Claxton Named Deputy Mayor as Catalina Doesn’t Get Way
Peekskill Councilwoman Drew Claxton will continue to serve as deputy mayor after being unanimously selected last week by the Common Council.
Claxton, the longest serving member of the council, was reelected to a new four-year term in November. Her fellow Democrats on the council pointed to the rules of the Order of Precedence that stipulate the most experienced member should be deputy mayor as the primary reason for giving her that designation.
“The people of Peekskill will feel comfortable that we’re going with the Order of Precedence with the person with the longest seniority and experience,” said Councilman Darren Rigger.
However, new Mayor Frank Catalina, a Republican, said past mayors were always allowed to select their own deputy and he asked the council to give him the same courtesy.
“It is our opinion that this ceremonial position as deputy mayor should be the choice of the new mayor,” said Councilman Vincent Vesce, who, along with Councilman Joe Torres, were elected to the council with Catalina.
“Mr. Catalina should be able to pick whoever he wants as deputy mayor,” Torres said.
Not so, according to Claxton, who maintained the Order of Precedence under the city’s charter was clear in how the process should work.
“It is a council decision by the charter,” she said. “We all said when we were sworn in that we would uphold the charter of the City of Peekskill.”
The primary role of the deputy mayor is to fill the mayor’s shoes when he is out of town or unable to attend events.
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