John Kirkpatrick Appointed to White Plains Council
Just a week after David Buchwald was sworn in as a NYS assemblyman, leaving his seat on the White Plains Common Council vacant, the six remaining council members, including mayor Thomas Roach selected a new member to fill his spot.
Hand over bible, Democrat John B. Kirkpatrick was sworn in Monday night during the first common council meeting of 2013. With the selection the council remains exclusively Democratic.
Kirkpatrick said once he heard that a council member was set to leave for the state assembly, he informed Roach and the other members that he’d be interested in serving if they felt he was the right person.
“They certainly made no commitment to me,” Kirkpatrick said, prior to his official appointment. “I’ve been active in the city and active in the Democratic Party so hopefully they knew me and decided I’d be the right person.”
Kirkpatrick’s tenure on the council expires on Dec. 31 2013.
Kirkpatrick is currently an attorney and partner at the White Plains law firm Oxman Tulis Whyatt and Geiger LLP. The firm practices in many areas of law with specialization in zoning and land use, environmental, real estate and government.
Kirkpatrick has often been on the other side of the gate during public meetings, representing developers who had petitions before the council. Kirkpatrick stated during the meeting he no longer represents any businesses that involve White Plains.
Council president Beth Smayda said Kirkpatrick’s background is what made him an excellent choice between a “number of candidates.”
“I think the skills that Mr. Kirkpatrick brings to the position are very timely right now with the zoning and planning and conservation background,” Smayda said in an interview. “As we come out of the recession, we expect to be reviewing a lot more in the way of development proposals and things like that.”
Kirkpatrick said among his goals on the council include pedestrian safety downtown, finance and taxes balanced with open space preservation and environmental issues like reducing the amount of paper used by the city.
Kirkpatrick and his wife moved from Ithaca to White Plains almost 40 years ago and have been in the city ever since. Although he’s been in the city for many years, he said he never expected to serve on the common council.
“I’ve always represented governments and neighborhoods and applicants but never thought I’d actually sit on the board,” Kirkpatrick said.
