Belmont NY – On March 13, the Allegany County Board of
Legislators were informed by fellow Legislator David Pullen from Houghton that
he would be stepping down from his position. Mr. Pullen has served as a
Legislator representing District 1 which is the Northwest section of Allegany
since January 1, 2006.
Mr. Pullen asked for privilege of the floor and read a
prepared statement to his colleagues which highlighted his time on the Board
and shared some of the accomplishments the Board has achieved during that time.
The three main projects that he highlighted, which were ones he spent a great
deal of time on, included:
• Completion
of the Courthouse Addition and Renovation Project which was completed at a cost
of $14 million, rather than the initial State estimate of $35 million.
• The
Broadband Project which is now near completion.
• Labor
negotiations, and the many hours he spent working on the four separate union
contracts in two cycles. The Board has recently approved the eighth Collective
Bargaining Agreement that Mr. Pullen worked on.
He praised his fellow Legislators with whom he served, both
the current members and those who he served with in the past as well as his
wife Nancy Jo who has been a “Legislative widow” for the past eleven years and
thanked her for her support.
David Pullen has served on Public Safety (Vice Chair), Human
Services (Vice Chair), Planning & Economic Development (Vice Chair),
Facilities & Communications (Chair), Negotiations Ad Hoc (Chair), and Ways
& Means, as well as serving on the Citizens Advisory Council to the Office
for the Aging, Cornell Cooperative Extension Board, Court Facilities Financial
Impact Ad Hoc Committee, Law Library Board of Trustees, and Radio
Communications Task Force.
Board Chairman Curt Crandall thanked Mr. Pullen for his
service to the Allegany County Board of Legislators and the people of Allegany
County and presented him with a plaque of appreciation. “David has been an
excellent County Legislator, colleague, and friend. His dedication and
commitment to this position, study of the issues, and ability to work with
others towards solutions and the betterment of our County has been exemplary,”
said Crandall.
Mr. Pullen said his private law practice, where he has
continued to work full-time in addition to serving as a Legislator, has
recently had key assistants retire, and he needs to devote more time to his
practice.
“Legislator Pullen will be missed on the Board,” said
Crandall. “The vacancy will be addressed and filled as we have in the past when
a Legislator has stepped down.” The Ways & Means Committee will field
candidates from District 1 and submit a Resolution for his replacement to the
full Board of Legislators. The appointment to fill the vacancy will be through
the end of 2017.
