Просмотр кода страницы Английская Википедия:Byron Brown

{{Английская Википедия/Панель перехода}}
{{Short description|American politician (born 1958)}}
{{other people}}
{{Advert|date=June 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder 
|name          = Byron Brown
|image         = Mayor Byron W. Brown Buffalo NY (1).jpg
|office        = 62nd [[List of mayors of Buffalo, New York|Mayor of Buffalo]]
|term_start    = January 1, 2006
|term_end      = 
|predecessor   = [[Anthony Masiello]]
|successor     = 
|office1       = Chair of the [[New York State Democratic Committee|New York Democratic Party]]
|term_start1   = May 23, 2016
|term_end1     = January 14, 2019
|predecessor1  = Sheila Comar
|successor1    = Jay Jacobs 
|state_senate2 = New York
|district2     = [[New York's 60th State Senate district|60th]]
|term_start2   = January 8, 2003
|term_end2     = December 31, 2005
|predecessor2  = [[Mary Lou Rath]]
|successor2    = [[Marc A. Coppola|Marc Coppola]]
|state_senate3 = New York
|district3     = [[New York's 57th State Senate district|57th]]
|term_start3   = January 1, 2001
|term_end3     = January 8, 2003
|predecessor3  = [[Al Coppola]]
|successor3    = [[Patricia McGee]]
|office4       = Member of the [[Buffalo Common Council]]<br />from the Masten district
|term_start4   = January 1, 1996
|term_end4     = January 1, 2001
|predecessor4  = David Collins
|successor4    = [[Antoine Thompson]]
|birth_name    = Byron William Brown
|birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1958|9|24}}
|birth_place   = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
|death_date    = 
|death_place   = 
|party         = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (1995–present)<br>Buffalo Party ([[2021 Buffalo mayoral election|2021]])
|spouse        = Michelle Austin
|children      = 1
|education     = [[Buffalo State College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
|website       = {{URL|city-buffalo.com/Home/Leadership/Mayor|Official website}}
}}
<!--Note that the State Senate was sworn in on 2001-01-01 (reference in text below) although the new Buffalo Common Council was not sworn in until 2001-01-04 (See http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF9CD0F1C7F2EE&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420 ).  Thus, it appears he had three days of overlapping service.-->

'''Byron William Brown II''' (born September 24, 1958) is an American politician who is the current [[List of mayors of Buffalo, New York|mayor]] of [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]], [[New York (state)|New York]]. He has served as Buffalo's 62nd mayor since January 2006, the city's first [[African-American]] mayor and longest-serving mayor. He previously served [[Western New York]] as a member of the [[New York State Senate]] and [[Buffalo Common Council]]. He is the first African-American politician elected to the New York State Senate to represent a district outside [[New York City]] and the first member of any minority race to represent a majority-white New York State Senate district.

Brown was born and raised in [[Queens, New York]]. He rose to office after serving in a variety of political roles. He began his political career as an aide to local representatives in several legislative bodies (Buffalo Common Council, Erie County Legislature, and [[New York State Assembly]]) and later became involved in a regional political organization. After several roles as a legislative aide, he was appointed to the [[Erie County, New York|Erie County]] [[Cabinet (government)|cabinet-level]] Director of Equal Employment Opportunity post.

==Early life and education==
Brown was raised in [[Hollis, Queens|Hollis]] in a [[Duplex (building)|duplex]] his family shared with his grandparents, who were immigrants from the [[Caribbean]] island of [[Montserrat]].<ref name=Twwbm/> He grew up on 200th Street between 100th and 104th Avenues and has several relatives still in the area.<ref name=ItblBBictsatfAmoB/> As a Queens resident, he was a [[New York Mets]] and [[New York Knicks]] fan.<ref name=OMSAgm>{{cite web|url=http://www.buffalonews.com/opinioncolumns/columns/offmainstreet/story/449269.html |title=Off Main Street: A giving mood&nbsp;... |access-date=November 23, 2008 |date=September 27, 2008 |work=[[The Buffalo News]] |author=Watson, Stephen T. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930004738/http://www.buffalonews.com/opinioncolumns/columns/offmainstreet/story/449269.html |archive-date=September 30, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=Twwbm>{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10D0995C89AD4B80&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Two who would be mayor - An achiever since boyhood, Brown is disciplined, polished -- and 'sphinxlike'|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=October 2, 2005|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Fairbanks, Phil}}</ref>

Brown was a [[Boy Scouts (Boy Scouts of America)|Boy Scout]] at Hollis Presbyterian Church in Queens and was also active in the Central Queens YMCA (now called [[Jamaica, Queens|Jamaica]] [[YMCA]]).<ref name=ItblBBictsatfAmoB>{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:NWDB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=110699A4D196D2A8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=In the big league Byron Brown is calling the shots as the first African-American mayor of Buffalo |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=March 17, 2006|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[Newsday]]|author=Cassese, Sid}}</ref> Brown attended Public School&nbsp;134 in Hollis, junior high school PS&nbsp;109, and [[August Martin High School]], where he played the trumpet in the high school band.<ref name=Twwbm/><ref name=ItblBBictsatfAmoB/> Brown and his sister, Andrea, were the first generation in his family to attend college.<ref name=Twwbm/>

After graduating from August Martin High School,<ref name=Twwbm/> Brown attended [[Buffalo State College]].<ref name=Twwbm/><ref name="Staba2006">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/28/nyregion/28oldhome.html|title=To Burnish Its Image, a City Stages an Alumni Reunion |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=August 28, 2006|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Staba, David}}</ref> He played a year of [[Junior Varsity]] [[basketball]] as a {{convert|5|ft|11|in|m|adj=on}} [[guard (basketball)|guard]]. While he had considered a potential medical career,<ref name=Twwbm/> Brown graduated in 1983 with a dual [[Bachelor of Arts]] in [[political science]] and [[journalism]]. He subsequently completed a certificate program for senior executives in state and local government at [[Harvard University|Harvard University's]] [[John F. Kennedy School of Government]].<ref name="PerfectResponse1999">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF9C23E500F126&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Perfect Response to Senseless Ruling|access-date=January 14, 2009|date=August 1, 1999|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]}}</ref>

==Early career==
After college, Brown worked for [[Bristol-Myers]] for a year as a regional sales representative. Brown quit after a short tenure and took the [[New York State Police|New York State Troopers]] exam before becoming [[Chief of staff]] for Buffalo Common Council President George Arthur for two years. He then spent two years as an aide to Erie County Legislator Roger Blackwell (later Erie County Legislature Chairman).<ref name=Twwbm/> Then, he worked for two years under [[Arthur Eve]], the Deputy Speaker of the [[New York State Assembly]].<ref name=Twwbm/><ref name=CfASHoaVLR>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/05/nyregion/contest-for-albany-seat-hinges-on-a-veteran-legislator-s-relevance.html|title=Contest for Albany Seat Hinges on a Veteran Legislator's Relevance |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=September 5, 2000|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Hicks, Jonathan P.}}</ref> Subsequently, he served eight years as director of the Erie County division of the [[Equal Employment Opportunity Commission]] under Erie [[County Executive]] [[Dennis Gorski]].<ref name=Twwbm/><ref name=TBSSHMBtIA/><ref name=EEAOEHTHLIAC>{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF96666AA4E149&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Essentially Eve Arthur O. Eve Has Turned His Life Into A Crusade. The Question Is Whether He Should Lighten Up|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=November 15, 1992|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Montgomery, David}}</ref> He resigned his directorship in July 1993 to run for public office.<ref name=YFoBLiITTC/>

During his early career, Brown also became a member of [[Grassroots (organization)|Grassroots]], a political organization that was founded in 1986 by a group of [[Neighborhood association|block club]] leaders.<ref name=TBtSTII/> Brown eventually served as a vice president of the organization.<ref name=TBSSHMBtIA/>

Brown was recognized in the November 1989 issue of ''[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]'' magazine as one of the "30 Leaders of the Future" with a caption that read "Byron Brown chosen for leadership skills."<ref name="PeopleIn1989">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB1953E42AA4FD1&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=People In The News - Ebony Features Brown Among Leaders|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=November 4, 1989|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]}}</ref> The Buffalo Chapter of the [[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]] in 1991 honored him with the [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] Award for [[community service]].<ref name="HonorRoll1991">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB19618759A1B56&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Honor Roll|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=October 20, 1991|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]}}</ref> In 1993 he was selected by Business First for its "40 Under Forty Honor Roll". He was awarded the Infinity Broadcasting/[[WBLK]] 2001 "Voice of Power Award" and the 2004 "Citizen of the Year" award. He also received the "Political Impact Award" from the [[Alpha Kappa Alpha]] sorority in 2001.

