[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 9, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S6302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RETIREMENT OF GEORGE K. ARTHUR
Mr. MOYNIHAN. Madam President, yesterday's Buffalo News reported the
forthcoming retirement of Buffalo, NY, Common Council President George
K. Arthur, after four decades of public service. Mr. Arthur, who has
been Common Council President since 1983, is a distinguished public
servant who has given much to the people of Buffalo. I know I speak for
the people of Buffalo in offering George Arthur great thanks and
congratulations. He will indeed be missed.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the article
from the Buffalo News be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
[From the Buffalo News, May 8, 1995]
Political Leaders Praise Arthur's Enduring Legacy
(By Anthony Cardinale)
Geroge K. Arthur will leave a legacy of lasting achievement
as Common Council president when he steps down on Dec. 31,
several political observers said Sunday.
Never mind the decade of Common Council friction with then-
Mayor James D. Griffin, who reserved his most stinging
invective for the Council president and took particular
delight in defeating Arthur's challenge for the mayor's
office 10 years ago.
Arthur's proudest hour as a politician was when he beat the
Democratic incumbent for the Democratic Party's endorsement
in 1985, these observers agreed. And he would have ousted
Griffin from City Hall, they added, if it weren't for the
votes siphoned off by Nicholas Costantino as an independent
candidate.
Arthur, 62, who announced over the weekend that he won't
seek re-election, was first elected to the former Erie County
Board of Supervisors in 1963. He was elected Ellicott
District Council member in 1969, then Council member at
large, and he has been Council president since 1983.
``I believe it's probably the longest political career of
anybody in our area,'' said Vincent J. Sorrentino, Erie
County Democratic chairman.
``He was part of the emergence of the black community into
the mainstream of the political process in our community--he
and (Council President) Delmar Mitchell a little before
him,'' said Joseph F. Crangel, Sorrentino's predecessor at
the party helm.
``His leadership was instrumental in helping much of the
rebirth of Buffalo,'' said Arthur O. Eve, deputy Assembly
speaker, who pointed to measures to improve Buffalo's housing
stock and quality of life.
Accolades for Arthur even came from Council Member Alfred
T. Coppola of the Delaware District, who has often clashed
with him--and who now wants to succeed him as Council
president.
``We've disagreed on various projects, but we've also
agreed on some,'' said Coppola, who has asked Sorrentino for
his backing.
``George has always been a unique person,'' Coppola went
on. ``He's always been a gentleman. There were times when
George pulled us together. He'd say, `Let's sit around a
breakfast table and let it all hang out on a Saturday
morning.' Those were terrific meetings.''
Arthur's ability to bring together dissenting parties was
the common theme Sunday of those who have worked with him
over the years.
``George did an excellent job in helping to forge together
a very diverse group of men and women into a fairly cohesive
body,'' Eve said. ``That takes a lot of talent, patience and
compassion,.''
Eve said he will work to help Council Majority Leader James
W. Pitts become the next Council president.
``We certainly will miss (Arthur) as the Council
president,'' Eve said, ``but I'm in hopes that Jim Pitts will
emerge as his replacement and the tradition that George
Arthur started will continue and hopefully will grow.''
Sorrentino, who reportedly supports Pitts, also credited
Arthur as a consensus builder.
``He had a great quality of being able to bring consensus
into very hostile situations --especially during the Griffin
years,'' he said. ``His leadership will be missed at these
difficult times.''
Sorrentino said he recently had breakfast with Arthur and
learned then that he had all but decided to retire after this
year.
``And I said, `if you do, we certainly expect you to play a
role in the campaign.' While he'd be retiring as president of
the Common Council, he's not retiring from politics.''
All four observers rejected the notion that Arthur had
slowed down in recent years, no longer the civil rights
firebrand who once joined the plaintiffs in the school
desegregation suit and supported two other discrimination
suits against the city's fire and police force.
``Very often with age comes wisdom-- you're more prudent
how you express things,'' said Crangle. ``You put things in
more perspective and focus than you did when you first
started out.''
Crangle said he greatly admires Arthur for standing up
against Griffin.
``He was one of the towering strengths of the Democratic
Party in City Hall,'' he said. ``He did not get intimidated;
he didn't in any way yield. And many times it was very
lonely.''
Coppola said that was when Arthur's ``professionalism''
shined brightest.
``There were moments when George was the acting mayor in
some of the tougher years when Jimmy Griffin was really
playing hardball,'' Coppola said. ``And George never took
advantage of the situation, especially when the mayor was out
of town.''
The former mayor was asked Sunday for his comment on
Arthur's decision to retire.
``I wish him luck,'' Griffin said. ``I wish him and his
family the best.''
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