Bucci Back on Council

Residents of Ward 4 have an active member on the City Council once again after Superior Court Judge Sarah Taft-Carter lifted the restraining order that stripped Councilwoman Maria Bucci of her voting rights yesterday, ending a long legal process that started when a former councilman resigned his seat.

Cindy Fogarty, Bucci's lawyer, said she was "pleased" with the judge's action.

Judge Taft-Carter issued her order barring Bucci from voting at a time when the Board of Elections hadn't yet made its decision whether Pelletier automatically vacated his seat when he moved out of Ward 4 and into Ward 1 last summer.

That decision was important because Pelletier had already moved back into Ward 4, but in the midst of the controversy, he resigned, citing personal reasons. That gave the City Council the opportunity to appoint Bucci, citing Pelletier's resignation date.

He resigned close enough to the election that the council believed it had City Charter permission to appoint Bucci to the empty council seat, avoiding a special election, especially with a general election and City Council race coming up in just a few months.

A coalition of people who wanted a special election led by Republican City Committee Chairman Bruce Saccoccio disagreed and filed suit in Superior Court. Many felt it gave the Democratic majority an unfair advantage, since they would appoint someone likely to run in November. (Bucci has since announced she will be running.)

The entire controversy began when the city's Board of Canvassers received an anonymous tip that Pelletier had moved out of Ward 4.