In 1992, Brown was a delegate to the [[1992 Democratic National Convention]] from the [[New York's 33rd congressional district]]. His vote was originally pledged to [[Bob Kerrey]] for the Democratic presidential nomination, but Brown transferred his support to then-Governor [[Bill Clinton]] after Kerrey bowed out of the [[Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 1992|1992 Democratic Primary campaign]] on March 5, 1992.<ref name="Borrelli1992">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF95E7137EFDCC&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=10 Buffalo-Area Delegates Switch To Clinton|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=March 14, 1992|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Borrelli, George}}</ref> In 1993, Brown was invited to attend Bill Clinton's Presidential Inauguration.<ref name="FiguresInvited1993">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF968432B5FDC6&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=WNY Figures Invited To Event|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=January 17, 1993|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]}}</ref>

==Early elective experience==
In his first attempt at public office in 1993, Brown ran for the third district of the Erie County Legislature against incumbent William Robinson and George "Butch" Holt, who had Eve's endorsement.<ref name=YFoBLiITTC>{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF9705EFA6EE34&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Younger Faction of Black Leadership is Itching To Take Control|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=September 9, 1993|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Heaney, James}}</ref> Robinson earned the Democratic Party endorsement in June 1993, with the help of Holt who voted for Robinson instead of himself.<ref name="Heaney1993">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF96D7032F54FE&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Democrats Back Robinson in Contest For Legislature|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=June 13, 1993|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Heaney, James}}</ref><ref name="OffMain1993">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF96DEDFDB5DFF&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Off Main Street Just One Legacy of Jimmy|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=June 27, 1993|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]}}</ref> In June, Brown was notified that he must resign his Erie County cabinet-level post in order to run for public office and he did so in July.<ref name="Collison1993">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF96EF2F128D2F&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Martin's Objection To His Firing Dismissed Commissioner Serves At Pleasure of County Executive, An Authority Points Out|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=July 27, 1993|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Collison, Kevin}}</ref> Holt won the Democratic nomination with a 267-vote 40–37% margin over Brown in the September 14, 1993 [[primary election]].<ref name="OlmaHolt1993">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF97095D38A350&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Olma, Holt Capture County Legislature Races Incumbent Peoples Has Slim Lead in 7th District, But It's Too Close To Call|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=September 15, 1993|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]}}</ref>

Brown won the September 1995 Democratic primary for the Masten District Buffalo Common Council seat.<ref name=EEP>{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF98DB5D752464&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Experience Empowers Participants|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=October 22, 1995|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Warner, Gene}}</ref> He then took time out from campaigning to attend the October 16, 1995 [[Million Man March]].<ref name=EEP/><ref name="Allen1995">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF98D7AA2BF640&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Area Black Men See Washington Event As A Call To Action|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=October 15, 1995|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Allen, Carl}}</ref> Brown ousted 18-year veteran council member, David Collins, to win his seat on the Buffalo Common Council.<ref name=Twwbm/> He beat Collins by a 5,391–1,670 (76–24%) margin in the November 7, 1995 general election.<ref name="Fairbanks1995">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF98E4A36CA59C&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Collins Out As Newcomers Win 4 Seats - Pitts President|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=November 8, 1995|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author1=Fairbanks, Phil |author2=McNeil, Harold }}</ref> In his 1997 re-election campaign, he won the September 9 Democratic primary handily,<ref name="Fairbanks1997">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF9A63899E24E7&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=In Close Races, Incumbents Czajka and Lockwood Lose - Council Seats|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=September 10, 1997|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Fairbanks, Phil}}</ref> and he was unopposed in the November 4 general election.<ref name="Collison1997">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF9A8170FDABC9&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Newcomers Manley, Fontana Win Seats On Council; 7 - Incumbents Re-Elected Easily|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=November 5, 1997|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Collison, Kevin}}</ref> In his 1999 re-election campaign, he again won the Democratic primary easily on September 14,<ref name="McCarthy1999">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF9C373B8B2EAA&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Double Win By Giambra Poses Threat to Gorski|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=September 15, 1999|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=McCarthy, Robert J.}}</ref> and he won the November 2 general election.<ref name="Dolan1999">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF9C4C76496010&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Strong Democratic Victories Put African-Americans In - Majority|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=November 3, 1999|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Dolan, Thomas J.}}</ref> Beginning in January 2000, Brown served as part of the first ever African-American majority in the history of the Buffalo Common Council.<ref name="Hammersley1999">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF9C60310506A8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Newcomers to Council Speak Out On Their Goals|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=December 30, 1999|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Hammersley, Margaret}}</ref>

In 1996, ''[[The Buffalo News]]'' described Brown as "Buffalo's [[Julian Bond]]".<ref name="BuffaloPower1996">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF9983AF1E0EBF&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Buffalo's Power 2010 Roll Call Comprehensive, Yet Incomplete. When Predicting The Future, We May Miss A Few. But Bet On These|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=September 22, 1996|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]}}</ref> While on the council, the future state senator and mayor was called "bright, creative and hardworking" in a 1999 ''Buffalo News'' survey.<ref name="RatingThe1999">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF9C207278705A&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Rating The Common Council|access-date=February 6, 2009|date=July 25, 1999|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]}}</ref>

==State Senate==
In 2000, he competed for the Democratic nomination for the New York State Senate 57th District against incumbent [[Al Coppola]] and Samuel A. Herbert.<ref name=NYP>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/13/nyregion/new-york-primary-legislature-most-incumbents-prevail-over-primary-challengers.html|title=New York Primary: The Legislature; Most Incumbents Prevail Over Primary Challengers|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=September 13, 2000|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Levy, Clifford J.}}</ref> Coppola was endorsed by [[Buffalo Mayor]] [[Anthony Masiello]].<ref name=TBSSHMBtIA/> Brown won the September 2000 primary by a wide 18% margin.<ref name=2000NYSS/> However, Coppola remained on the ballot in the general election on the [[Conservative Party of New York]], [[Working Families Party]] and [[Green Party (United States)|Green Party]] lines.<ref name=TBSSHMBtIA>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/18/nyregion/to-be-state-senator-he-must-beat-the-incumbent-again.html|title=To Be State Senator, He Must Beat the Incumbent, Again |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=October 18, 2000|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Hicks, Jonathan P.}}</ref> The [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] nominee was the politically inexperienced Harrison R. Woolworth. Although Brown began the race without organized political support, he earned endorsements from many veteran non-Western New York politicians such as [[H. Carl McCall]], [[Andrew Cuomo]], and [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref name=TBSSHMBtIA/>

When he was sworn into the State Senate on January 1, 2001,<ref name="Violanti2001">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF9CD0D844B598&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Glory Days - Prayers Answered as Singers Find a National Stage|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=January 5, 2001|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Violanti, Anthony}}</ref> Brown became New York's first African-American State Senator elected outside of [[New York City]].<ref name=TBSSHMBtIA/> He also became the first minority member of the New York State Senate to represent a majority-white district.<ref name="BiographyMayor">{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/files/1_2_1/Mayor/MayorsBio060208.pdf|title=Biography: Mayor Byron Brown|access-date=January 14, 2009|publisher=www.ci.buffalo.ny.us. City of Buffalo}}</ref><ref name="Biography">{{cite web|url=http://wings.buffalo.edu/uncrownedqueens/K/bios/B/brown_byron_william.html |title=Biography: Byron William Brown |access-date=January 14, 2009 |publisher=Uncrowned Kings. Uncrowned Queens Institute for Research and Education on Women, Inc. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091111135141/http://wings.buffalo.edu/uncrownedqueens/K/bios/B/brown_byron_william.html |archive-date=November 11, 2009 }}</ref>

During Brown's tenure in the New York State Senate, the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] was in the minority.<ref name=Twwbm/> Brown was part of the majority that backed [[New York Governor]] [[George Pataki]]'s 2001 plan to build up to three [[Western New York]] casinos on [[Seneca Indian]] land. The legislation was controversial because it granted [[slot machine]] rights to casino operators for the first time in New York State. Both of the previous casinos used video gambling machines with [[debit card]]s. Brown supported the casinos as a way to support the local economy.<ref name="Sengupta2001">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/22/nyregion/lawmakers-are-ambivalent-on-pataki-s-casino-proposal.html|title=Lawmakers Are Ambivalent On Pataki's Casino Proposal|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=June 22, 2001|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Sengupta, Somini}}</ref> When the casino was completed in 2003, he was on the seven-member commission that was to apportion the state's agreed 18% share of the slot machine revenue, amounting to approximately [[US$|$]]40&nbsp;million.<ref name="Stone2003">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/27/nyregion/as-tribe-plans-hotel-for-casino-niagara-falls-weighs-effects-729230.html|title=As Tribe Plans Hotel for Casino, Niagara Falls Weighs Effects|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=December 27, 2003|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Stone, Stacey}}</ref>

By spring of 2003, Brown was a rising star in the declining years of the "[[Harlem Clubhouse]]", a loose political fraternity of [[David Dinkins]], [[Charles Rangel]], [[Basil Paterson]], [[Percy Sutton]] and sometimes [[H. Carl McCall]] that had dominated state politics while forging the careers of its members for much of the late 20th century. He was envisioned as a front-runner for the 2006 Democratic nomination as [[Lieutenant Governor of New York]] or as Buffalo's first black mayor.<ref name=TBtSTII>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/20/nyregion/to-beat-the-system-they-infiltrated-it-a-political-force-grows-in-buffalo.html|title=To Beat the System, They Infiltrated It; A Political Force Grows in Buffalo |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=March 20, 2003|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Hicks, Jonathan P.}}</ref><ref name="Hicks2003">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/03/nyregion/as-political-lions-go-gray-harlem-wanes-as-center-of-power.html|title=As Political Lions Go Gray, Harlem Wanes as Center of Power |access-date=January 14, 2009|date=February 3, 2003|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Hicks, Jonathan P.}}</ref> By 2004 it seemed clear that he was eyeing the mayor's office.<ref name="McCarthy2004">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=101AAD43DB03EAD4&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Brown's Team Albany - As State Sen. Byron W. Brown Prepares To Run For Mayor Next Year, He's Crafting A Staff Rich With Political Operatives -- Including Democratic Insider G. Steven Pigeon|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=March 29, 2004|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=McCarthy, Robert J.}}</ref> In the 2004 New York State Senate elections, Republican nominee Al Coppola opposed Brown for the [[redistricting|redistricted]] 60th District and garnered only 23% of the vote.<ref name="The2004">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/us/the-2004-elections-new-york-region-the-races-for-the-new-york-state.html|title=The 2004 Elections: New York Region; The Races for the New York State Assembly and Senate|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=November 4, 2004|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

