Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown told a questioner on Saturday that he would back Erie County Democratic Chairman Jeremy Zellner for re-election next year as long as he is the endorsed candidate for re-election this year.

In response to a question from Amherst Dem Chairman Jerry Schadt, the Mayor turned to Zellner and made this pledge. Not only that, but he announced his support for the entire Democratic endorsed slate for 2013, presumably including candidates for the Legislature. He made these announcements at a private meeting of the Erie County Democratic Executive Committee at the Larkin Building attended by approx. 50-60  people. Its purpose was to interview candidates for Mayor of Buffalo who are seeking the Committee's endorsement. It was not open to the press or public.

The statement left some Democrats wondering if mayoral allies would also support the entire Democratic endorsed slate.

Does the fact that the Brown Administration and the Erie County Democratic Party, under Chairman Jeremy Zellner, are working together on the Mayor's re-election mean the two sides will also be working together after election day?

One Brown topsider put it this way: “First of all, it's illegal to trade endorsements, to say, 'I'll endorse you for this job if you support me for that one. However, if an atmosphere of mutual trust is developed between us during this campaign, there is no reason why we can't talk about working together in the future.”

Savvy political observers are praising the campaign of Democratic endorsed county comptroller candidate Lynn Szalkowski for shrewdly picking a fight with County Exec Mark Poloncarz over the independence of the comptroller's office.

Said one: “As a Democrat running for comptroller with a Democratic county executive in office, she has to demonstrate her independence in order to win and she is doing that. If 2012 Dem nominee Dave Shenk had done this, he probably would have won.”

The problem with the strategy of running a black and white candidate against Erie County Legislature Chairperson Betty Jean Grant in her 50% white district is that the white neighborhoods therein tend to be “Volkswagon Liberal” areas who have voted for Betty Jean and would likely do so again no matter how many white candidates are in the race.

Some feel her opponents are underestimating Betty Jean's status as a kind of inner city folk hero after very nearly whipping hard working NYS Senator Tim Kennedy despite being outspent a zillion to one, though they concede she will not be able to transfer her popularity to mayoral challenger Bernie Tolbert.....They also feel that Legislator Tim Hogues, Mr. Young Straight Arrow, is being underestimated by some.

A message to all candidates: Be careful what you offer political leaders in return for their endorsement. Some of it could be very illegal...Just ask NYS Senator Malcolm Smith!

Republicans are increasingly. confident about the re-election of Sheriff Tim Howard, citing Dem disunity over the Ronald Reagan text message and other factors.

Cong. Brian Higgins did an excellent job talking about homeland security and civil liberties on C-Span Wed. morning.

Szalkowski: The Comptroller Does Not Serve At the Pleasure of the County Executive

Szalkowski, A Registered CPA, Takes Exception to Poloncarz’s Reported Remarks

Buffalo, NY – Lynn Szalkowski, a Certified Public Accountant with fifteen years of financial experience, running for Erie County Comptroller, today responded to reported remarks posted on a local blog that County Executive MarkPoloncarz made concerning his desire to turn the Comptroller’s office into an appointed position. Here is Szalkowski’s statement:

“The Erie County Comptroller is, and always should be, a position elected by the people of this county to oversee their hard-earned tax dollars.  The notion of turning this office into an appointed position that serves at the pleasure of the County Executive is not one that I support.  The Comptroller does not serve at the pleasure of the County Executive.

“The Comptroller’s office was established as an independently elected position to be chosen by the voters of Erie County.  The person who holds that office should be qualified to serve as the watchdog over county finances.

As the political opponents of Erie County Legislature Chairperson Betty Jean Grant look toward prospects for defeating her for re-election, they see a prominent African-American elected who represents a district that is at least half white. The solution: Run another black candidate to split the minority vote and a white candidate to soak up the rest. Whether it will work remains to be seen.

As for Grant's ally, Legislator Tim Hogues, one thing that's certain, his opponent Won't be former Legislator Barbara Miller Williams. Instead, the anti-Hogues forces will try to find someone new and fresh.

The Cheektowaga Democratic Party, which they point out endorsed Mayor Brown before anyone, will supply troops to the Byron Brown Re-election bid, which means that Cheektowaga Chairman Frank Max and County Dem Chairman Jeremy Zellner will be on the same side for once....Call Ripley's Believe It Or Not!

NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENCE PARTY ENDORSES MAYOR BROWN FOR RE-ELECTION

BUFFALO – The New York State Independence Party has endorsed Mayor Byron Brown for re-election as Mayor of Buffalo. As in 2005 and 2009 when they endorsed Mayor Brown in his successful bid to become Buffalo’s 58th Mayor, the New York State Independence Party reiterated their confidence in Mayor Brown’s ability to lead the city and continue his programs and policies for improving Buffalo.

“Under Mayor Brown, the City of Buffalo has made great progress. Buffalo’s residents have reaped the benefits of lower taxes, no more hard control board, the highest bond rating in its history, safer streets, and the largest economic development growth in decades,” said New York State Chairman Frank MacKay. “We believe that Mayor Brown is the absolute best choice to lead the City of Buffalo for the next 4 years,” concluded Chairman MacKay.

Mayor Brown has invested in neighborhoods and education, and today there is nearly $1.7 billion in economic development projects transforming Buffalo and creating real jobs. Buffalo is being reborn with $500 million in waterfront development, including $172 million in private investment with the Buffalo Sabres for the Harbor Center Project on the Webster Block.

