The first African American mayor of Buffalo, New York, Byron Brown, was born on September 24, 1958 in Hollis, Queens, New York. He attended PS 134 in Hollis and, later, junior high at PS 109. He attended August Martin High school and, after graduation, enrolled in Buffalo State College. He and his sister were the first in their family to attend college. In 1983 Brown was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree with two majors: political science and journalism. In later years he earned a certificate for government executives from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of government.
After college Brown was employed in a series of jobs with local government. He spent eight years as the Director of the Erie County Equal Opportunity Commission. In 1993 he resigned this position to run for a seat on the Erie County legislature. He was not successful. In September, 1995 Brown ran for the Martin District seat on the Buffalo Common Council. In the general election he defeated David Collins who had held the seat for the past 18 years. Brown went on to win subsequent elections to the council in 1995, 1997 and 1999.
In 2000 Brown competed for and won the Democratic nomination for the New York State Senate seat from the 57th district. He went on to win the general election becoming the first minority member of the state senate to represent a white majority district.
In 2004 Brown announced his intention to run for the position of mayor of Buffalo. He won the Democratic primary with 59% of the vote. In the November general election, he defeated his opponent; garnering 64% of the vote. On December 31, 2005 Bryon Brown became the 58th, and first African American mayor, of Buffalo. He went on to serve five terms as major to become the longest serving mayor in Buffalo’s history. He was in office from 2005 until October 15, 2024.
During his tenure in office Brown focused on economic development and public safety. The Buffalo Waterfront was renovated and the Erie Canal Harbor was opened in 2008. He also supported expansion of the Seneca nation’s casino business. Brown advocated punishing illegal gun possession in the city. Under his watch real-time wireless video surveillance was expanded in Buffalo which contributed to a drop in the property-crime rate.
In 2021 Brown was defeated in the Democratic primary to determine the Democratic party candidate for mayor. Soon after this defeat Brown announced his candidacy for mayor as an independent, write-in candidate. Brown fought a vigorous campaign and in the general election garnered nearly 59% of the vote as a write-in candidate – quite an achievement for any politician.
On September 30, 2024 Byron Brown announced his resignation as mayor of Buffalo. He announced he would be taking the position of President and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting.
Byron Brown is married to the former Michelle Austin. They have one son, Byron Brown III.
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Ryan Whalen, “A look back at Byron Brown’s political career,” https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/politics/2024/10/02/a-look-back-at-byron-brown-s-political-career
“Buffalo Mayor Brown reflects on his time in office,” WGRZ-TV, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snzoT7Q1l7E
“Byron Brown,” https://uncrownedcommunitybuilders.com/person/byron-3