==Mayoralty==
{{Main|2005 Buffalo mayoral election}}
In February 2005, Brown announced his candidacy for Mayor of Buffalo.<ref name="MetroBriefing2005">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/14/nyregion/metro-briefing-new-york-buffalo-mayoral-candidate-announces.html|title=Metro Briefing &#124; New York: Buffalo: Mayoral Candidate Announces |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=February 14, 2005|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> On April 29, 2005, three-term Democratic Mayor Anthony Masiello announced he would not seek a fourth four-year term.<ref name=BMWSaFTitF>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/30/nyregion/metrocampaigns/30buffalo.htm|title=Buffalo Mayor Won't Seek a Fourth Term in the Fall|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=April 29, 2005|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Staba, David}}</ref> Masiello had run on both major party lines for his final two terms and had twice endorsed Republican Governor George Pataki. During his tenure, the city population and industrial tax base had decreased.<ref name=BMWSaFTitF/> Six candidates, including Brown, entered the race to replace him,<ref name=AEoaBCiBMR>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/04/nyregion/metrocampaigns/04buffalo.htm|title=All Eyes on a Black Candidate in Buffalo's Mayoral Race|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=June 4, 2005|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Hicks, Jonathan P.}}</ref> with Brown accumulating many endorsements and the backing of organized labor.<ref name=AEoaBCiBMR/>

[[New York Attorney General]] [[Eliot Spitzer]] described helping Brown win the Mayoral race as his "biggest campaign priority" in the last month and a half before Primary Day.<ref name="Healy2005">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/08/nyregion/off-the-trail-2005-mayor-ferrer-has-spitzers-endorsement-hes-had.html|title=Off The Trail: 2005 Mayor; Ferrer Has Spitzer's Endorsement. He's Had It for Six Months. You Could Look It Up.|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=August 8, 2005|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Healy, Patrick D.}}</ref> Buffalo, which had an 8:1 Democrat to Republican ratio and a 38% black population, was 75% contained in Brown's State Senate district.<ref name=AEoaBCiBMR/> Brown carried 59% of the vote in the September 13, 2005, Democratic primary. He then went on to face Kevin Helfer, a former City Council colleague, in the general election.<ref name=SSCtDNfM>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/15/nyregion/metrocampaigns/15buffalo.html|title=State Senator Captures the Democratic Nomination for Mayor |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=September 15, 2005|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Staba, David}}</ref> Brown was the sixth African-American to win the Democratic Mayor Primary since the 1960s, but all before him had failed to win the general election, even though the city had not elected a Republican since 1961.<ref name="Hicks2005">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/13/nyregion/13buffalo.html|title=Race Plays Silent Role in Campaign for Mayor of Buffalo |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=October 13, 2005|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Hicks, Jonathan P.}}</ref> His Republican opponent, Helfer, beat him in the Conservative Party Primary as a [[write-in]] candidate, although Brown had been endorsed by that party.<ref name=SSCtDNfM/> Brown raised more than five times as much money as Helfer,<ref name=SSCtDNfM/> however, and defeated him 64% to 27% in the general election.<ref name="Staba2005">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/09/nyregion/metrocampaigns/09buffalo.html|title=Buffalo Elects First Black Mayor, Who Claims Mandate|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=November 9, 2005|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Staba, David}}</ref>

===First term===
====Economic development====
[[Image:20080702 Brown next to Clinton and Higgins while Schumer speaks.jpg|thumb|Brown sits next to [[United States Senator|Sen.]] [[Hillary Clinton]] and [[United States House of Representatives|Rep.]] [[Brian Higgins]] while Sen. [[Charles Schumer]] speaks at Erie Canal Harbor opening ceremony on July 2, 2008.]]
Brown was sworn in on December 31, 2005 at the [[Buffalo Niagara Convention Center]].<ref name=Btoam>{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10EEEF35198595A8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Brown takes office as mayor - Inauguration ceremony, City Hall reception highlight diversity |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=January 1, 2006|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author1=McCarthy, Robert J. |author2=Meyer, Brian }}</ref> During his first day in office he toured the Buffalo Waterfront to show his commitment to its development. Before the end of the year, restoration on the original point where the [[Erie Canal]] met the [[Great Lakes]] was underway.<ref name="Staba2006a">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/18/nyregion/18buffalo.html|title=After a Half-Century of Decline, Signs of Better Times for Buffalo |access-date=January 14, 2009|date=September 18, 2006|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Staba, David}}</ref> Brown presented his plans for the development during subsequent tours by top state leaders, including future New York State Governors [[Eliot Spitzer]] and [[David Paterson]].<ref name="Confessore2006">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/15/nyregion/15spitzer.html|title=Spitzer, on Upstate Tour, Speaks of Reviving Region |access-date=January 14, 2009|date=November 15, 2006|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Confessore, Nicholas}}</ref> Erie Canal Harbor eventually opened on July 2, 2008.<ref name="Fairbanks2008">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=121B0819974BAF20&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Curtain rises on new waterfront - Official opening casts redevelopment of historic location in starring role|access-date=January 14, 2009|date=July 2, 2008|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Fairbanks, Phil}}</ref>

In early 2006, the Seneca Nation filed with the [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] to build the third of the three Western New York casinos that had been legislated in 2002. In 2007, Brown was not sure he was in favor of the third casino, which seemed to cater to local residents instead of luring tourist revenues. [[Tom Golisano]], founder of [[Paychex]], former owner of the [[Buffalo Sabres]] [[National Hockey League]] franchise and three-time candidate for New York State Governor, suggested that the Buffalo economy would not benefit from a business designed to transfer money from local citizens to the Seneca Gaming Corporation. Brown withheld support while awaiting clarification of the target consumer for the third casino.<ref name="Staba2006b">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/17/nyregion/17buffalo.html|title=A Casino Proposal That Was Once Lauded Is Now Drawing Criticism |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=April 17, 2006|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Staba, David}}</ref> In October 2006, the Seneca Nation and Brown came to terms on the final sale of a two-block stretch of city road that runs amid the {{convert|9|acre|m2|adj=on}} construction site. As part of the sale the nation agreed to both marketing terms (regarding marketing beyond the local region), and hiring preferences for city residents.<ref name="BuffaloCasino2006">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/06/nyregion/06mbrfs-011.html|title=Buffalo: Casino Moves Forward |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=October 6, 2006|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> However, in January 2007, a federal judge ruled that the granting of permission to run the third casino by the [[National Indian Gaming Commission]] was improper.<ref name="Belson2007">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/19/nyregion/19casino.html|title=Buffalo Looks for Work but Debates Casino's Value|access-date=January 14, 2009|date=February 19, 2007|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Belson, Ken}}</ref> Seneca Nation received federal approval for their casino on July 2, 2007 and opened the following day.<ref name="Staba2007">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/04/nyregion/04casino.html|title=Temporary Seneca Casino Opens in Downtown Buffalo|access-date=January 14, 2009|date=July 4, 2007|work=[[The New York Times]]|author1=Staba, David |author2=Belson, Ken }}</ref>

====Crime and poverty====
Brown was one of the original 15 mayors from United States cities such as Washington, Dallas, Philadelphia, Seattle and Milwaukee who convened at a meeting hosted by [[Michael Bloomberg]] and [[Thomas Menino]] at [[Gracie Mansion]] to confirm their support for more serious attacks on the use of illegal firearms. Bloomberg and [[Philip A. Amicone]], the mayor of [[Yonkers]], were the only Republicans. The mayors all signed a six-point "statement of principles" focused on punishing gun possession "to the maximum extent of the law", prosecuting dealers who knowingly sell guns to criminals through so-called [[straw purchase]]rs, opposing two [[United States House of Representatives]] bills to restrict cities' access to gun-tracing data, endorsing technologies to detect illegal guns, and coordinating strategies and outreach to other cities in hopes of reconvening with at least 50 mayors by year end.<ref name="Chan2006">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/26/nyregion/26guns.html|title=Seeking a National Voice, 15 Mayors Meet on Gun Violence|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=April 26, 2006|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Chan, Sewell}}</ref> A little over a year later the [[Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition]] co-chaired by Bloomberg and Menino included 225 [[bi-partisan]] [[municipality|municipal]] leaders in pursuit of legal, political and media strategies to stem gun crime and had a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets".<ref name="MayorsAgainst">{{cite web| url=http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/about/members.shtml| title=Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members|access-date=November 24, 2008|publisher=Mayors Against Illegal Guns |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080327061125/http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/about/members.shtml |archive-date = March 27, 2008}}</ref><ref name=BCaEN1oGR/> Brown noted that he learned several techniques that became useful in Buffalo in reducing the [[homicide]] rate 21% from the coalition and talks with specific mayors.<ref name=BCaEN1oGR>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/nyregion/04guns.html|title=Bloomberg Cast as Enemy No. 1 of Gun Rights |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=June 4, 2007|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Cardwell, Diane}}</ref>  Rising homicides had been a disappointment in his first year as mayor.<ref name=BghaAafyaBm/>