“I am again very pleased to receive the endorsement of the New York State Independence Party, who gave me their valued support in 2005 and 2009,” said Mayor Brown. “Since taking office in 2006, I am proud of my record as Mayor and the great progress we have made in Buffalo. My administration has achieved many important goals, including reducing crime overall by 19%, cutting residential taxes by 15% and stabilizing the city’s fiscal condition. With the strong foundation we have built, I am confident we can continue to move Buffalo forward and I thank the New York State Independence Party for their support as I seek a third term as Mayor of Buffalo.”

In an exclusive late night Monday interview with NewWNYPolitics, Erie County Legislature Chairman Betty Jean Grant told this reporter that she would definitely not be supporting Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown for re-election.

“The reason is that the Mayor supported my opponent for the NYS Senate last year and even made robo calls for him in the inner city,” she said. “So why should I support him even if it means I have a primary opponent?”

Still she stopped sort of saying she would formally back the Mayor's opponent, Bernie Tolbert though she has clearly been supporting his campaign informally.

“They can run an opponent in the primary against me. I don't care,” she continued. “I almost beat NYS Senator Tim Kennedy last year. Why should I be afraid of any challenger the Mayor's people might support? If I should get beat, I have a good pension, so I'm not worried.”

She added that County Dem Chairman Jeremy Zellner could continue to work together, with him as her chief of staff at the Leg, even if they were on opposite sides of the Brown/Tolbert battle.

“That doesn't matter,” she concluded. “Jeremy has to do what he has to do and so do I.”

Got questions about this year's race for Buffalo Mayor?...We've got the answers.

Does Erie County Democratic Chairman Jeremy Zellner have the votes to pass an endorsement of Mayor Byron Brown's re-election in his executive committee?

Yes. There are 27 zone chairman from the city who will vote along with 27 at-large members who were appointed by the Chairman. The Zellner/Brown team will get all 27 of the at-large votes and at least half of the zone leaders for a clear cut victory.

Is there an over all deal in place that will bring over all peace in our time between the Chairman's backers and the Mayor's?

The answer is sort of but not really.

Reliable sources within the Brown camp have told this reporter that they will not run candidates vs. Legislature Chairperson Betty Jean Grant and Legislator Tim Hogues as long as they support Zellner's endorsement of the Mayor....If they don't the Mayor's people will run challengers against both in order to drive up turnout in the inner city if for no other reason.

“It's up to Betty Jean and Tim,” they say...At the moment, there is no comprehensive peace deal in place.

Why did mayoral challenger Bernie Tolbert wait so long to launch his campaign?

He wanted to wait long enough so that it would be too late for City Comptroller Mark Schroeder to join the mayoral contest as the Great White Hope. The problem is that the tardy announcement also makes it next to impossible for Bernie to raise enough money and inspire enough support to win.

As one source told us: “Look, Bernie is a former FBI executive who got into security work after he left the agency. He's not a politician and it shows..

Finally, we understand that Charley Markel is considering running for the former Terry McCracken county leg seat against businessman Wes Moore in the September Democratic primary.

The Bernie Tolbert mayoral campaign made a telling strategic mistake by putting the 200 supporters they attracted to their announcement of candidacy into the same BW Smith Family Life Center where Mayor Byron Brown had attracted over 400 for his campaign kickoff only a couple of weeks before. If the Tolbert campaign knew they were going to host only half as many, it would have been much better to choose a smaller venue which they could have filled to the rafters.

By choosing the same house, they only put attention on the fact that their turnout was much less.

As for Tolbert's speech, it was workmanlike, but not particular inspirational or passionate. Does this guy have the fire in the belly needed to throw out a popular incumbent? It remains to be seen.

While Tolbert is casting doubts, we can't believe that Erie County Democratic Chairman Jeremy Zellner would have announced that he is recommending a Byron Brown endorsement to his exec committee if he didn't have the votes to pass it in his hip pocket.

Meanwhile, our spies noticed an interesting sight at this week's Conservative Party breakfast at Daisy's in Lackawanna related to the Dem Sheriff's race. It was Bert Dunn Sr. who was chatting with everyone in sight, looking for all the world like the candidate, while Dunn Jr. the actual contender, was pretty much keeping to himself. It only shows how difficult it is to run for office if you've never done it before and how tough it can be to get into the spirit of the game.

At the same time, we understand that Democratic Sheriff insurgent Dick Dobson is campaigning every day at events and going door to door like the outgoing personality he naturally is.

Speaking of Dunn, fairly or unfairly, some endorsed Dem candidates seem reluctant to formally back him for fear of a back lash in the inner city related to his “I don't like Obama” text message. Some say they will carry his petitions as part of the party slate, but will not give him their support.

Finally, look for incumbent GOP Sheriff Tim Howard to attract a lot of labor support in the general, notably the Building Trades.

Wednesday, May 15^th, 2013

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The decision of Erie County Democratic Chairman Jeremy Zellner on Friday to recommend that his executive committee endorse Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown for re-election represents yet another bold indication that he intends to take the party in a new and different direction, one that is entirely based on his own vision for its future.

The fact that he made his announcement before other party leaders such as Legislature Chairperson Betty Jean Grant made theirs, indicates that Zellner intends to be a leader, not a follower when it comes to the party's direction.

Meanwhile, the timing of the announcement, on the eve of mayoral challenger Bernie Tolbert's own announcement of candidacy, is a body blow to the Tolbert campaign from which it could have a hard time recovering. The result is that, instead of Bernie's own program for the cit'y's future being the story this weekend, it will be Zellner's decision that will have local political tongues wagging.

Already, Grant, otherwise likely to be a fervent Tolbert backer, has announced that she is “not endorsing anyone,” a decidedly sour development in Tolbertland..