Buffalo Common Council
The Buffalo Common Council is the legislative branch of the Buffalo, New York City Government. It is ostensibly a representative assembly, with one elected member from each of nine districts: Niagara, Delaware, Masten, Ellicott, Lovejoy, Fillmore, North, University, and South. In the past, the Common Council also had as many as 5 at-large members and a Council President who were elected citywide. A 1983 downsizing eliminated two at-large members. The 2002 downsizing eliminated the remaining three at-large members and the elected Common Council President. The size of the council's membership has been shrinking roughly in tandem with the "white flight" to the suburbs represented by the population declines (see Buffalo, New York).
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[edit] History
The common council has evolved significantly. In its early years the Buffalo Mayor, the head of the executive branch of Buffalo government was also the President of the common council, the legislative branch. From 1832-1854 all Mayors were also Common Council President. Eli Cook was the first mayor who did not serve as Common Council President for his whole term as mayor. From 1832-1913, the no mayor served as Common Council President. From 1913-1927 The Council was composed of the Mayor, Commissioner of Finance and Accounts, Commissioner of Public Works, Commissioner of Parks and Public Buildings, Commissioner of Public Affairs and the Mayor was the Chairman of the Board. Since 1927 no Mayor has presided over the common council.[1]
[edit] Members
The current Common Council members are all members of the Democratic Party, but are divided into two factions: one aligned with Mayor Byron Brown (the Brownies), the other opposed to the Mayor (the Opposition). The current membership is as follows:
- David A. Franczyk (Opposition) - Common Council President, Fillmore District
- Richard A. Fontana (Brownie) - Majority Leader, Lovejoy District
- Demone A. Smith (Brownie) - Masten District
- Michael LoCurto (Opposition) - Delaware District
- Darius G. Pridgen (Brownie) - Ellicott District
- David A. Rivera (Opposition) - President Pro Tempore, Niagara District
- Bonnie E. Russell (Brownie) - University District
- Joseph Golombek Jr. (Brownie) - North District
- Michael Kearns (Opposition) - South District
According to the web site of the City of Buffalo, there is a Majority Leader and a Minority Leader if there are members from more than one political party.[2]
In practice, there has been a majority leader even though all members of the council are from the same political party; a local law was passed in November 2002 to allow this.[3] Given the division of the Common Council into its Brownie and Opposition factions, the selection of Richard Fontana (a Brownie) as Majority Leader would seem appropriate.
All Common Council seats are up for reelection in 2015, unless a Council Member resigns in disgrace before the expiration of his or her term (as did former Council Member Brian Davis, after being arrested at an alleged "crack house" owned by his brother[4] and pleading guilty to embezzling campaign funds.)
[edit] Notes
- ^ Rizzo, Michael F. (2005). Through The Mayors' Eyes: Buffalo, New York 1832-2005. Lulu Enterprises, Inc. pp. 400–5. ISBN 1-4116-3757-7.
- ^ History of the Common Council City of Buffalo official website
- ^ ecode360.com City of Buffalo Charter, section 24-12. According to ecode360, this is not the official version. However, the City of Buffalo directs one here. It is speculated that this is due to a desire on the part of the City Government not to allow Citizens to actually know the law under which they have consented to live.
- ^ Brian Davis case spurs audits of Council funds, The Buffalo News, May 12, 2011.
