LOCKPORT — Common Council President David Wohleben will ask voters to return him to City Hall next year, representing the Fourth Ward in Lockport’s administration, he announced this afternoon.
Laying out an agenda focused on reducing government’s costs to taxpayers and addressing concerns about blight, Wohleben promised to “continue to provide the effective leadership I learned in the Air Force, and the service I owe this community.”
Wohleben, who chairs the Common Council’s key Finance Committee, has worked to deliver needed initiatives and policy changes that have led to an upgrade in the city’s financial outlook in the bond markets.
“Getting our city back on firm financial ground has been the principal goal for myself and Mayor Anne McCaffrey,” Wohleben said. “In just over a year, I have been able to accomplish some of the goals I have set for myself and the city when I first asked the Fourth Ward voters for their support. For the first time in several years, the City’s financial outlook is positive and improving. Standard & Poor’s raised the city’s bond rating to ‘stable’ in 2016, and that’s a good foundation to build on.”
Wohleben is working aggressively to secure grants to target improvements in quality-of-life issues, he said.
“I have been working to find grant funding for infrastructure improvements, needed repairs for our veterans’ monument and to combat Zombie Homes in all parts of the city,” Wohleben told supporters at his Lincoln Avenue home today. “I will continue to seek ways to lessen the tax burden for our city residents while providing the quality services they deserve.”
Wohleben pointed to successes in securing various downtown development grants by the city administration in the past year as proof that the administration’s focus is getting results.
“It has been an honor to serve the residents of the Fourth Ward as their representative for the past year and a half, and I hope to continue to work with the department heads and city’s administration for another term,” Wohleben said. “I have a proven record of success in the initiatives that I have moved through City Hall, and I would like to continue to work hard for the betterment of our community.”
Wohleben is Council President and chairman of the Finance and Events Planning committees, co-chairman of the Veterans’ Committee, Council liaison to the Fire Board, and Council liaison to the Greater Lockport Development Corporation. He also serves on the Audit, Personnel, Property Management, and Traffic Advisory committees.
Additionally, he created and chairs the Zombie Home Task Force, which has been effective in the fight against zombie homes and blight throughout the city.
A retired Command Chief Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force, Wohleben also serves on the Board of Directors of the Historic Palace Theatre and is a member of the Lockport Exchange Club. He said his community involvement motivates him to get results for his neighbors from city government.
“While there has been significant success, I recognize there is still much work to do,” Wohleben said. “I hope the voters will allow me the opportunity to continue our progress and to continue working to give our hardworking taxpayers the kind of city they deserve.”
Wohleben is the endorsed candidate of the Republican, Independence and Conservative parties.
