Hear us roar: County lawmakers to form bi-partisan women's caucus

With the number of women in the Niagara County Legislature rebounding from a low of one to an all-time high of four, a bi-partisan group of female county lawmakers will announce the formation of the Legislature's Women's Caucus at a press conference prior to Tuesday night's Legislature meeting in Lockport.

With all four women in the County Legislature joining as founding members, the new body will actually be larger than the Legislature's Minority Caucus - and has the distinction of providing a voice for a majority of the county's population.

The result of consultations between Democratic Legislator Brittany Catchpole of the Town of Niagara and Republican Legislator Chereé J. Copelin of LaSalle, the new caucus will seek to protect women's rights and further women's interests in the Legislature.

Catchpole and Copelin will be joined by their colleagues, Renae Kimble and Kari Bullman - both Democrats of Niagara Falls, in forming the Women's Caucus.

An ebullient Catchpole said she hoped the caucus would "bring a woman's intuition - or, in this case, four women's intuitions - to the lawmaking process."

The Women's Caucus will also formally organize Tuesday, and is expected to elect veteran lawmaker Kimble chairwoman.

"The Women's Caucus can be an instrument for positive change in Niagara County, and we certainly will be looking to have an impact over the next several months," Kimble said. "Long-term, we want the caucus to serve as a vehicle to encourage more women to run for political office and become more vocal regarding the political process."

WHO: County Legislators Renae Kimble, D-Niagara Falls; Brittany Catchpole, D-Niagara; Chereé J. Copelin, R-LaSalle; and Kari Ann Bullman, D-Niagara Falls.                   

WHAT: Formally announcing the formation of the Niagara County Legislature's Women's Caucus.              

WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 6, 6 p.m.

WHERE: Niagara County Courthouse Rotunda, 175 Hawley St., Lockport.