Councilman Helwig has been active in the Wheatfield Town government and community affairs for a number of years.

He is a liaison to the Recreation Department and has worked diligently to improve the Town of Wheatfield’s parks system and its recreational programs. He advocated for the recent acquisition of land on the Niagara River so that Wheatfield residents would have public access to the Niagara River, as well as the purchase of over 30 acres of land next to the Town Hall/Senior Community Center for further park expansion. He also promoted the construction of the Youth Center/Gym which is being constructed behind Town Hall.

Councilman Helwig recently completed work with a committee that established a wage and salary structure for all Town employees, to ensure that fair and appropriate wages were being paid. The work of this committee saved the Town over $30,000, which would have been the cost of a consultant.

Mr. Helwig has been concerned with environmental issues in Wheatfield, particularly in the River Road area. He has worked with River Road residents and the Greenway Commission to find an alternate location, away from resident’s houses, for a hiking path along the Niagara River. Previously, he led the fight against the Empire Pipeline. He had been a member of the Love Canal Area Revitalization Agency and was able to secure over $500,000 in funding from the Love Canal settlement for environmental projects in Wheatfield, including development of the Five Senses Nature Park on Ward Road. He has also supervised an annual cleanup of the Liberty Drive area for the past 16 years.

Councilman Helwig is a graduate of North Tonawanda High School, Niagara County Community College and SUNY College at Brockport. He received his master’s degree in mathematics from Buffalo State College.

A computer expert, he is currently Director of Data Processing for Niagara County and was previously employed as a senior computer analyst for 23 years with Occidental Chemical.

He is a former director and coach for the Cayuga Little League, past den leader and treasurer of Cub Scout Pack 833, a member of the LaSalle Sportmen’s Club and is a past president of the Wheatfield Republican Club.

Councilman Helwig is married to the former Marianne Peri and has 2 adult children, Michelle and Jason.