Buffalo Common Council
Encyclopedia
The Buffalo Common Council is the legislative branch of the Buffalo, New York
City Government. It is 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
).
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.
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.
In practice, there has been a majority leader even though all members of the council are from the same political party; this is justified by a local law approved in November 2002.
All seats are up for reelection in 2011.
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
City Government. It is a representative assembly
Representative assembly
A representative assembly is a political institution in which a number of persons representing the population or privileged orders within the population of a state come together to debate, negotiate with the executive and legislate...
, 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
At-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
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
White flight
White flight has been a term that originated in the United States, starting in the mid-20th century, and applied to the large-scale migration of whites of various European ancestries from racially mixed urban regions to more racially homogeneous suburban or exurban regions. It was first seen as...
" to the suburbs represented by the population declines (see Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
).
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 CookEli Cook
Eli Cook was Mayor of the City of Buffalo, New York, serving 1853 and 1854–1855. He was born in Palatine Bridge, New York on January 23, 1814. He took up law in 1830, passed the bar exam, and in 1837 he practiced in Tennessee and Mississippi with rebel General Simon B. Buckner. In 1838, he moved...
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.
Members
The current Common Council members are:- David A. FranczykDavid FranczykDavid A. "Dave" Franczyk is the President and a councilmember of the Buffalo Common Council, which is the representative legislative branch of the government of Buffalo, New York...
- Common Council President, Fillmore District - Richard A. Fontana - Majority Leader, Lovejoy District
- Michael LoCurto - Delaware District
- Darius G. Pridgen - Ellicott District
- David A. Rivera - President Pro Tempore, Niagara District
- Demone A. Smith - Masten District
- Joseph Golombek Jr.- North District
- Bonnie E. Russell - University District
- Michael Kearns - 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.
In practice, there has been a majority leader even though all members of the council are from the same political party; this is justified by a local law approved in November 2002.
All seats are up for reelection in 2011.