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Pecoraro announces candidacy in NT

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Sat, Jun 13th 2015 06:25 am

Current city Alderman-at-Large Robert Pecoraro announced June 5 he will seek his first full term on the North Tonawanda Common Council. Pecoraro was named to the council in February, after Malcolm Needler resigned to become the part-time Niagara County personnel officer.

Pecoraro, a 57-year-old retired colonel, served over 30 years on active duty in the United States Air Force and commanded units at the detachment, squadron, and group levels. He was a results-oriented leader and manager who achieved the rank of colonel due to his sustained outstanding performance in command, operations, staff duties, and academics.

Specific responsibilities were diversified, from commanding an airbase in Spain supporting expeditionary operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to commissioning quality leaders for the USAF. Today, he is putting these strengths to great use in moving North Tonawanda in the right direction where no problem is too big to solve.

Pecoraro grew up in North Tonawanda and credits his family and friends for his success today. He lives with his wife, Laura. While serving on active duty, Pecoraro always came home to his roots to visit his family and is pleased to continue his service to the community with his main focus on quality of life initiatives for all citizens while ensuring economic growth and infrastructure improvements. He serves on the Mayor's Committee as a city government liaison to the North Tonawanda School Board to ensure shared services while saving tax dollars.

He is excited to be finishing up the Webster Street development and taking those lessons identified and applying it to the economic development of Oliver Street to guide it back to a thriving business district and stand-alone destination. In addition, he is proud to have acted on the movement of the Ivy Lea Construction headquarters to North Tonawanda along with their 42 employees with an estimated increase of 10 to 15 employees over the next 18 months.

He is an active member of the Niagara Military Affairs Council to support the growth and development of the Niagara Falls Reserve Station and its important economic impact to the citizens of North Tonawanda.

In addition, because of his unique understanding of the Civil Air Patrol, the auxiliary of the USAF, Pecoraro joined and quickly became the Western New York group commander with geographic reach from Jamestown to Niagara Falls, commanding 250 adults and cadets through six squadrons with an aviation focus specifically centered on aerospace education, cadet development and emergency services.

In addition, Pecoraro is secretary of the Western New York Military Officers Association of America, vice president of the North Tonawanda History Museum board of trustees, and holds active memberships in the American Legion at the Sikora Post, the Air Force Association, the Erie Niagara Sunrise Exchange Club of Tonawanda, and is a member of Abiding Savior Lutheran Church on Ruie Road.

Pecoraro received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Canisius College, a Master of Science degree in management and human relations from Abilene Christian University, and a Master of Arts degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College.

He has been married to his wife, Laura, for almost 30 years and has three children. His oldest son, Edward, a Canisius College graduate, is on active duty serving as a captain in the U.S. Army in Fort Wainwright, Alaska; his daughter, Lillian, is a graduate of Cornell University and is a statistician living in Charlottesville, Virginia; and his youngest son, Vincent, is a graduate of the State University of New York at Geneseo and is a journalist living in Chatham.

Pecoraro is seeking the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines for the November election.

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