Brown's first-year review as a mayor was mixed.  He was praised for his overhaul of city hall, his follow through on projects and systems, and his influence on statewide redistribution, but he was dogged by crime issues and his efforts for the planned casino.  His agenda, hiring and discipline were respected, but rising homicides, continuing decay and evolving bureaucracy were troubling.  In addition to public perceptions, Brown had a good working relationship with the [[Buffalo Common Council]].<ref name=BghaAafyaBm>{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=1165C49963B20408&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Brown gives himself an 'A' after first year as Buffalo mayor - Others agree he's had some success, but other problems linger|access-date=February 5, 2009|date=December 30, 2006|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[Buffalo News]]|author=Meyer, Brian}}</ref>

[[Image:20080927 Byron Brown cropped.jpg|thumb|left|Brown spoke in September 2008 at [[Medaille College]].]]
As mayor of Buffalo, he presided over emergency relief from blizzards such as the mid-October 2006 two-foot snow storm.<ref name="MetroBriefing2006">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/16/nyregion/metro-briefing-new-york-buffalo-progress-made-in-clearing-storm.html|title=Metro Briefing &#124; New York: Buffalo: Progress Made In Clearing Storm Damage |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=October 16, 2006|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The storm more than doubled the previous record for single-day October snowfall. Despite the fact that about 200,000 city residents were without electricity, the city saw no spike in criminal activity, according to Brown.<ref name="Staba2006c">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/14/nyregion/14storm.html|title=Snowstorm Blankets Buffalo, Killing at Least 3 |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=October 14, 2006|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Staba, David}}</ref>

Buffalo is second only to [[St. Louis]] among cities nationwide in terms of percentage of vacant properties per capita. Therefore, in fall 2007, Brown committed to a $100&nbsp;million five-year plan to demolish 5,000 houses, which is about half of the city's total of vacant houses. However, since Buffalo has the second highest residential poverty rate (to [[Detroit]]) homes continue to be abandoned. The program may benefit the city because abandoned house costs it an approximate average of $20,060 over five years in lost taxes, debris removal, inspections, and policing. Also, 41% of all fires in Buffalo are in vacant buildings, and more than 90% of all arson cases involved abandoned houses.<ref name="Belson2007a">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/13/nyregion/13vacant.html|title=Vacant Houses, Scourge of a Beaten-Down Buffalo |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=September 13, 2007|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Belson, Ken}}</ref> Subsequently, during the first ever "State of Upstate Address", New York Governor Spitzer suggested committing $100&nbsp;million in state funds to build or rehabilitate 10,000 homes and apartments.<ref name="Lee2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/17/nyregion/17upstate.html|title=Spitzer Offers Broad Plan to Help Upstate Economy |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=January 17, 2008|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Lee, Trymaine}}</ref> The mayor's initial demolition plans met with resistance from preservationists and he had to negotiate with the [[National Trust for Historic Preservation]], which got him attention from coast to coast.<ref name="Ouroussoff2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/16/arts/design/16ouro.html|title=Saving Buffalo's Untold Beauty |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=November 14, 2008|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Ouroussoff, Nicolai}}</ref><ref name="Ouroussoff2008a">{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/16/MNCB143Q4L.DTL|title=Historic Buffalo's revival sets new model|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=November 16, 2008|publisher=[[Hearst Communications Inc.]]|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|author=Ouroussoff, Nicolai}}</ref>

In 2008, Brown convinced Buffalo to use a real-time wireless video surveillance system.  The city installed 56 Avrio Rapid Deployment Surveillance Solution PoleCams.  The system was the result of a request by Brown that the city evaluate surveillance cameras in other cities.<ref name="Buffalo2008">{{cite web|url=http://www.govtech.com/gt/373784 |title=Buffalo, N.Y. Fights Crime With Wireless Video Surveillance |access-date=February 7, 2009 |date=June 24, 2008 |work=[[Government Technology]]|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906091217/http://www.govtech.com/gt/373784 |archive-date=September 6, 2008 }}</ref>  By January 2009 State of the City Address, Brown reported that crime had fallen 12% and homicide by 50% since he had taken office.<ref name="Flynn2009">{{cite web |url=http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/mayor_brown_points_to_accomplishments_090129 |title=Mayor Brown points to accomplishments |access-date=February 7, 2009 |date=January 29, 2009 |publisher=LIN Television Corporation |work=[[WIVB]].com |author=Flynn, Lisa |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201034235/http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/mayor_brown_points_to_accomplishments_090129 |archive-date=February 1, 2009 }}</ref>

====Public relations====
[[File:20081021 Byron Brown headshot.jpg|thumb|Brown in 2008]]
On June 13, 2008, upon the death of [[NBC News]] Washington Bureau Chief and ''[[Meet the Press]]'' moderator [[Tim Russert]], who was a proud Buffalo native, Brown ordered that all flags on city property be lowered to [[half-staff]] in order to honor Russert's memory.<ref name="NewsmanTim2008">{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/13/tim.russert/index.html?iref=newssearch|title=Newsman Tim Russert dies at 58|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=June 14, 2008|publisher=[[Cable News Network]]. [[Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.]]}}</ref> Brown called Russert one of Buffalo's finest ambassadors, and his decision to lower the flags in honor of Russert, a civilian who never held elected office, was an unusual gesture that was described as breathtaking on ''[[Hardball with Chris Matthews]]'' by [[Tom Brokaw]].<ref name="SpecialCoverage2008">{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/25148636|title=Special Coverage On The Passing Of Tim Russert: Read the transcript from the special coverage|access-date=January 14, 2009|date=June 13, 2008|publisher=[[NBC News]]. [[Microsoft]]}}</ref> He was joined by several other officials in recognizing Russert.  Chief among those was [[United States President]] [[George W. Bush]] who signed a bill that named a stretch of [[U.S. Route 20A (New York)|U.S. Route 20A]] that passes in front of [[Ralph Wilson Stadium]] (home stadium of the [[Buffalo Bills]]) Timothy J. Russert Highway.<ref name="Argetsinger2008">{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:WPIW&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=1223698B6E28FC70&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Russert's Name to Live On in His Native City|access-date=January 14, 2009|date=July 28, 2008|publisher=[[Newbank]]|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|author1=Argetsinger, Amy |author2=Roberts, Roxanne }}</ref>

In a public relations controversy, Brown got caught in a fight against the movement to replace traditional lawns with front yard gardens. His office had issued an edict that a resident remove her landscape renovations. However, an e-mail campaign in defense of the resident caused the mayor to rethink his stance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/24/HOMASS9EU.DTL|title=Garden warrior uproots policy: Unlikely rebel wins change in code to allow more edibles
|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=October 24, 2007|publisher=[[Hearst Communications Inc.]]|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|author1=Sullivan, Ron |author2=Eaton, Joe }}</ref>

In 2019 Buffalo won the [[Golden Snowball Award]], an award presented annually to the Upstate New York city that had the largest snowfall the previous winter. Brown refused to claim the Golden Snowball Trophy from the mayor of the previous winner, Syracuse, because he "did not see the contest as 'a real contest'".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/unwanted-trophy-buffalo-won-golden-snowball-but-has-not-claimed-it/71-ae97301e-7949-4d5c-9d76-2b349a17f472|title = Unwanted trophy: Buffalo won Golden Snowball but has not claimed it|date = January 10, 2020}}</ref>

===Second term===
{{Main|2009 Buffalo mayoral election}}
On September 15, 2009, Brown won the Democratic Primary for a second term by a nearly two to one margin over City council member [[Michael P. Kearns]].<ref name="Leight2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.wkbw.com/news/59410662.html|title=Byron Brown Wins Democratic Mayoral Primary|access-date=September 16, 2009|date=September 15, 2009|publisher=[[WKBW-TV]]|author=Leight, Allen}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>  Brown had amassed an early lead amongst voters until several scandals involving former basketball star Leonard Stokes, including the questionable government support of his failed "One Sunset" restaurant and a perceived undue influence in mitigating Stokes's arrest for possessing a stolen [[handicapped parking]] permit, cut away most of his lead.  There were no Republican, third-party or independent candidates, so Brown ran unopposed and won the general election.<ref name="Buffalomayor2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/buffalo-mayor-set-for-2nd-term-after-primary-win-1.1448610 |title=Buffalo mayor set for 2nd term after primary win |access-date=September 16, 2009 |date=September 15, 2009 |work=[[Newsday]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924025950/http://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/buffalo-mayor-set-for-2nd-term-after-primary-win-1.1448610 |archive-date=September 24, 2009 }}</ref>

