09/14/09: Buffalo Mayoral Candidates Campaign Down to the Wire

The Buffalo News Photo
Buffalo’s mayoral candidate ‘meet in greets’ are in the final heat.
It’s the final stretch for the candidates that are working down to the wire to make every minute count in an effort to influence undecided voters.
Byron Brown and Mickey Kearns made whistle stops around the Queen City.
Kearns talked with seniors at the Seneca-Babcock Community Center.
Brown caught the early-birds at a McDonald’s on Grider and East Delavan,
Both candidates shook hands and handed out flyers in an effort to sway voters.
“Many people don’t feel that they have a voice now with the current administration, they feel as though they’ve been ignored,” said South Buffalo Common Councilman Mickey Kearns.
“To me I think Buffalo’s going downhill and I think maybe Mickey can pick it up,” affirmed Robert Bogart at the seniors’ luncheon at the community center.
“People all across the city of Buffalo are rejecting my opponent’s comments that ‘Buffalo is a dying city.’ We’re just going to continue to talk about the progress that was made,” said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.
“He’s [Brown] staying on the job. I give him credit for that,” complimented Roosevelt Spears on the incumbent’s record.
Brown’s campaign focuses on building businesses and improving quality of life services.
Kearns says he’ll be the voice of the people. His campaign tackles rising neighborhood crime, affordable housing and city hall transparency.
“People like that personal contact. People like to talk to the candidate. When I become mayor they’ll be able to talk to me too,” said Kearns.
“I like Mickey and I like what he’s talking about doing for the city which we need a lot of work done,” added Bogart.
Brown agrees with the need for more work.
“There’s a lot of work left to do. We’ve made a lot of progress. We want to keep that progress going,” said the incumbent.
“I think he [Brown] did a good job for the years he’s been in there and it seems like he improved a whole lot,” added Spears.
Both candidates vying for a chance at the mayor’s office say they both have something unique to offer. Incumbent Brown says he wants to continue working from the groundwork he’s laid over the past four years into another term. While his opponent Mickey Kearns says he wants to represent the under represented who feel they where voiceless during the brown administration. Across the board it’s the voters who will have the final say.
This campaign would only continue if Kearns wins Tuesday. Brown would have to go on to the November vote on three secondary party lines. Should the incumbent claim the primary, the race for buffalo mayor will be over.