LOCKPORT — A Rochester woman was the unintended recipient of multiple requests from Lockport residents that “she” stop making political robocalls to them this week.

A robocalling blitz, commissioned by the Niagara County Democratic Committee, is under way. The recorded messages, spoken by a woman, are aimed at Republican Mayor Michael Tucker.

A city resident called the US&J on Tuesday to complain about the number of calls she’d taken at her home, their negative tone, and the fact that when she called the number that popped up on her caller ID to request the calls stop, she ended up talking to a woman in Rochester who knew nothing about them.

As it turns out, Barbara in Rochester has the same Verizon-assigned cell phone number as the Democrats’ robocalling phone, but in the 585 area code.

Barbara, who declined to give her last name, she he took 15 calls from Lockport-area residents Monday and Tuesday, a few hang-ups and the rest asking to be removed from the robo calling list.

Some callers assumed she’s the one who made and sent the robo messages, and they were not happy with her, she said.

“I’m just the default number when they dial,” Barbara said. “I’m out of Rochester and I have nothing to do with politics in Lockport.”

Barbara said a Verizon representative informed her that since the seven-digit base number is not active in the 716 area code, anyone who calls it is prompted to redial using the 585 area code, where it is active. She was informed the only way to make the calls stop would be to change her phone number.

Barbara asked that her last name, and her number, not be published because she doesn’t want to be involved in a mayoral race 60 miles away, especially one that sounds so heated.

“I certainly feel for all these people having to receive these (robo) calls. They’re pretty fiery, and debasing, from what people have told me,” she said. “And I really don’t want to get more calls either, any nasty calls; I’m just an average person.”

Verizon’s New York media spokesman could not be reached Wednesday to confirm the company’s counsel to Barbara.

Niagara County Democratic Committee Chairman Dan Rivera said he was unaware of the woman’s problem. He said he’d contact the vendor that the committee hired to make the robocalls, but then quickly suggested whatever is happening to the woman is Verizon’s fault, not the vendor’s or the committee’s.

“We’re not causing anybody any grief. Thank you for being so concerned about somebody in Rochester,” Rivera added sarcastically.

A variety of robocall recipients said they received the same anti-Tucker message two, three or more times in the same day.

Rivera suggested the frequency is neither inappropriate nor unusual — and he complained it’s only Tucker supporters who are making a stink over the calls. He’s heard that his personal cell phone number is published “all over Facebook” on message boards encouraging people to call him and demand their phone numbers be removed from the call list, he said.

“(The Democratic committee) believes they’re factually correct, and if somebody is upset, we are sorry,” he said. “I think people are making something out of this because they just don’t like the message.”

One of the pre-recorded messages claims Tucker was the recipient of a large campaign donation from Modern Disposal Service, the city’s new refuse hauler. Another asks who’s “running” the city, Tucker, the Harris Beach law firm or, perhaps, deputy city attorney/Niagara County GOP Chairman Mike Norris. Yet another asks why Tucker is “violating the law” by not getting a 2012 city budget in place by early October, as the city charter ordains.

Tucker said he’s fielded complaints about the robocalls, albeit mostly from supporters warning him what was being said and how often.

The messages aren’t surprising to him, he said — but he is taking exception to the claim that he took campaign money from Modern. That isn’t an opinion like “who’s running the city?,” it’s just plain false, he said.

A search of New York state campaign donations from 2003 until Sept. 30 of this year do not reveal any donations from Modern to the Friends to Elect Mike Tucker Committee, the mayor’s campaign committee.

Some of the robocalls were placed to city phones on Monday and Tuesday, Tucker said. Building Inspection received six recorded messages and three live calls; the wastewater treatment office received a call; and a public works supervisor received one on his city cell phone.

A Wheatfield resident complained of receiving a robocall about the Lockport mayor’s race too.

“Robocalls are par for the course in elections now, of course; it’s the number, and the tone of them, that people seem mad about,” Tucker said. “And, personally, I think bombarding City Hall is just sloppy.”

Rivera said anyone who wants to request their phone number be removed from the Democrats’ Lockport robocall list can contact him. His phone number is 381-2482; and his e-mail address is ntdemocrats@aol.com.