came to 19 years ago,” Higgins told the News in an interview published over the weekend. “And, you know, it’s in a very bad place right now. I am hopeful, as I always am, that it gets better. But unfortunately, I think we’re at the beginning phases of a deterioration of the prestige of the institution.”

A tremendous figure in Western New York for more than two decades, Higgins is almost an anonymity in Washington. Since beginning his service in 2005 – while representing this county – the Democrat has barely received any attention nationally.

He has, however, tackled some important issues. In the rebirth of Buffalo, he has been one of the chief individuals responsible for the reshaping of the waterfront. What was once a hodgepodge of attractions and outdated facilities has become a destination for all four seasons.

Additionally, he’s been a vocal advocate for airline safety since the Colgan Air Flight 3409 went down in Clarence in February 2009. Earlier this year, Higgins continued to work in a bipartisan spirit with Reps. Nick Langworthy and Claudia Tenney in getting the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act passed in July. The initiative also included an amendment to maintain the current 1,500-hour in-air training rule for pilots.

Closer to home, Higgins made it clear he did not like facing tough questions – especially those that did not agree with how he voted. During an appearance at Shorewood Country Club, a business queried about how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 passed during the recession financially assisted those in the private sector. While glossing over the benefits of the policy, Higgins never directly answered the question. He later noted the government’s investment in infrastructure would benefit shops and companies that were being impacted by the economic slowdown in the future.

He also shutdown public comment. During the discussions on the Affordable Care Act, which passed in 2010, he refused to hold community meetings with constituents. He said he did not need to because he knew his district supported the health-care plan that was also known as “ObamaCare.”.

Those left leanings never sat well locally, which explains why the Congressional district has evolved after the last two U.S. Census reports. Our county’s views – based on recent election results – are more aligned with the Southern Tier than those in Buffalo.

But that does not excuse his exit that is on his terms, not voters. His last election in November 2022 was with a commitment to fulfill his term.

He’s not alone in breaking this vow. It’s happened to plenty of others in the last 15 years due to personal reasons or scandal.

Some of those names include representatives who have plenty of respect from this corner. Both former state Sen. Catharine Young and U.S. Rep. Tom Reed left early for different positions.

Young shocked her district when in March 2019 she became director of the New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture at Cornell AgriTech. Reed stepped away to join Prime Policy Group, a lobbying firm, while also echoing what Higgins said about the lack of harmony in Congress.

Others left when their reign became stained. Former state Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who still appears to be lurking in the political sphere, resigned after a number of sexual harassment allegations. Elliot Spitzer’s exit in 2008 was even more embarrassing after he was linked to high-priced prostitutes. Another Congressional representative from the area, who held office before Reed in Eric Massa, stepped away in 2010 after inappropriate relations with staff.

That continuing scandal with George Santos is a whole other story. That’s a reflection on mindless party voting – and those pulling the levers without an understanding of the fiction behind the candidate.

At least former U.S. Rep. Chris Jacobs did it the right way. He lost the Republican party’s backing by changing his attitudes on the Second Amendment after the terror of 10 lives being lost to a racially motivated shooter at a grocery store in the city of Buffalo in May of 2022.

Jacobs, who said shortly after the horrific incident in the district he represents that he would vote for a federal assault weapons ban, bravely spoke his conscience and for his constituents. In today’s political landscape, as noted by Reed and the outgoing Higgins, there can be some retribution that will follow.

In a nation that treasures its First Amendment rights, those same freedoms are not always welcome when it comes to the party.

John D’Agostino is editor of The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 716-487-1111, ext. 253.