====Political dealings====
Brown and Erie County Democratic Party chairman Leonard Lenihan were at odds over various political positions after Lenihan played a major role in Brown's election to the office of mayor. Brown supported [[Andrew Cuomo]] for [[New York Attorney General]] in the 2006 general election, [[David Paterson]] for [[Lieutenant Governor of New York]] in the 2006 general election and [[Antoine Thompson]] for 60th District New York Senator in a special election on February 28, 2006. Lenihan disagreed with each of these choices.<ref name="McCarthy2006">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10F7D59A8ADA7528&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Smooth sailing, then choppy waters|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=January 29, 2006|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=McCarthy, Bob}}</ref> Thompson had run Brown's last common council campaign,<ref name="Campagna2001">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF9CD0F1C7F2EE&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Ex-Aide Sworn In As Council Member|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=January 5, 2001|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Campagna, Darryl}}</ref> and Brown was upset that he did not get to select his successor in the 60th District. Many supporters considered [[boycott]]ing the special election due to a perceived racial slight against an African American who seemed to be wrongfully shutout of the process. Lenihan pointed out that neither of the previous state senators turned mayor, [[Anthony Masiello]] and [[James D. Griffin]], was granted the right to pick their successor,<ref name="Watson2006">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10FB75D994349F68&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Will 'sit-out' be the way tosend message?|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=February 9, 2006|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Watson, Rod}}</ref> and he noted that Thompson had not been timely in entering the special election process.<ref name=DwbTfss>{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10F1924B8B7BD5A8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Democrats won't back Thompson for State Senate—Republicans to gauge interest of School Board member Jacobs|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=January 10, 2006|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=McCarthy, Robert J.}}</ref> The Erie and [[Niagara County, New York|Niagara]] County Democratic committees bypassed Thompson as their nominee in favor of [[Marc A. Coppola|Marc Coppola]] despite Brown's backing in the February special election.<ref name=GSROiaSSR>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/25/nyregion/republicans-see-a-rare-opportunity-in-buffalo-district.html|title=G.O.P. Sees Rare Opportunity in a State Senate Race|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=February 25, 2006|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Staba, David}}</ref> Thompson subsequently decided to run for the New York Senate seat in the November general election.<ref name="Spector2006">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:RDCB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10FA426C95343130&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=GOP may face stiff battles in House|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=February 6, 2006|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Spector, Joseph}}</ref>

The week before the 2006 New York State Democratic Convention, Brown was described as a political confidant of Democratic New York Attorney General candidate Andrew Cuomo.<ref name="Hicks2006">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/nyregion/27ag.html|title=This Time, a Humbler, More Cautious Cuomo Forges Ahead |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=May 27, 2006|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Hicks, Jonathan P.}}</ref> He seconded Cuomo's nomination at the convention on May 30, 2006.<ref name="Habuda2006">{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=112008159AEFFB18&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Cuomo is choice for attorney general - Area native O'Donnell plans to petition for spot on ballot |access-date=November 24, 2008|date=May 31, 2006|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Habuda, Janice L.}}</ref> Throughout the campaign Brown was described as a close political advisor to Cuomo.<ref name="Hicks2006a">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/30/nyregion/30cuomo.html|title=As Pirro's Campaign Gets Sidetracked, Cuomo Remains Silent |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=September 30, 2006|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Hicks, Jonathan P.}}</ref> He was noted as (along with [[Charles Rangel]]) one of the important black political leaders that Cuomo courted on his road to victory.<ref name="Hicks2006b">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/nyregion/08ag.html|title=Cuomo Wins Attorney General Race Handily After a Stormy Campaign|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=November 8, 2006|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Hicks, Jonathan P.}}</ref>

During the [[2008 United States presidential election]], like most of the New York State Democratic establishment,<ref name="Hicks2008">{{cite web|url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/why-dinkins-supports-clinton|title=Why Dinkins Supports Clinton|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=January 31, 2008|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Hicks, Jonathan P.}}</ref> Brown was a supporter of [[Hillary Clinton]], the [[United States senator]] from New York. This marked a break from his earlier political organization, Grassroots, which supported [[Barack Obama]] from the outset.<ref name="Powell2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/nyregion/05york.html|title=Many Democrats Still Wavering on a Choice|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=February 5, 2008|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Powell, Michael}}</ref><ref name="Dwoskin2008">{{cite web|url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/two-mayors-join-forces-to-support-obama/|title=Two Mayors Join Forces to Support Obama|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=February 5, 2008|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Dwoskin, Elizabeth}}</ref> He even ran to be a delegate for Clinton at the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]].<ref name="Staba2008">{{cite web|url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/a-pitched-battle-upstate-for-democratic-votes|title=A Pitched Battle Upstate for Democratic Votes|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=January 31, 2008|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Staba, David}}</ref> In July 2008, Golisano announced that he would attempt to create change in Albany by spending $5&nbsp;million on targeted campaigns. During the New York state September primary elections for state office, ''[[The New York Times]]'' alleged that Brown was aiding Golisano's attempt to unseat [[Sam Hoyt]] in the New York State Assembly.<ref name="Confessore2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/nyregion/09primer.html|title=What the Political Insiders Will Be Watching, in a Primary Often Overlooked |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=September 8, 2008|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Confessore, Nicholas}}</ref>

As [[Hillary Clinton]] resigned her United States Senate seat on January 21, 2009, to assume a position in the [[United States Cabinet]] under [[United States President]] [[Barack Obama]],<ref name="CarolineKennedy2009">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/01/22/news/news-us-usa-politics-kennedy.html|title=Caroline Kennedy Withdraws Senate Bid|access-date=January 22, 2009|date=January 22, 2009|work=[[The New York Times]]}} {{Dead link|date=June 2010| bot=DASHBot}}</ref> New York Governor [[David Paterson]] was required to appoint a temporary replacement until a special election in 2010 for the balance of her term. Some thought that the New York State Governor would appoint a minority senator such as Brown, [[Gregory W. Meeks]], [[H. Carl McCall]], [[Bill Thompson (New York politician)|William C. Thompson Jr.]], [[José E. Serrano]] or [[Nydia M. Velázquez]].<ref name="Chan2007">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/22/us/politics/22hillary.html|title=If Clinton Should Win, Who Would Take Her Place?|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=January 22, 2007|work=[[The New York Times]]|author1=Chan, Sewell |author2=Pérez-Peña, Richard }}</ref> However, Andrew Cuomo was the front-runner for the seat and the next most likely candidates were Velázquez, [[Steve Israel]], [[Nita Lowey]] and Meeks.<ref name="Hakim2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/22/nyregion/22york.html|title=New York Weighs Options to Fill the Seat of Senator Clinton |access-date=November 23, 2008|date=November 21, 2008|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Hakim, Danny}}</ref> Prominent women who were mentioned include [[Carolyn B. Maloney]] and [[Caroline Kennedy]].<ref name=WaHfCS>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/us/politics/04senateseat.html|title=Wishing and Hoping for Clinton's Seat|access-date=November 23, 2008|date=October 4, 2007|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Hakim, Danny}}</ref> ''The New York Times'''s Danny Hakim noted that Cuomo, Paterson and Brown were the three names most often mentioned prior to Paterson's ascension to the governor's office.<ref name=WaHfCS/>  Although these three were the favorites, Brown was considered an unknown outside of Western New York.<ref name="Kraushaar2008">{{cite web|url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/the_scorecard/2008/11/potential_clinton_successors.html|title=Potential Clinton successors|access-date=February 5, 2009|date=November 14, 2008|work=[[RealClearPolitics]]|author=Kraushaar, Josh}}</ref>  Nonetheless, Brown's name was mentioned before Kennedy's and Cuomo's in a ''New York Times'' article paragraph about Paterson's final nomination decision thoughts.<ref name="Haberman2009">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/nyregion/23nyc.html|title=The Paterson Show Takes a Comic Turn, and It Isn't Funny |access-date=February 5, 2009|date=January 22, 2009|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Haberman, Clyde}}</ref>  In fact, in at least one article in ''The New York Times'' on the subject, Brown was mentioned and Cuomo wasn't.<ref name="Peters2009">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/nyregion/22process.html|title=Double-Takes by the Governor in Casting a Senator |access-date=February 5, 2009|date=January 21, 2009|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Peters, Jeremy W.}}</ref>  When Paterson announced he had selected [[Blue Dog Democrat]] [[Kirsten Gillibrand]], Brown was one of the few contenders to attend the event.<ref name="Lovett2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/01/23/2009-01-23_critics_pounce_on_gov_patersons_choice_o.html|title=Critics pounce on Gov. Paterson's choice of Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand for Hillary's Senate seat|access-date=January 27, 2009|date=January 23, 2009|publisher=NYDailyNews.com|work=[[New York Daily News]]|author=Lovett, Kenneth}}</ref>

When Andrew Cuomo ran for governor during the [[New York gubernatorial election, 2010|2010 New York gubernatorial election]], Brown was mentioned in early 2010 as a possible [[Lieutenant Governor of New York]] candidate by numerous sources, including multiple journalists from ''The New York Times''.<ref name="Peters2010">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/nyregion/22paterson.html|title=Paterson, Before Meeting Obama, Hones Message|access-date=March 11, 2010|date=February 22, 2010|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Peters, Jeremy W.|page=A15}}</ref><ref name="Hakim2010">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/25/nyregion/25race.html|title=Still Preparing, Cuomo Courts Black Support |access-date=March 11, 2010|date=January 25, 2010|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Hakim, Danny|page=A1}}</ref>  Meanwhile, in early 2010, newly transplanted New Yorker [[Harold Ford Jr.]] considered challenging New York's junior United States senator, [[Kirsten E. Gillibrand]], in the [[United States Senate special election in New York, 2010|2010 United States Senate special election in New York]] and met with Brown as part of his statewide political travels.<ref name="Peters2010a">{{cite web|url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/25/dont-schmear-me-ford-warns/|title=Don't 'Schmear' Me, Ford Warns|access-date=March 11, 2010|date=January 25, 2010|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Peters, Jeremy W.}}</ref><ref name="Barbaro2010">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/25/nyregion/25fordstyle.html|title=An Unofficial Candidate, on the Trail |access-date=March 11, 2010|date=January 25, 2010|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Barbaro, Michael|page=A13}}</ref>

===Third and fourth terms===
{{see also|2013 Buffalo mayoral election|2017 Buffalo mayoral election}}
{{Expand section|date=June 2020}}
Brown was elected to a third and fourth term, winning handily in both elections. Among some of his most notable actions during these terms include successfully lobbying for a replacement for the [[Buffalo–Exchange Street station|Exchange Street Amtrak station]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/deadline-is-thursday-for-train-station-decision/432654958 |title=Downtown Buffalo recommended for train station |newspaper=WGRZ |date=April 20, 2017 |access-date=April 27, 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and announcing changes to the [[Buffalo Police Department]] following an [[Buffalo police shoving incident|incident between protesters and police]] during the [[George Floyd protests]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-11 |title=Buffalo mayor calls police union a "barrier to reform" after viral video sparks condemnation |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/buffalo-mayor-byron-brown-calls-police-union-a-barrier-to-reform-after-viral-video-sparks-condemnation/ |access-date=2020-06-14 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> He also oversaw a period of development after the passing of the [[Buffalo Billion]] program.

