BUFFALO, N.Y. — For the first time in five decades, there’s a changing of the guard mid-term at the top of Buffalo City Hall.
Buffalo Common Council President Christopher Scanlon is set to become acting mayor following Byron Brown’s long-anticipated resignation Monday evening.
“I could not be more humbled or more honored to lead the city of Buffalo,” Scanlon said. “I am ready to lead this city, and I will do so with excitement and optimism through partnerships and collaboration with communication and with transparency.”
The South District councilman is set to take on the new role with a seasoned resume, having served on the council for 12 years before taking over as president earlier this year.
He will now serve out Brown’s term through the end of 2025.
But the shift is also drawing criticism, particularly on the timeline. Had Mayor Brown resigned prior to the state board of election’s Aug. 5 deadline to put newly vacated seats on this November’s ballot, the seat would have been decided in a special election. But instead, Scanlon will be elevated to the new role through the city’s charter at some point in the coming weeks once Brown officially files his resignation.
“I think it's unfortunate. I think the people of Buffalo deserve to have a voice in who is mayor of the city,” former mayoral candidate India Walton said. “My hope is that Interim Mayor Scanlon is ready to be collaborative and democratic and govern in a way that benefits all Buffalonians because I think that will be the key to him being duly elected as the mayor of this city.”
Scanlon has not yet said if he will run in June’s primary election, but Republicans already have their eye on next year’s race.
“This is an opportunity,” said Michael Kracker, chairman of the Erie County Republican Committee. “It's a major seat change for our region where we're going to have new leadership in the City of Buffalo for the first time in some people's lifetimes.
“I hope folks will be open minded to candidates with Republican values and conservative values, because frankly, in places like the city, now that you're entering what could be a significant fiscal crisis, it may be time to try to chart a new path.”
As far as Scanlon’s current seat atop the common council, that will be filled by council member Bryan Bollman. But the council, in the process, will effectively lose a member, going from nine to eight.
There is division right now over that change with a resolution currently proposed to fill the vacancy, which will be voted on Tuesday.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is also responding to the news in a statement, saying, “I have known Byron Brown since we both started out in elected office and served on our respective city and town councils. He has dedicated his entire career to improving the lives of the people of Buffalo, and he has been a tireless advocate for the city we both call home. Mayor Brown and I have stood shoulder-to-shoulder during some of the most challenging times in Buffalo's history, and I've seen his leadership skills time and again. I wish him the best as he moves on to new opportunities.”
So is Erie County Democratic Chairman Jeremy Zellner, who released the following statement:
“Byron Brown broke barriers as New York’s first black State Senator from Upstate New York, before becoming Buffalo’s longest-serving mayor. After nearly three decades in public office I wish him well in this new chapter in his life.
The Democratic Party’s next objective is to elect a mayor in 2025 with the community support necessary to make and stand by difficult choices and decisions.
Our party has met the dramatic changes of the past 10 months with unity and strength. That must be the blueprint for this transition as well.
Fortunately, Democrats have a deep bench of visionary and talented leadership from which to draw. We will establish a fair, transparent endorsement process ensuring that the city’s rank and file Democratic committee members’ voices will be heard.
The Democratic endorsement for Buffalo mayor will be driven by the committee membership who truly lead this party.
But for the next 36 days, we must remain focused on electing Vice President Kamala Harris and our entire local Democratic slate.”