
Who’s in the Race To Be Buffalo’s Next Mayor?
When he resigned from the position last October, Byron Brown created something the city of Buffalo hasn’t had in nearly two decades: the opportunity for someone new to run the Queen City.
Chris Scanlon was named acting mayor, a position he currently holds, but he didn’t officially launch his candidacy to take over the job until this week.
Scanlon is no stranger to City Hall, having served on the Common Council since 2012, in addition to a long family history in the council chambers going back to his father’s time in the Griffin administration.
During his candidacy announcement Wednesday, from the Barrel Factory in the First Ward, Scanlon said he never hid his intentions to seek the mayor’s office for a full term and set the tone for his campaign.
“I envision a Buffalo that is cleaner, safer, more populated, with more housing opportunities and more economic opportunities for the residents of the city of Buffalo,” he said. “I think that working together with our partners in the public sector, the private sector, and the nonprofit sector, we’ll get there.”
In his announcement on social media, Scanlon said he feels the “support and encouragement of our residents and stakeholders—people who believe in what we are doing and share our vision for a bright future. I am running to continue serving as mayor of our great city because I truly believe Buffalo’s best days are ahead of us.”
“A fiscal crisis, misused taxpayer dollars, funding to support cultural organizations vanished, residents’ concerns about quality of life, campaign ethics law violations, and a Carl Paladino endorsement,” Ryan listed on social media. “Buffalo deserves better.”
At this point, Scanlon and Ryan are the most recognizable names in the race and have raised the most money for their campaigns: According to Investigative Post, Scanlon has raised $540,527 so far and has spent $111,595 for his campaign, with an additional $555,220 cash on hand, while Ryan has raised $45,595 and has spent $52,684 since announcing his candidacy last fall, with $486,993 cash on hand.
They’re not the only ones looking to take the reins of City Hall, of course.
Michael Gainer, founder of Buffalo ReUse and a member of the East Side Parkways Coalition, also announced his candidacy on Wednesday. In an interview with the Buffalo News, Gainer described himself as “not a politician; I’m a doer; I’m a problem solver, and I’m someone that when I have an idea in my mind of how we can create a world-class city in Buffalo that is equitable and fair and healthy, I’m going to make it happen.”
He also took to social media to address supporters and would-be voters.
“I’m inspired by your desire to support the grassroots and to take action and be part of the solution. Do you want more pocket parks or playgrounds? Job training for out-of-school young adults or safe, clear sidewalks? More trees or more composting to reduce our disposal? What are your dreams, Buffalo? We can achieve more when we work together, engage our communities, and take action!” he said.
Also running to be the next mayor of Buffalo are:
- Garnell Whitfield, a former Buffalo Fire Commissioner, whose mother, Ruth, was among those killed in the May 2022 massacre at Tops on Jefferson Avenue.
- Current Buffalo Common Council member Rasheed Wyatt, a critic of Brown and now Scanlon, who has served as chair of the Civil Service Committee and is a member of the Community Development, Education, Police Oversight, and Budget and Waterfront Development Committees for the council.
- James McLeod, a former Buffalo City Court Judge, who touted the need for economic growth, a more active role for the mayor’s office in Buffalo’s public education system, and a reduction in bureaucracy for city businesses.
- James Payne, a community organizer who began his activism following the death of his brother, William Clay, during the 2022 blizzard.
Other names have been floated as possible candidates, but the clock is ticking: the filing deadline ahead of the June 24 primary is April 10; those candidates seeking to run as an independent have until May 27 to file.
Pictures of Niagara Falls
Gallery Credit: Canva