The big contest for mayor of Buffalo is prompting strange days in our politics.
When India Walton stunned the political world by drubbing four-term incumbent Byron Brown back in June, it took only a few hours for reality to set in. One by one, the major figures of the Erie County Democratic Party began weighing in.
“India Walton won the primary,” they said. “She is the nominee of the Democratic Party. I support her.”
They included State Sen. Sean Ryan, Chairman Jeremy Zellner, Erie County Legislature Chairwoman April Baskin and Assemblyman Jon Rivera, among others. Some like Zellner, had to pirouette after initially (and without a whole lot of enthusiasm) supporting the mayor.
Only a handful of elected officials – Comptroller Barbara Miller-Williams and Council Members Chris Scanlon, Joe Golombek and Ulysses Wingo – stood with Brown a few days after the primary to support his unprecedented write-in candidacy.
Suddenly, the mayor of New York’s second largest city became a lonely figure. This is the same mayor who served as former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s powerful state Democratic chairman. But, oh yeah – Cuomo is gone, too.
Now Walton is buoyed by support from big local names who a few months ago would not recognize her on the street. And New York City types, some with statewide ambitions, give her enhanced credibility. That’s why their fundraisers held throughout the Big Town last week are deemed so important. Walton supporters like Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and State Sen. Mike Gianaris, who attended and even co-sponsored the events, loom as major figures in the state Democratic Party.
