Mayor Witte's Bio
Linda Witte, Olean’s first woman mayor, took office January 4, 2010. A Democrat, she began her political career as an alderman in Ward 1, serving from 2000 to 2002, when she became involved in some neighborhood issues.
These were issues that affected homeowners and residents near the hospital’s planned area of expansion, and the children at a local elementary school which is located on a heavily trafficked street in her ward.
Mayor Witte also served as a Cattaraugus County District 10 Legislator for six years beginning in 2004. In November 2010 she defeated incumbent Republican Mayor David Carucci, receiving 1,921 votes to his 1,726 votes. She won four of seven of the city’s wards, including her own and Mr. Carucci’s.
As alderman, she chaired the Public Works Committee for one year and was also a member of several other committees, including the Fire and Safety Committee. She was a member of the Brownfields Task Force and the 20-Year Comprehensive Plan Review Committee. In keeping with her commitment to economic development and urban growth in her city she began regular attendance of the Urban Renewal Agency’s Board meetings that continues to this day.
As a Cattaraugus County Legislator she spent four years in leadership positions. Two of those were spent as Minority Leader and the other two were spent as Minority Whip. She served for three years as the vice-chairman of the Finance Committee. She served four years as vice-chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee, six years on the Senior Services Committee and on a Quality Assurance team for both county nursing homes; five years on the Human Services Committee. Mayor Witte was also a member of the Development and Agriculture and Fleet Management Committees.
At the end of 2009 she relinquished her remaining time on the Legislature to devote her full attention to the city administration.
She has been at work during the first three months of her term establishing several new committees that began meeting in March to tackle some specific problems areas.
Neighborhood decline, residents’ safety, crime and volunteer recruitment will be addressed by the Neighborhood Preservation Committee to revitalize neighborhoods and display a police presence (along with the Mayor, members are: Lila Ervay, Casey Jones, Paula Snyder and Joyce Melfi).
The Zoning Update Committee is tasked with making some long-overdue revisions to the city’s Zoning Ordinance. The Committee is advised by the Community Development Department, Code Enforcement, and City Attorney. Members are Alderman Casey Jones, Chairman; Alderman Frank Steffen; LaDorna Fox and Bob Moshier of the Zoning Board; Craig Polson and Tom Barnes of the Planning Board.
Mayor Witte has also begun financial planning exercises by convening a Fleet Management Committee and a Five Year Capital Plan Committee to engage the efforts of the aldermen and appropriate staff to meet equipment, transportation and financing needs of the municipal government as it serves the public.
On a day-to-day basis Mayor Witte has been getting to know the staff and held her first monthly Department Heads’ meeting March 5. She personally delivered Valentine’s Day gifts to all the city employees and has taking a great deal of time getting to know everyone. She quickly grasped the workings of the city and has made a smooth transition. Additional information is available the Mayor’s page on the city’s website, www.cityofolean.org.
Mayor Witte is a registered nurse, working for both St. Francis (18 years) and Olean General Hospital (17 years), and was the breastfeeding educator for nursing moms in the county’s WIC program for five years. She continues her nursing duties on a per-diem basis. Her passion for obstetrics led her to become a certified doula. She is a member of the New York State Nurses Association and was recently featured in the organization’s magazine for her groundbreaking election win while pursuing a professional life.
She has remained active as a volunteer for many years. She started “Penny’s Garden” in memory of her slain nursing colleague Penny Brown. She is the co-keeper of the City of Olean’s Children’s Garden. She has volunteered for many years on rehabilitation of low-income housing with the organization Rebuilding Together. She is a founding member of the Warm Hearts Blanket Drive for senior citizens, and also delivers Meals on Wheels to several seniors every Thursday. She is a member of the local Historical Association.
She holds degrees from St. Francis School of Practical Nursing and Jamestown Community College, in both nursing and social sciences, and was president of her class at JCC.
Mayor Witte is married to Dr. Gilbert Witte. She is the mother of four children, Mandy Bushnell, Melissa McAvoy, Michael Witte, Matthew Witte.