Who’s Going To Be The Next Mayor Of Buffalo, New York

If all of the current indications end up coming true, the second-largest city in New York State will have a new mayor. This is extremely significant as the current mayor has been in office for an unprecedented five terms, having served longer than any other mayor in Buffalo's history.

The rumor that current Mayor Byron Brown wanted to leave office has been circulating for several years. Many are asking why this is happening and what's led to it.

First, there was speculation that Brown would leave office to serve as Lieutenant Governor of New York when Andrew Cuomo was set to become the state's Governor. It seems that didn't happen because aides in City Hall were being investigated.

Then Brown was supposedly in line to become the next head of Buffalo State University, but that did not come through as the job was offered to someone else, then rescinded with Dr. Bonita R. Durand being named interim President after Katherine Conway-Turner retired.

But now it seems Brown is leaving office after being offered a new job as the President and CEO of the Western Region OTB. Of course, this leaves many Buffalonians asking what happens to Buffalo if Brown does, in fact, leave office.

READ MORE: Mayor Of New York State’s Second Largest City Offered New Job 

According to the Buffalo City Charter, the primary set of laws that governs how the City of Buffalo is run, the President of the Buffalo Common Council will automatically assume the role of Interim Mayor. That position currently belongs to the South District Common Council Member Christopher Scanlon.

Scanlon, who has been making himself more visible city-wide over the last several months, has released a statement saying he is prepared to assume the role if Brown does step down. If this does happen, Scanlon will serve as interim Mayor for the remainder of the current mayoral term, which runs through the end of 2025, as the next election happens next year.

So, over the next 15 months, Buffalo could have two different people set to lead the city, but who could those people be?

Who's Up Next To Be Buffalo's Mayor

• Christopher Scanlon
  • Mr. Scanlon is the current president of the Buffalo Common Council, representing the city's south district. He has been the council member for the South district since 2012. Scanlon graduated from Timon St. Jude and Buffalo State University. He previously worked for UPS and the Western New York Pub Group before taking public office. If he assumes the position of interim Mayor, he will benefit from incumbency.
• India Walton
  • Ms. Walton is a nurse by education who has dedicated many years to the Buffalo community and public service. Her potential candidacy is significant as she is the only person to have beaten Byron Brown over the last 20 years, winning a substantial victory over him in the Democratic primary election in 2021. If she does run, she should be considered a serious candidate.
• Sean Ryan
  • Mr. Ryan is the current Senator for New York State's 61st district, representing a large swath of Buffalo, Grand Island, and the northern suburbs. Before taking office in the Senate, Ryan had served in the New York Assembly for ten years. Before public office, Ryan held positions with Buffalo Neighborhood Stabilization Company, Inc., and Neighborhood Legal Services as an attorney. Ryan made it clear he is interested in seeking the mayor's office, and his time serving Buffalo is well known and may be seen as a plus to many potential voters.

Is there anyone else that could raise their hand to be considered? Only time will tell.