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December 1, 2008, 3:00 pm
Buffalo Mayor Gains Support to Be Clinton Successor


By Jonathan P. Hicks



(Photo: Mike Groll for The New York Times)

Byron W. Brown was elected
mayor of Buffalo in 2005.

With Hillary Rodham Clinton’s nomination to be secretary of state now official, the discussions are ratcheting to a more frenzied level regarding her possible successor as United States senator. In fact, a number of elected officials from western New York are publicly urging Gov. David A. Paterson to appoint Mayor Byron W. Brown of Buffalo.

His supporters say that Mr. Brown, 50, would be the first black senator from New York and that he would also provide a national platform for a state official from western New York.

Mr. Brown was elected to the State Senate in 2000 and served there until his election as mayor in 2005.

“I think that the mayor would generate a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and excitement,” said State Senator Antoine M. Thompson, a Democrat who represents parts of Buffalo and Niagara Falls.

“He’s a former state senator, and so he’s familiar with state issues,” Senator Thompson said. “I think that people would like to see someone from upstate, particularly since we don’t have anyone from upstate holding any prominent statewide office.”

Of course, the governor has indicated that he will not announce a successor to Senator Clinton until she is confirmed by the Senate. But that has not prevented the lobbying from western New York from moving forward vigorously.

“Byron would be great in that position,” said Steven Pigeon, a former Erie County Democratic Party chairman. “And I’m one of the people promoting him. I think it would mean a tremendous amount to the people of western New York to have him there.”

Mr. Pigeon is also a co-chairman of Responsible New York, a political organization backed by the Rochester billionaire Tom Golisano.

“He would be great for the whole state,” Mr. Pigeon said. “He can deal with people in urban, suburban and rural parts of the state. He’s done it his whole career. If the governor is inclined to consider anyone from western New York, he’s the person that makes the most sense.”

There are several other officials from upstate and western New York whose names have been discussed as successors to Senator Clinton. One is United States Representative Kirsten E. Gillibrand of Hudson and her colleague, Representative Brian Higgins of the Buffalo area.

But neither seems to have supporters as vocal as those of Mr. Brown.

“It would allow David Paterson to make history by placing an African-American with a strong record in the Senate,” said Assemblywoman Crystal D. Peoples, a Buffalo Democrat. “I think it’s important that we, as a nation and a state, don’t go backwards. We should make sure that our legislative bodies are diverse. And he’s well qualified.”

Even George D. Maziarz, a Republican from parts of Niagara and Orleans Counties, issued a press release recommending the appointment of Mayor Brown.

“Clearly, I would much prefer to have a Republican,” Senator Maziarz said, in an interview this afternoon. “But I think there is little chance of that. But, I believe that Byron brown [sp] would be a great selection. When you look at the political makeup of the state’s officials, just about every one we have is from either the city or Long Island,” he said.

“I think Byron Brown has the experience and the credentials and would be a great choice.”

According to people who know the governor’s preferences, Mr. Paterson would prefer to have a candidate who is from upstate or is a woman or is Hispanic. Even more preferable to Mr. Paterson would be a combination of those qualities, according to people who know the governor’s preferences but who spoke only on the condition of anonymity so that they could speak openly about his thinking.

If he cannot find a suitable candidate who meets those criteria, they said, he would prefer someone with high statewide name recognition who could withstand a challenge from a potentially well-financed Republican in the 2010 election.

Mr. Pigeon indicated that he was of the belief that Mr. Golisano would be favorable to contributing to an effort to a 2010 campaign for Mr. Brown, if he were to be appointed.

For his part, Mr. Brown is saying little on the matter other than his praise of the selection of Senator Clinton as secretary of state.

“She is an excellent choice, and she has served New York extremely well,” Mr. Brown said in an interview Monday afternoon. When asked about his view about his own name being promoted for the Senate seat,” Mr. Brown said: “I trust the governor’s judgment. He’s someone who thoroughly does his homework before he makes decisions.”


Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company