Buffalo Common Council

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 9 districts: Niagara, Delaware, Masten, Ellicott, Lovejoy, Fillmore, North, University, and South. In the past, the Common Council also had a nominal number of at-large members who were elected citywide. The members of the Common Council are often referred to as Councilmen or City Councilmen even though they are probably correctly called Common Councilmen. The council has a President, President Pro Tempore, and a Majority Leader. 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").

Previously, the council was composed of 12 district representatives and three citywide at-large members. The common council President was one of the at-large councilmembers when such members existed. In 2002, the council was composed of 9 district representatives and four at-large members. The four at-large seats were eliminated during the redistricting that occurs with each census.

Members

The current Common Council members are:
*David A. Franczyk - Common Council President, Fillmore District
*Dominic J. Bonifacio Jr. - Majority Leader, Niagara District
*Michael LoCurto - Delaware District
*Brian Davis - Ellicott District
*Richard A. Fontana - Lovejoy District
*Demone A. Smith - Masten District
*Joseph Golombek Jr.- North District
*Bonnie E. Russell - President Pro Tempore, University District
*Michael Kearns - South District

All seats are up for reelection in 2007. Demone Smith was appointed to serve the remainingone year of the term of Antoine Thompson, who was elected to the New York State Senate. LoCurto was appointed this year to fill the vacancy for the remaining one year of Marc Coppola's term in the 2006 elections and successfully retained his seat despite being challenged by Republican candidate Marc Brown.

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. [cite book|title=Through The Mayors' Eyes: Buffalo, New York 1832-2005|author=Rizzo, Michael F.|date=2005|publisher=Lulu Enterprises, Inc|pages=400-5|isbn=1-4116-3757-7]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.city-buffalo.com/Home/Leadership/Common_Council Official Site]
* [http://buffaloreport.com/021031council.html History of at-large seats]