The unanimous appeals panel’s ruling was another major development in a fierce battle between Lackawanna’s mayor, Geoffrey Szymanski, and Albanna, a longtime Lackawanna resident who is also well-known as an area businessman who started a charter school. After Albanna received the majority of votes in an election for a 1st Ward councilman position in November, Szymanski and the city of Lackawanna quickly filed suit in Erie County Supreme Court in an effort to block him from taking the seat. Lackawanna, which is located just south of Buffalo, is a city of more than 18,000.
Szymanski’s legal contention has hinged on Section 14.9 of the city charter, which states that “[a] person convicted of a crime or offense involving moral turpitude shall be ineligible to assume or continue in any city office, position or employment.”
