BUFFALO, N.Y. -- There was no shortage of people ready to pay tribute to Louise Slaughter at the annual Irish Luncheon.

"She always impressed me as a real fighter, a woman of boundless energy and intellect, a very powerful voice for New York. She's certainly going to be missed," said Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, D-New York.

"She was not afraid to stand up to anybody when she saw a wrong and she wanted to right it," said Erie County Democratic Committee Chairman Jeremy Zellner.

Congressman Brian Higgins says she always knew who she was fighting for, and she knew how to fight. He says he was proud to work with her on a large number of issues.

"Domestic violence issues, issues relating to the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, she would find her pressure point, her leverage point, and she was never afraid to utilize it," said Higgins, D-26th District.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster both pointed to projects she was instrumental in bringing to fruition when the cities were in her district.

"I think what would be the capstone of achievement as congresswoman here in the City of Niagara Falls is $16.5 million Tiger II grant that made it possible for us to build the Niagara Falls International Rail Station and Intermodal Center," said Dyster, D-Niagara Falls.

Brown points to the African American Heritage Corridor on Michigan Street as part of her legacy.

"Her fierce advocacy for diversity, equality will be missed in the Congress," said Brown, D-Buffalo.

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul felt Slaughter's influence more than most, saying the late Congresswoman was a big part of her winning a seat in the heavily Republican 26th district during the special election in 2011.

"She embraced me. She did events with me. She helped support me financially, emotionally, and we developed a deep friendship that carried over into our time in Congress," said Hochul, D-New York.