A West Leechburg resident is retiring from public office after serving the borough for 40 years.

Jim Gallucci, 72, has served as mayor for 36 years. Prior to being elected, he served on council four years.

Long ago, a friend urged him to run for mayor after leading a successful write-in campaign for him to serve on council.

After 40 years serving the public, Gallucci is going to take some time for himself.

“I’d like to spend more time at my camp in Ohio,” Gallucci said. “I figure my service to the community will be 40 years, and now I’ll be completely retired.”

Gallucci was born in New Kensington and grew up in Lower Burrell.

He graduated from Clarion University and taught social studies for 28 years in the Burrell School District. A stroke forced him to retire early from teaching.

Gallucci didn’t step down as mayor even when diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer.

“He’s worked through it all these years,” said Ellen Gallucci, Jim’s wife of almost 50 years.

As mayor, Gallucci heads the West Leechburg Police Department. He was instrumental in implementing a Crime Watch program for the borough, and it’s still operating.

“A lot of those programs are gone, but we still have about eight members on that board,” Gallucci said.

Gallucci was instrumental in building an addition onto the borough building in the early 1990s. He helped write numerous grants for the borough.

He said supporting the police has always been important, and he has several family members involved in law enforcement.

“It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do, and I always wanted to be involved in the police aspect,” Gallucci said of his decision to run for mayor.

Past mayoral accomplishments include serving as president of the Westmoreland County Borough Associations and the Association of Mayors of the Boroughs of Pennsylvania.

In 2016, he was named Mayor of the Year by the Association of Mayors of the Boroughs of Pennsylvania.

He served with the West Leechburg VFD for almost 12 years and coached football at Leechburg Area High School for numerous years.

“This is a great community to live in and raise a family,” Gallucci said. “I’m very proud to have served this borough for as long as I have.”

He gives a shout-out to former West Leechburg leaders Dom Troya, Bill Hohos and Clarence Bell.

“They were my confidants and former leaders of this community,” Gallucci said. “I also want to mention the councils during my tenure and how well they worked for our community.”

Gallucci said a fun mayoral perk is his ability to marry people.

“I’ve married about 10 couples,” Gallucci said, “and to the best of my knowledge, only one couple isn’t still together.”

Gallucci said he’s hopeful someone with a lot of enthusiasm will decide to run for mayor this spring.

“I would prefer it be someone younger, so they could get a feel of what it’s like to run a government,” Gallucci said. “It’s makes no difference whether it’s a male or female, just whoever feels they can do the job.”

The annual operating budget in West Leechburg is $600,000.

Gallucci said he frequently has to explain what he said is a common misconception about mayors.

“It’s that they think we have more power than we do,” he said. “I don’t vote on council matters.”

He said fielding complaints from residents is the hardest part about being mayor.

“Residents can complain and not want to come forward and not take action,” Gallucci said. “I wish more people would get involved.”

He encourages residents to make time for attending borough meetings.

“Come to council meetings and see how things are done,” he said.

Ellen noted she never thought she’d be a mayor’s wife for decades.

“I didn’t really think he would serve this long,” Ellen said. “Believe me, they don’t do it for the pay. I’m absolutely proud of him.”

He’s paid $1,100 annually for his service.

Ellen said her husband will soon have plenty of time for a few of his favorite things.

“He loves a good steak and anything homemade Italian — like gnocchi,” she said.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)