Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - "This is my last day in office as Mayor of the City of Buffalo. I have submitted my resignation, and my resignation will take effect at 9 a.m. this morning, Tuesday, Oct. 15."
Byron Brown formally announced his resignation as Mayor of Buffalo on Tuesday, nearly 19 years after first taking over office in January of 2006. He leaves office to take the role of president and CEO of Western Regional OTB.
"As I conclude my chapter as Mayor of the City of Buffalo, I do so with immense thanks and gratefulness to the people of Buffalo," said Brown during his farewell address Tuesday morning at City Hall. "Everything I have done in public service has been out of love for the people of Buffalo. And through all of the highs and all of the lows, the people of Buffalo have always inspired me, and stood by me, and made it possible for me to do the work that needed to be done as mayor."
Through the highs and lows in the city over the last 19 years, Brown says he has experienced just about everything a person can experience in the office of Mayor.
"From historic storms, to a racially motivated mass shooting, to the passing of both my parents during the period of time that I was mayor, to the passing of some of our beloved colleagues in government. Some of you have lost loved ones during our service in government. That all takes its toll," Brown said. "But one of the things that has kept me going is the inspiration from the people of Buffalo, and the love for our community. I'm going to talk about love a lot, because you don't do this job, if you don't love the city, if you don't love the people, and if you don't want to make a difference."
It was the same love for the Buffalo community that inspired Brown and gave him strength 20 years ago, just before his run for mayor, to push through one of the more difficult and private matters of his life.
"Something that very few people know, but I am a cancer survivor. In 2004, in the lead up to running for mayor, during a presidential campaign, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. It was a very scary time for me and the family, and I think about my wife and son, and everything they have sacrificed over the years," Brown noted. "That year, our family vacation was going to New York City, where I had an operation for the prostate cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering. I remember staying in the hotel room, recovering at a time when I should have been at the Democratic National Convention, and that was our family vacation. I want to recognize my family in that moment, my staff in that moment, and some very close friends."
Since Brown announced a couple weeks back of his intentions to step down from office as mayor, he acknowledges how much he's been asked about his reasoning for the decision. He says one of the main reasons is he wishes to spend more time with his family.
"My wife and I are helping to raise our, now, 6-year-old great nephew and 7-year-old great niece. The children came to us when they were 3 and 4. And I see the time my wife puts in, I see the sacrifices she makes to make sure that the children grow up healthy and safe," Brown said. "I think back to my years of service, and the times I might not have been there enough for my own son. I don't want to have that happen again in the lives of these children. So probably the main driving reason that I made the decision to seek another opportunity is so that I would have more time at home to help in the raising of these precious children."
To all of his staff members through the years, including current and former deputy mayors, current and former commissioners and deputy commissioners, directors, city staff, Brown says the more than 3,000 people in city government don't get enough credit for what they do.
"I see the employees in city government putting heart and soul into what you do every single day, trying to make a difference in the lives of others. I want you to know that I see you. I respect you, I love you, I appreciate everything that you have done for our community, and everything that you have done for me," he said.
As for the people of Buffalo, who Brown had served for over nearly 19 full years in office, he says all of the effort had all been out of love.
"Whether you agreed with me or disagreed with me, whether you supported me or didn't support me, the job of mayor, the passion of a mayor is to love the people. It's to try to do their best for the people. And everything that I have done in this office has always been about the people of Buffalo and Western New York."
With Brown officially resigning from office on Tuesday, it was Buffalo Common Council President Chris Scanlon stepping up, as per the City Charter, to the mantle of Acting Mayor effective immediately through the end of the current term in December 2025.
"Serving as mayor is an incredible honor, and an incredible responsibility. And it's one that I enter into with excitement and optimism," said Scanlon on Tuesday in his opening statement as Acting Mayor. "I'd like every resident in the City of Buffalo to know, as Buffalo enters into this new chapter, I am prepared to represent, to serve and deliver for every corner of this city."
Having served in city government for 12 years now, Mayor Scanlon feels he is uniquely qualified to step into the role right away without missing a beat.
"During the course of the past 12 years, I've spent that time on the Common Council, almost nine in leadership and this past year serving as Council President. It's uniquely prepared me to hit the ground running today on Day 1. And I want those residents to know that I'm ready to meet all of the external responsibilities of mayor, and, more importantly, handle all the internal business that is incumbent of a mayor," Scanlon said.
During this period of transition, Scanlon says he has had the opportunity to meet with the city's commissioners, as well as executive directors to discuss their operations. Those discussions are expected to continue this week.
"We've had fantastic, robust conversations. We've already begun exchanging fantastic ideas of how we can improve the lives of the residents of the City of Buffalo. I look forward to continuing those conversations," Scanlon added.
As Scanlon hits the ground running as mayor on Tuesday, he feels he is adequately prepared to lead the City of Buffalo.
"Through this seamless transition that has taken place, I think [we have] a unique opportunity to take Buffalo to the next level," Scanlon said. "We've experienced record economic growth and increase in population, things of that nature, and we want to build upon that. Together, we're going to face challenges - as all municipalities do - but we'll face them together, and we'll use them as opportunities to take Buffalo the next level."
With Scanlon stepping up to assume the role as mayor, that means Coucil President Pro Tem Bryan Bollman will now take on the additional responsibility as serving as Acting Council President effective immediately.
"I've known Council member Bollman for more than 20 years, and worked closely with him during my entire time here. I know he is absolutely prepared to take on his additional responsibilities and lead the Common Council forward," Scanlon said of the Lovejoy District Councilman.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued the following statement on Tuesday after Scanlon's promotion to Acting Mayor for the City of Buffalo:
"Congratulations to Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon as he begins his tenure leading my beloved hometown. Serving on the Buffalo Common Council for more than a decade, he's demonstrated his commitment to this City and his dedication to its extraordinary people. We both know that Buffalo's success is critical to the success of the entire Western New York region, and I look forward to a productive working relationship with Acting Mayor Scanlon as we work to support the city we love."
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