He was a close political ally of former [[New York Governor]] [[Andrew Cuomo]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-24|title=Brown loses Buffalo mayor primary to socialist; now what?|url=https://www.syracuse.com/state/2021/06/byron-brown-loses-primary-for-buffalo-mayor-to-socialist-now-what.html|access-date=2021-08-19|website=syracuse|language=en}}</ref>

In 2016, Brown spearheaded The Unified Development Ordinance, also known as the Buffalo Green Code, which eliminated minimum parking standards in the city's zoning regulations.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sommer|first=Mark|title=Buffalo's zoning code steps into the 21st century|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/buffalos-zoning-code-steps-into-the-21st-century/article_a8b81e45-f6f3-526e-99fe-dde988ef9c78.html|access-date=2021-11-03|website=The Buffalo News|language=en}}</ref>

===2021 mayoral election===
{{see also|2021 Buffalo mayoral election}}
{{Expand section|date=June 2021}}
In 2021, Brown campaigned for an unprecedented fifth term,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/buffalo-mayor-byron-brown-to-seek-fifth-term-formal-announcement-expected|title = Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown to officially seek fifth term|date = February 23, 2021}}</ref> but was defeated in the Democratic primary on June 23, 2021, by [[India Walton]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-23|title=India Walton wins Democratic primary for Mayor of Buffalo|url=https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/india-walton-wins-democratic-primary-for-mayor-of-buffalo|access-date=2021-06-26|website=WKBW|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-23|title=India Walton unofficially beats 4-term Buffalo mayor Byron Brown in Democratic primary; on track to be Buffalo's first female mayor|url=https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/india-walton-unofficially-beats-4-term-buffalo-mayor-byron-brown-in-democratic-primary/|access-date=2021-06-26|website=News 4 Buffalo|language=en-US}}</ref> During the primary campaign, Brown refused to participate in debates.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/government-and-politics/byron-brown-seeking-a-fifth-mayoral-term-in-buffalo-is-not-taking-the-campaign-bait/article_5d96b310-ced2-11eb-a369-ff502204f88c.html|title = Byron Brown, seeking a fifth mayoral term in Buffalo, is not taking the campaign bait}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.investigativepost.org/2021/06/12/browns-non-campaign-campaign-for-mayor/|title = Brown's non-campaign campaign for mayor|date = June 12, 2021}}</ref> While initially low key in his fundraising efforts,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.investigativepost.org/2021/06/08/byron-browns-campaign-donors/|title = Byron Brown's campaign donors|date = June 8, 2021}}</ref> he was supported by a number of wealthy donors late into his campaign.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wealthy last-minute donors supporting Mayor Byron Brown campaign|url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/wealthy-last-minute-donors-supporting-mayor-byron-brown-campaign/71-070d5207-9d7f-40c8-bf26-2ccb353fde45|access-date=2021-06-26|website=wgrz.com|date=June 21, 2021|language=en-US}}</ref>

After his defeat in the primary, Brown announced that he would run as a write-in candidate in the general election.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Adams |first1=Saundra |title=Mayor Brown's team petitioning to get his name on the November ballot |url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/mayor-brown-making-a-push-to-get-his-name-on-november-ballot-india-walton-vote/71-0940338e-9457-4dc4-b80a-25d0522c9300 |website=WGRZ |date=August 16, 2021 |access-date=August 16, 2021}}</ref> Since the Erie County Democratic Party has supported India Walton following her victory in the Democratic Party primary, Brown increasingly relied on support from local Republican officials and right-wing organizations which were opposed to Walton, including to assist with collecting signatures for a place on the general election ballot.  On August 17, 2021, Brown's campaign submitted approximately 3,000 signatures in order to appear on the ballot as an independent, with the party label "Buffalo Party."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Anstey |first1=Evan |title=Mayor Brown to submit petition to get on November ballot with "Buffalo" party |date=August 16, 2021 |url=https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/buffalo/mayor-brown-to-submit-petition-to-get-on-november-ballot-with-buffalo-party/ |publisher=WIVB4 |access-date=August 17, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=WGRZ Staff |title=Mayor Byron Brown comments on potential support from Buffalo GOP |date=August 2, 2021 |url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/mayor-byron-brown-comments-on-potential-support-from-buffalo-gop/71-fcf22579-542a-4186-9e2d-defb5503e56b |publisher=WGRZ |access-date=August 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Geoff |title=Campaign Notes: Week of Aug. 15 |url=https://www.investigativepost.org/2021/08/17/campaign-notes-week-of-aug-15/ |website=Investigative Post |date=August 17, 2021 |publisher=Institute for Non-Profit News}}</ref>  The Erie County Board of Elections initially ruled the petitions invalid, and Brown sued for ballot access.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Richard |first1=Winger |title=Buffalo Mayor Will Challenge New York Independent Candidate Petition Deadline |url=https://ballot-access.org/2021/08/15/buffalo-mayor-will-challenge-new-york-independent-candidate-petition-deadline/ |publisher=Ballot Access News |access-date=August 17, 2021}}</ref> However, on September 16, 2021, state and federal courts ruled against Brown, meaning that he would not appear on the 2021 general election ballot and would instead continue his campaign as a write-in candidate.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Richert |first1=George |title=Erie County BOE formally certifies Buffalo Mayoral ballot without Byron Brown's name |date=September 17, 2021 |url=https://www.wivb.com/india-walton-buffalo-mayor/erie-county-boe-formally-certifies-buffalo-mayoral-ballot-without-byron-browns-name/ |publisher=WIVB4 |access-date=September 20, 2021}}</ref> During the November 2 general election, Brown was re-elected after winning 58.8% of the vote as a write-in candidate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wbfo.org/local/2021-11-02/buffalo-mayor-byron-brown-appears-to-win-reelection-as-write-in-candidate|title=Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown appears to win reelection as write-in candidate|first1=Tom|last1=Dinki|first2=Emyle|last2=Watkins|publisher=WBFO|date=2 November 2021|access-date=3 November 2021}}</ref> Brown declared his surprise victory as "one of the greatest comeback stories in our history."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/politics/elections/buffalo-mayor-race-byron-brown-india-walton-election-results/71-6ffa7f1f-d1d3-4136-82c5-bc38cbd7ff99|title='The people chose one of the greatest comeback stories in our history': Byron Brown declares victory in Buffalo mayor race|publisher=WGRZ|date=2 November 2021|access-date=3 November 2021}}</ref> Brown had focused his campaign on rejecting the supposed radical views of Walton while stressing his own moderate credentials. He stated his victory was "a rebuke of [[defund the police]], [...] a rebuke of socialism", issues that his opponent India Walton ran on.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/580023-buffalo-mayor-says-reelection-a-rebuke-of-socialism-police-defunding|title=Buffalo mayor says reelection a rebuke of socialism, police defunding|access-date=November 20, 2021|author=Tal Axelrod|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=November 4, 2021}}</ref>

