Local News
HAPPENING NOW: Pasceri named Council president
First Ward Alderman Richelle Pasceri is the Common Council’s new president.
Pasceri, a Republican going into her second term of elected office, will take over the post Jan. 1.
Appointed by Mayor Michael Tucker, Pasceri is the first woman in the city’s 145-year history to have the post. At age 32, she’s likely among the youngest aldermen ever to lead the Council as well.
“I’m really excited that the mayor has placed his confidence in me, that he thinks I can do the job,” Pasceri said. “I thank him for the opportunity and I thank the people of the 1st Ward too. Without them, this wouldn’t be possible.”
Tucker announced his pick for president mid-Friday. He broke with conventional wisdom in choosing Pasceri, who is the least tenured of three returning aldermen in the 2010 Council.
“(Pasceri) has really demonstrated some good leadership skills, especially in the (press for) recycling. It’s a citywide issue and she did a remarkable job,” Tucker said. “We’re going into tough times next year and I trust Richelle to lead the Council through them.”
The Council president’s job is to run the “committee of the whole” — meetings of the aldermen outside Council chambers — and represent the City of Lockport in the mayor’s absence. Pasceri will lead the Council’s work sessions, manage its business agenda, represent the city officially at various functions and, when Tucker is away for an extended time, step in as acting mayor.
Current President John Lombardi III, 5th ward alderman, did not run for re-election. He’s leaving the Council on Dec. 31.
Pasceri also will be chairman of the Council’s personnel committee, which oversees matters involving city employees.
As she’s fulfilling the Council president’s duties, Pasceri said, she’ll be backing Tucker’s push to make city government more responsive to residents’ desires.
“My goal, for the 1st Ward and the city as a whole, is to keep the Council on the path to more efficient services and leaner government,” she said. “Everybody is begging for more transparent government; I think the mayor has done a good job with that, so I want to follow his footsteps.”
Pasceri and her husband, Nick, are residents of Market Street. They have two daughters, age 3 and 7 months. Pasceri also works part-time at Danny Sheehan’s Steak House.
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