Rome city official to fill Brenda McMonagle's seat in Oneida County Legislature

The City of Rome Public Safety Commissioner Kenneth White will fill the vacancy on the Oneida County Board of Legislators left by the death of Brenda McMonagle on July 27.

The legislature approved White, who was nominated by the City of Rome Republican Committee, for the Twelfth District seat at their meeting on Wednesday. White, who was sworn in after the vote, will hold the seat until Dec. 31, 2024.

“I’m excited to step into this new role as a county legislator,” said White, a lifelong Rome resident, in a statement.  “I am ready to work with my legislative colleagues and the residents of the 12th District to meet the needs of our communities and build a path to a brighter and more prosperous future for every Oneida County resident.”

About Kenneth White

The 12th District, which is entirely within the city of Rome, includes districts 1, 2 and 5 in Ward 3; districts 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Ward 4; and districts 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Ward 5.

White began his public safety career as a military policeman in the Army National Guard from 1985 to 1991 where he served in the 107 ^th Military Police Company in Utica and was deployed overseas to serve in Operation Desert Shield/Storm.

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He joined the Rome City Police Department as a patrolman in 1988, working his way up to watch commander before his retirement in 2014.

White then worked in public safety at Utica University before taking over the commissioner’s job.

White is married to Tami and has three children —Gabrielle, Zackery and Emily — and two grandchildren, Francis VI and Sophia.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Rome city official to fill Brenda McMonagle's seat in Oneida County Legislature