Brown received general election endorsements from [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] [[Tom Suozzi]], [[Buffalo Common Council]] members Joseph Golombek, Christopher Scanlon, and Ulysees Wingo, former Mayor of Buffalo [[Anthony Masiello]], the [[editorial board]] of ''[[The Buffalo News]]'', and the local, county, and state [[Police unions in the United States|police unions]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=W. Brown|first=Byron|date=2021-10-09|title=As a former Mayor, Congressman Suozzi fully understands what is at stake in this election. It is about continuing our progress in Buffalo over the next four years! I am grateful for his support! #WriteDownByronBrown|url=https://www.facebook.com/brown4buffalo/videos/as-a-former-mayor-congressman-suozzi-fully-understands-what-is-at-stake-in-this-/242679627856655/|access-date=2021-11-07|website=[[Facebook]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Buckley|first=Eileen|date=2021-06-29|title=Support for Mayor Brown's write-in|url=https://www.wkbw.com/news/politics/support-for-mayor-browns-write-in|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-07|website=[[WKBW-TV]]|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629224005/https://www.wkbw.com/news/politics/support-for-mayor-browns-write-in |archive-date=June 29, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-29|title=BROWN FOR BUFFALO ANNOUNCES SUPPORTERS OF WRITE-IN CAMPAIGN|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/514901422/Write-Down-Byron-Brown-Supporters|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-07|website=[[Scribd]]|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708235307/https://www.scribd.com/document/514901422/Write-Down-Byron-Brown-Supporters |archive-date=July 8, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2021-10-23|title=The Editorial Board: Re-elect Brown, who knows how to govern, unlike the dangerously inexperienced Walton|url=https://buffalonews.com/opinion/editorial/the-editorial-board-re-elect-brown-who-knows-how-to-govern-unlike-the-dangerously-inexperienced/article_c57e1354-3289-11ec-a98f-bf4140eddcb5.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-07|website=[[The Buffalo News]]|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023204930/https://buffalonews.com/opinion/editorial/the-editorial-board-re-elect-brown-who-knows-how-to-govern-unlike-the-dangerously-inexperienced/article_c57e1354-3289-11ec-a98f-bf4140eddcb5.html |archive-date=October 23, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-12|title=Police benevolent associations endorse Mayor Brown for re-election|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/local-politics/2021/10/12/police-benevolent-associations-endorse-mayor-brown-for-re-election|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-07|website=[[Spectrum News 1]]|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012194914/https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/local-politics/2021/10/12/police-benevolent-associations-endorse-mayor-brown-for-re-election |archive-date=October 12, 2021 }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Byron Brown is married to the former Michelle Austin and they have a son, Byron III,<ref name=Bsctd>{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11860E471BE87860&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Brown's son confessed to detective - Mayor Gave Benefit Of The Doubt Questions still linger over accident details |access-date=November 24, 2008|date=April 7, 2007|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Spina, Matthew}}</ref><ref name=Pftvnticc>{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=1185BA258BD1E100&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Police fail to view new tape in car case - Mayor's SUV, driver are shown, college says |access-date=November 24, 2008|date=April 6, 2007|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Spina, Matthew}}</ref><ref name=MBbbtoS>{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:BNWB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=1183BFB898C09FC8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Mayor Brown 'baffled' by theft of SUV|access-date=November 24, 2008|date=March 31, 2007|publisher=[[Newsbank]]|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Meyer, Brian}}</ref> who is referred to as Byron Jr. by some accounts.<ref name=Twwbm/> Brown III enjoys basketball and has attended high-level youth basketball camps. He played for [[City Honors School]].<ref name="Prisbell2007">{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:WPIW&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11A387077B3A9130&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Camps Turn to Skills, Rather Than Thrills - Shoe Company-Sponsored Events for High School Basketball Players Have Begun to Put an Emphasis on Fundamentals |access-date=November 24, 2008|date=July 6, 2007|publisher=[[Newbank]]|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|author=Prisbell, Eric}}</ref> On the national level, he was an unheralded [[point guard]] in the 2008 high school graduating class,<ref name="Prospects">{{cite web|url=http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiting/tracker/prospects?&state=NY&status=null&toggle=null&pos=PG&season=2008&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncb%2frecruiting%2ftracker%2fprospects%3f%26state%3dNY%26status%3dnull%26toggle%3dnull%26pos%3dPG%26season%3d2008|title=Prospects (2008)|access-date=November 26, 2008|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures}}</ref> and he went on to attend Queen City Prep in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]].<ref name="McShea2008">{{cite web|url=http://buffalonews.typepad.com/preptalk/2008/10/big-day-for-ham.html|title=Big day for Hamburg's McLimans|access-date=November 26, 2008|date=October 27, 2008|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=McShea, Keith}}</ref>

The Brown family attends St. John Baptist Church.<ref name=Btoam/>  While mayor, Brown has performed at least one wedding ceremony at the church.<ref name="ElenaRussell2009">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/fashion/weddings/12erussell.html|title=Elena Russell and Raymour Nosworthy |access-date=March 11, 2010|date=July 12, 2009|work=[[The New York Times]]|page=ST10}}</ref>  Byron Brown is a chapter president of [[Alpha Phi Alpha|Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity]],<ref name=Twwbm/> a past President of the Buffalo State College Alumni Association Board, and at the time of his mayoral inauguration he sat on the Board of the [[Scouting in New York|Boy Scout Council of Western New York]] and the Community Action Organization of Erie County.<ref name="Byron">{{cite web|url=http://www.bnmc.org/BNMC/Bios/Bio_Brown.html|title=Byron W. Brown|access-date=November 24, 2008|publisher=Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927040835/http://www.bnmc.org/BNMC/Bios/Bio_Brown.html |archive-date = September 27, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Brown collects [[tropical fish]] and maintains an aquarium in his Buffalo Mayor's office.<ref name=ItblBBictsatfAmoB/> His parents divorced and at the beginning of his mayoral tenure, his mother was living in Buffalo.<ref name=ItblBBictsatfAmoB/> He also is a member of the Erie County Democratic Committee. He was a delegate to the [[1992 Democratic National Convention|1992]], [[2000 Democratic National Convention|2000]] and [[2004 Democratic National Convention|2004]] [[Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Conventions.]]
<!--Below are local issues that are not covered in the national press and thus not really encyclopedic at the international level for a Mayor who is abundantly cited in the New York Times.  I believe that almost nothing related to his political career once he began serving at the statewide level is encyclopedic if it is not mentioned outside of Buffalo. The first item below does not even have a [[WP:RS]].  The other two seem to be [[WP:POV]] stories.-->

==Controversy==
On May 2, 2008, Brown made use of the Buffalo Police Department, police from neighboring suburbs, the [[S.W.A.T]] team, Erie County Sheriff's department (with officers' guns strapped to their thighs), [[CBRNE]] (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives) Unit armored vehicles, the K-9 unit, and a mobile command to police "Quad Party", a yearly, end-of-semester celebration held by students of Canisius College, which is situated in his neighborhood, prompting accusations of "overkill" in terms of law enforcement presence.<ref name="PolicePresence">{{cite web| url=http://www.topix.net/forum/city/buffalo-ny/T77NIJML88LT19H4I/p4| title=Police Presence Overkill?}}</ref>

