In a race that looked as if it might be close to the finish, Mayor Byron Brown pulled ahead of Councilman Mickey Kearns. With 100% of votes in, Brown had 63% of the votes to Kearns’ 37%. Brown will have no challenger in the November election.
Kearns conceded at the Irish Club in South Buffalo tonight around 10:30, when 90% of the vote was in. Kearns said he wasn’t ready with a concession speech, but he called for putting differences aside, and offered that Byron Brown may be a better mayor going into the future as a result of having been challenged in this election campaign.
Mayor Brown, for his part made a victory speech that promised accountability, transparency and a continuation of services. After thanking those who worked on his campaign and those who inspired him, Brown promised continued growth and development and thanked the electorate for believing that “the best days are yet to come.”
Both Mayor Brown and Councilman Kearns say they will work together for the good of the city.
Polls were open late, some with waiting times of an hour or more. One polling place on West Delavan had only one voting machine for 5 combined districts, with lines stretching out the building and down the street.