BUFFALO, N.Y. — Is Sean Ryan launching a Buffalo mayoral campaign?
The New York State Senator on Thursday released a "Sean Ryan for Buffalo" flyer, promising a "special announcement" at 10 a.m. Saturday at Asbury Hall, located at 341 Delaware Ave. A QR code then takes you to a webpage, where you sign up to receive updates from the Democrat.
Earlier this week, Erie County Democratic Party chairman Jeremy Zellner indicated that Senator Ryan was considering a run for mayor.
"I've talked to Senator Sean Ryan, who's a very close person to us, who's represented a large portion of the city before," Zellner said. "He's very interested in running."
Ryan has served in the New York State Legislature since 2011. He was elected to the NYS Assembly in 2011 and served in that governing body until 2021. He was elected to the NYS Senate in 2021.
Chris Scanlon, a South District Buffalo Common Council member, has been in the position of acting mayor since Oct. 15. He was ceremoniously sworn in as acting mayor on Tuesday.
The event was paid for by Scanlon's campaign and not city funds.
Scanlon used the opportunity to speak broadly about his vision for Buffalo in the next year, which will essentially set him up as an incumbent candidate for the actual mayoral race in 2025.
Byron Brown resigned his position as Buffalo mayor in late October to become the new head of Western Regional Off-Track Betting. Brown took office in 2006 and served fore than 19 years.
Former Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield Jr. has also said he intends to run for mayor in 2025 as well. Whitfield served as fire commissioner from 2010 until 2017, when he retired from the department. He began his Buffalo Fire career in 1984.
Whitfield's mother, Ruth Whitfield, was one of the victims of the Tops mass shooting in 2022.