Lockport Common Council
Five incumbents seek re-election
Six seats on Lockport Common Council are at stake next week
LOCKPORT — Unlike two years ago when only one Common Council seat was contested in Lockport’s general election, there are races for all six seats Tuesday.
Voters will get to register their verdict on most incumbents, as Council President John Lombardi III, R-5th Ward, is the only one not running.
Republican Joseph C. Kibler, of Cleveland Place, is seeking his fifth term as alderman at large, with a challenge coming from Democrat Anita Mullane, of Lindhurst Drive.
Kibler, 75, is a retired banker and longtime sports official.
“I really enjoy helping people, solving problems,” he said. “I return all phone calls. You may not like the answer I give, but you’re going to get an answer.”
Mullane, 51, a math teaching assistant at North Park Middle School, said the city needs “fair and equal assessments.”
She supports the Council’s plan to hire a firm to update the real estate property inventory before a citywide revaluation, probably in 2011.
Kibler said, “I want to keep Community Pride going,” referring to the weekend work program for low-level criminals. “It keeps kids out of jail on weekends, and some of them do turn out all right.”
Mullane said the Council is weak in long-term vision. “Don’t just think about next year. Have a plan for the future,” she urged. “Sometimes you just have to find a way to do things.”
In the 1st Ward, incumbent Republican Richelle J. Pasceri faces Democrat William A. Richardson, of Allen Street.
Pasceri, 32, of Market Street, “a full-time mom and part-time waitress,” pushed for full curbside recycling this year. She’s not giving up even though the Council dropped recycling from the 2010 budget.
“Recycle, recycle, recycle, and do a comprehensive garbage plan,” she said when asked for her goals for her second term. “I want to see people get service at a fair rate.”
Richardson, 51, known as “Bill the Butcher” from Washburn Street Meat Market, is making his third run for the seat.
“I’m really not out there campaigning because last time [in 2005] I fell off that porch and shattered my leg,” he said.
Richardson asserted the city is spending too much money on the Molson Canal Concert Series. “Let the promoter pay for the stage,” he said.
In the 2nd Ward, Republican Amanda L. Alexander is trying for her second term against Democrat Jack L. Smith Jr.
Smith, 43, of Waterman Street, a block club president and heating and air-conditioning technician, said housing blight is a big issue in the ward.
He blamed “slumlords, absentee landlords and those who just don’t care. We have to make them accountable.”
“We still have problems with landlords who are out of town. But people are being brought to court and made to do their part,” said Alexander, 48, of Cave Street, who owns a charter boat company in Olcott.
Alderwoman Flora M. McKenzie, D-3rd Ward, is seeking her third term against Republican Steven R. Calhoun, of Bacon Street, five-year president of Lockport Little Loop Football.
McKenzie, 54, a Delphi retiree, is the only African-American ever elected to a city office in Lockport. She represents the Council on the Police Board.
She works with an organization called Young Men of Character to try to lift up African- American youth.
McKenzie said she is pushing for a citywide cleanup program and an Adopt-a-Street program.
“I haven’t seen anything of physical value that my opposition has done,” retorted Calhoun, 45, owner of Steve’s Custom Auto.
He said he spearheaded the successful makeover of the football field in Outwater Park.
He said many other facilities there are “in complete disrepair” and vowed to do something about it if elected.
In the 4th Ward, incumbent Democrat Patrick W. Schrader, of Gaffney Road, is facing Republican Andrew D. Chapman, of Pine Street.
Schrader, 68, a Delphi retiree, is going after his sixth full term. This year, he’s been pushing for a user fee to pay for garbage and recycling service, forcing tax-exempt properties to pay, too. He also has been trying for years for a comprehensive rezoning of South Transit Street.
“I take great pride in what I do. I enjoy helping the people of the 4th Ward. I’m out every day someplace,” Schrader said.
Chapman, 50, owns IK Systems, a security equipment firm. He charges the city is minimizing the problem of water loss from leaking mains.
“If we truly have a 90 percent efficiency, our costs should go down,” Chapman said. “If we’re at 70 percent, I’d be greatly surprised.”
Chapman also said he’s against replacing the closed downtown parking ramp, saying there’s no parking shortage. “They need to build an amphitheater down by the locks,” he said.
Contenders in the 5th Ward are city Republican Chairman Kenneth M. Genewick and Democrat Scott H. Hughes, a teacher and soccer coach at Royalton-Hartland High School.
Genewick, 36, who said he will step aside as GOP chairman if he is elected, lives on Harrison Avenue and is director of sales for Weinberg Campus in Getzville.
Genewick said, “I would like to figure out a way to streamline government. With the way the economy is, we have to look at every department for more efficiency.”
“Since I teach history, I think it’s important people get involved,” said Hughes, 44, of Davison Road. “It’s almost a ‘put my money where my mouth is’ kind of thing.”
He said he’d push for recycling and infrastructure improvements if elected. Hughes also promised to be accessible.
“Why else would you run for office if you’re not going to be accessible to the people who elected you?” he asked.
Coming Thursday: Races in Wheatfield. tprohaska@buffnews.com
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