In August 2008, it was revealed that Brown condoned a Buffalo Police Department policy of illegally withholding crime reports from public knowledge.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/408842.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081201205616/http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/408842.html| archive-date = 2008-12-01| title = Mayor silent on department's crime report policy : Home: The Buffalo News}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.0em ; font-size:95%"
!|Year
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Opposition (1)
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Opposition (2)
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Opposition (3)
!|Votes
!|Pct
|-
| 2000 [[New York State Senate|NYSS]] 57th<ref name=2000NYSS>{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2000/wsen2000.pdf |title=2000 New York State Senate |publisher=New York State Board of Elections |access-date=January 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823002233/http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2000/wsen2000.pdf |archive-date=August 23, 2012 }}</ref>
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Byron Brown'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |48,683
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |59.77%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Bob Woolworth
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |12,542
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |15.40%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Al Coppola]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |18,938
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |23.25%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Anthony Murty
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1,285
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |1.58%
|-
|
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |47,011
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |11,069
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |
|
|{{Party shading/Conservative}} |[[Conservative Party of New York|Conservative]]
|{{Party shading/Conservative}} align="right" |13,501
|{{Party shading/Conservative}} |
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[New York State Right to Life Party|Right to Life]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1,285
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |
|-
|
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Liberal Party of New York|Liberal]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1,672
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |
|
|{{Party shading/Independence}} |[[Independence Party of New York|Independence]]
|{{Party shading/Independence}} align="right" |1,473
|{{Party shading/Independence}} |
|
|{{Party shading/Green}} |[[Green Party (United States)|Green Party]]
|{{Party shading/Green}} align="right" |3,385
|{{Party shading/Green}} |
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Workers
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |2,052
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |
|
|
|
|
|-
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|-
| 2002 NYSS 60th<ref name=2002NYSS>{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2002/general/2002_sen.pdf |title=2002 New York State Senate |publisher=New York State Board of Elections |access-date=January 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823004017/http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2002/general/2002_sen.pdf |archive-date=August 23, 2012 }}</ref>
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Byron Brown'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |43,260
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |65.14%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Al Coppola
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |23,154
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |34.86%||||||||||||||||
|-
|
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |41,436
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |20,236
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |
|||||||||||||||
|-
|
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|[[Liberal Party of New York|Liberal]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1,824
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|
|
|{{Party shading/Conservative}}|[[Conservative Party of New York|Conservative]]
|{{Party shading/Conservative}} align="right" |2,918
|{{Party shading/Conservative}}|
||||||||||||||||
|-
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|-
| 2004 NYSS 60th<ref name=2004NYSS>{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2004/nyssenate04.pdf |title=2004 New York State Senate |publisher=New York State Board of Elections |access-date=January 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823020842/http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2004/nyssenate04.pdf |archive-date=August 23, 2012 }}</ref>
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Byron Brown'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |75,031
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |77.07%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Al Coppola
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |22,328
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |22.93%
||||||||||||||||
|-
|
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |65,609
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |22,328
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |
|||||||||||||||
|-
|
|
|{{Party shading/Independence}}|[[Independence Party of New York|Independence]]
|{{Party shading/Independence}} align="right" |3,736
|{{Party shading/Independence}} |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|-
|
|
|{{Party shading/Conservative}}|[[Conservative Party of New York|Conservative]]
|{{Party shading/Conservative}} align="right" |1,990
|{{Party shading/Conservative}} |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|-
|
|
|{{Party shading/Working Families}}|[[Working Families Party of New York|Working Families]]
|{{Party shading/Working Families}} align="right" |3,696
|{{Party shading/Working Families}} |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|-
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|-
| 2005 [[Mayor of Buffalo|Buffalo Mayor]]<ref name="Resultsof2005">{{Cite book |title=Results of the 2005 Buffalo mayoral election |publisher=Erie County Board of Elections (received upon request by email from the [[Buffalo & Erie County Public Library]])|year=2005}}</ref>
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Byron Brown'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |46,613
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |63.79%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Kevin Helfer
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |19,853
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |27.17%
|
|{{Party shading/Green}} |Judith S. Einach
|{{Party shading/Green}} align="right" |3,525
|{{Party shading/Green}} |4.82%
|
|{{Party shading/Independence}} |Charles J. Flynn
|{{Party shading/Independence}} align="right" |3,082
|{{Party shading/Independence}} |4.22%
|-
|
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |43,541
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |17,680
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |
|
|{{Party shading/Green}} |[[Green Party (United States)|Green Party]]
|{{Party shading/Green}} align="right" |3,525
|{{Party shading/Green}} |
|
|{{Party shading/Independence}} |[[Independence Party of New York|Independence]]
|{{Party shading/Independence}} align="right" |3,082
|{{Party shading/Independence}} |
|-
|
|
|{{Party shading/Working Families}} |[[Working Families Party|Working Families]]
|{{Party shading/Working Families}} align="right" |3,072
|{{Party shading/Working Families}} |
|
|{{Party shading/Conservative}} |[[Conservative Party of New York|Conservative]]
|{{Party shading/Conservative}} align="right" |2,173
|{{Party shading/Conservative}} |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|-
| 2009 [[Mayor of Buffalo|Buffalo Mayor]]<ref name="ElectionResults">{{cite web |url=http://www.erieboe.com/content.aspx?id=94 |title=Election Results Archive |publisher=Erie County Board of Elections |access-date=March 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100915053250/http://www.erieboe.com/content.aspx?id=94 |archive-date=September 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Byron Brown'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |17,728
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} | 99.12%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Michael P. Kearns]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |158
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |0.88%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |15,567
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Write-In
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |158
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|{{Party shading/Independence}} |[[Independence Party of New York|Independence]]
|{{Party shading/Independence}} align="right" |667
|{{Party shading/Independence}} |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|{{Party shading/Conservative}} |[[Conservative Party of New York State|Conservative]]
|{{Party shading/Conservative}} align="right" |643
|{{Party shading/Conservative}} |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|{{Party shading/Working Families}} |[[Working Families Party|Working Families]]
|{{Party shading/Working Families}} align="right" |851
|{{Party shading/Working Families}} |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|2013 [[Mayor of Buffalo|Buffalo Mayor]]<ref name="2013-General">{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.erie.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2013-General.pdf |title=2013 Erie County General Election Results |publisher=Erie County Board of Elections|access-date=March 2, 2018 }}</ref>
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Byron Brown'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |26,120
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} | 70.87%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Sergio R. Rodriguez
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |10,733
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |29.12%
||||||||||||||
|-
||||
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Democratic'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |23,881
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |9,390
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |
||||||||||||||
|-
||||
|{{Party shading/Working Families}} |[[Working Families Party|Working Families]]
|{{Party shading/Working Families}} align="right" |978
|{{Party shading/Working Families}} |
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Progressive Party of New York|Progressive]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1,343
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |
||||||||||||||
|-
||||
|{{Party shading/Conservative}} |[[Conservative Party of New York|Conservative]]
|{{Party shading/Conservative}} align="right" |665
|{{Party shading/Conservative}} |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|-
||||
|{{Party shading/Independence}} |[[Independence Party of New York|Independence]]
|{{Party shading/Independence}} align="right" |596
|{{Party shading/Independence}} |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|-
|2017 [[Mayor of Buffalo]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=2017 Erie County General Election Results|url=https://elections.erie.gov/Files/Election%20Results/2017/2017-General.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016225359/https://www.elections.erie.gov/Files/Election%20Results/2017/2017-General.pdf |archive-date=October 16, 2020 }}</ref>
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''Byron Brown'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|29,688
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|62.76%
|
|{{Party shading/Reform}}|[[Mark J F Schroeder]]
|{{Party shading/Reform}}|11,446
|{{Party shading/Reform}}|26.09%
|
|{{Party shading/Conservative}}|Anita L. Howard
|{{Party shading/Conservative}}|1,357
|{{Party shading/Conservative}}|3.09%
|
|{{Party shading/Green}}|Terrence A. Robinson
|{{Party shading/Green}}|1,276 
|{{Party shading/Green}}|2.91%
|-
|
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[Democratic Party (United States)|'''Democratic''']]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|27,532
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|
|
|{{Party shading/Reform}}|[[Reform Party of the United States of America|Reform]]
|{{Party shading/Reform}}|11,446
|{{Party shading/Reform}}|
|
|{{Party shading/Conservative}}|[[Conservative Party of New York State|Conservative]]
|{{Party shading/Conservative}}|1,357
|{{Party shading/Conservative}}|
|
|{{Party shading/Green}}|[[Green Party of the United States|Green Party]]
|{{Party shading/Green}}|1,276 
|{{Party shading/Green}}|
|-
|
|
|{{Party shading/Working Families}}|[[Working Families Party|Working Families]]
|{{Party shading/Working Families}}|1,228
|{{Party shading/Working Families}}|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|{{Party shading/Independence}}|[[Independence Party of New York|Independence]]
|{{Party shading/Independence}}|609
|{{Party shading/Independence}}|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|{{Party shading/Women's Equality}}|[[Women's Equality Party (New York)|Women's Equality Party]]
|{{Party shading/Women's Equality}}|319
|{{Party shading/Women's Equality}}|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|}

{{Election box begin no change|title = 2021 Buffalo mayoral Democratic primary<ref name="primary results">{{Cite news |date=June 25, 2021 |title=How India Walton upset Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown: a district-by-district breakdown |work=[[WKBW-TV]] |url=https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/how-india-walton-upset-buffalo-mayor-byron-brown-a-district-by-district-breakdown |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210625182551/https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/how-india-walton-upset-buffalo-mayor-byron-brown-a-district-by-district-breakdown |archive-date=June 25, 2021 |access-date=September 23, 2021 }}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party      = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate  = [[India Walton]]
|votes      = 11,132
|percentage = 51.85%
|change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party      = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate  = Byron Brown (incumbent)
|votes      = 9,625
|percentage = 44.83%
|change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party      = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate  = Le’Candice Durham
|votes      = 650
|percentage = 3.03%
|change     = 
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|candidate  = Write-ins
|votes      = 62
|percentage = 0.29%
|change     = 
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes      = 21,469
|percentage = 100.00%
|change     = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

===2021 Buffalo Mayoral general election===
{{See also|2021 New York state elections}}{{Election box begin no change|title = 2021 Buffalo mayoral election<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.erie.gov/Default|title=2021 General Election UnOfficial Results|website=Erie County Board of Elections|date=19 November 2021|accessdate=20 November 2021}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party      = Independent politician
|candidate  = Byron Brown (write-in)
|votes      = 38,338
|percentage = 59.57
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party      = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate  = [[India Walton]]
|votes      = 25,773
|percentage = 39.88
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party      = Independent politician
|candidate  = Ben Carlisle (write-in)
|votes      = 219
|percentage = 0.34
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party      = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate  = Jaz Miles (write-in)
|votes      = 23
|percentage = 0.04
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party      = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate  = William O'Dell (write-in)
|votes      = 8
|percentage = 0.01
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes      = 64,361
|percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no swing
| winner    = Independent politician
| loser     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.city-buffalo.com/Home/Leadership/Mayor Buffalo Mayor Website]
* {{C-SPAN|5918}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-ny-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Al Coppola]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member from the [[New York's 57th State Senate district|57th district]]|years=2001–2003}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Patricia McGee]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Mary Lou Rath]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member from the [[New York's 60th State Senate district|60th district]]|years=2003–2005}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Marc A. Coppola|Marc Coppola]]}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Anthony Masiello]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of mayors of Buffalo, New York|Mayor of Buffalo]]|years=2006–present}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Sheila Comar]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[New York State Democratic Committee|New York Democratic Party]]|years=2016–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jay Jacobs (New York politician)|Jay Jacobs]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Democratic State Chairs}}
{{BuffaloMayors}}
{{New York cities and mayors of 100,000 population}}
{{City of Buffalo, New York}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Byron}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:21st-century American legislators]]
[[Category:African-American mayors in New York (state)]]
[[Category:African-American state legislators in New York (state)]]
[[Category:American people of Montserratian descent]]
[[Category:Buffalo Common Council members]]
[[Category:Buffalo State College alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Mayors of Buffalo, New York]]
[[Category:Democratic Party New York (state) state senators]]
[[Category:People from Hollis, Queens]]
[[Category:2012 United States presidential electors]]
[[Category:2016 United States presidential electors]]
[[Category:2020 United States presidential electors]]
[[Category:Baptists from New York (state)]]
[[Category:African-American city council members in New York (state)]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]
{{Навигационная таблица/Портал/Английская Википедия}}
[[Категория:Английская Википедия]]
[[Категория:Википедия]]
[[Категория:Статья из Википедии]]
[[Категория:Статья из Английской Википедии]]