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Dunkirk Mayor-elect Kate Wdowiasz announced choices for her administration during an interview with the OBSERVER Wednesday.
Wdowiasz wants Jamestown lawyer Elliot Raimondo to take over as city attorney. The current city attorney, Michael Bobseine, said recently he is seriously considering running for a New York State Assembly seat.
Raimondo was Jamestown City Corporation Counsel the past four years. "He's more than qualified... Elliot's a younger attorney, really knows his stuff. Just a breath of fresh air for the city," said Wdowiasz, formerly the city paralegal.
"He worked for an insurance company so he's well versed in insurance litigation," she added. Raimondo is also experienced in negotiating union contracts, she noted.
Lillian Divine is tapped as interim city clerk. Wdowiasz said Divine, a retired clerk, has agreed to step in until a permanent hire is made.
Wdowiasz was tight-lipped about current City Clerk Edwin Ramos, saying simply that he will not be part of her administration.
Ellen Luczkowiak is Wdowiasz's pick for city fiscal affairs officer. The mayor-elect said Marsha Beach, now in that post, will be staying on to assist as her health allows her to.
Luczkowiak has nearly 40 years of experience as a bank branch manager in Dunkirk for HSBC, First Niagara and Key Bank. "She sits on several boards as an auditor so she's able to assist us with our audits," Wdowiasz said.
Randy Woodbury and Vince DeJoy will stay Department of Public Works Director and Planning and Development Director, respectively. Wdowiasz wants to retain them from Mayor Wilfred Rosas' administration.
"Vince has been a great asset... with helping us get the DRI (Dunkirk's $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative award) and I would like to have him follow through because he has experience in it," she said.
Wdowiasz's selections are subject to ratification by the Common Council. She said they will be in the council's next meeting packet.