Buffalo Mayoral Election Voter's Guide 2013

7/30/2019 Buffalo Mayoral Election Voter's Guide 2013

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347 East Ferry Street, Buffalo, New York 14208 www.buffaloreformed.com

VOTER'S GUIDE2013 MAYORAL ELECTION


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Voter's Guide - 2013 Mayoral Election 1

BUFFALO REFORMED'S 2013 VOTER'S GUIDE

This year's election is quickly approaching, with a Democratic primary scheduledfor September 10th and the general election quickly following. For the first time inrecent history, education has truly become a central focus of the mayoral election,coming shortly after May's school board election, which saw unprecedented turnout andmedia coverage. Both challengers, Democrat Bernie Tolbert and Republican SergioRodriguez, have made education platforms, with increased mayoral involvement in theCity's schools, central pieces of their campaign, with incumbent Democrat Byron Browntouting the collaboration he has made with the school district during his tenure.

The public and the news media similarly see education as being a key issue in thisyear's election. In each of the first three debates, the first question posed to thecandidates touched on education, probing candidates on their stances on the role of theMayor in the City's struggling education system. It is clear that Buffalo wants its nextmayor engaged and closely involved in the City's schools: many see the school system as

an anchor that is holding back a City otherwise making significant strides into thefuture.

This guide will help introduce voters to the three major candidates vying to beBuffalo's next Mayor and each candidate's views on the role of the Mayor and the City ofBuffalo in the education of our children. The guide will lead off with brief biographies ofeach candidate, drawn from each candidate's official press kits and from introductionsat debates. Next, the guide will include each candidate's responses to every education-related question posed at a broadcasted debate. Next, the guide includes candidateresponses the Buffalo ReformED's Candidate Questionnaire, provided to each candidatein early September. Finally, the guide concludes with basic information on how, when

and where to vote.

We hope this voter's guide proves useful to you in this coming election, and helpsyou determine which candidate you think will best serve the City on the extremelyimportant issue of our children's education. Buffalo ReformED is committed toeducating and engaging parents and community leaders in our city's education system,and this year's mayoral election is a vital opportunity for making your voice heard.


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CANDIDATE BIOGRAPHIES

Hon. Byron W. Brown (D; Two-Term Incumbent)

Byron Brown was first elected as Mayor of Buffalo in 2005, gaining re-election in2009. Prior to his election as Mayor, Brown served as a member of the New York State

Senate and the Buffalo Common Council.

A Queens native, Brown moved to Buffalo to attend Buffalo State College, wherehe graduated from with a dual degree in political science and journalism in 1983. Brownwent on to complete a certificate program at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School ofGovernment.

Brown began his public service career serving as Chief of Staff for former BuffaloCommon Council President George Arthur. Brown went on to serve on the staff of ErieCounty Legislator Roger Blackwell and New York State Assemblyman and DeputySpeaker Arthur Eve. Brown went on to serve eight years in former Erie CountyExecutive Dennis Gorski's administration, in the Equal Employment OpportunityCommission.

Brown sought his first elected office in 1993, when he ran for the Erie CountyLegislature, where he lost the Democratic primary to George Holt. In 1995, Brown wonhis first elected seat, unseating incumbent Masten District Buffalo Common Councilrepresentative David Collins. Brown went on to be reelected to the seat twice more.

In 2000, Brown won the Democratic primary for the New York Senate 57thDistrict seat over the incumbent Al Coppola, then went on to win the seat. Brownbecame the first African-American State Senator from a non-New York City district.Brown gained re-election to the seat in 2002 and 2004. In 2005, he announced that he

would run for Mayor of Buffalo and won the seat after three-term incumbent AnthonyMasiello announced he would not seek a fourth term. Brown became the first African-American Mayor of Buffalo. He won an uncontested re-election in 2009 and is seekinghis third term in 2013.


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Bernie Tolbert (D; Challenger)

Bernie Tolbert is a Buffalo, NY native with a long, distinguished career in lawenforcement and security in the public and private sector. Tolbert most recently servedas the Vice President of Security for the National Basketball Association, from which heretired and moved back to Buffalo.

Tolbert attended Buffalo Public Schools and graduated from Lafayette HighSchool, where he starred both academically and athletically. Tolbert was later enshrinedin Lafayette's Athletic Hall of Fame. Tolbert went on to attend the University at Buffalo,where he graduated with undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work whilestarring on the University's track and field team. After graduating, Tolbert worked as asocial worker in the City and a teacher in the Buffalo Public Schools.

Despite being told that numerous knee surgeries would likely disqualify him fromeligibility, Tolbert went on to a distinguished career in the FBI. Beginning his career as afield agent in Buffalo, Tolbert went on to serve as director of the Buffalo office and lateras a Special Agent in Charge, a position achieved by fewer than 1% of FBI agents. Tolbert

went on to appointments along the East Coast, including a stay at FBI headquarters inWashington, D.C.

After retiring from the FBI after a 22-year career, Tolbert entered a 'secondcareer' in security in the private sector, serving in executive level security positions forCoca-Cola and the National Basketball Association. At the NBA, Tolbert heldresponsibility for safety and security at each of the 30 individual team arenas, as well asoverseas and Olympic events.

Tolbert retired from the NBA in 2010, returning to Buffalo, where he hascontinued a long history of community involvement and public service. In addition to

working with Cradle Beach camp in a variety of capacities for over 50 years, Tolbert hascarried out board service for the United Way, Western New York Public Broadcasting,Erie County Youth Board, Medaille College and the Olmstead Conservancy. He currentlysits on the boards of the University of Buffalo Alumni Association, The NationalFoundation for Just Communities, The Wisteria Initiative, and serves as a Trustee of theStatler Foundation.


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Sergio R. Rodriguez (R; Challenger)

Sergio Rodriguez was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic and grew up onLong Island before joining the United States Marine Corps at the age of 18 in 1998.Rodriguez rose to the rank of Sergeant and completed two deployments with the 22ndMarine Expeditionary Unit. Rodriguez was honorably discharged from service in 2003.

After leaving the Marines, Rodriguez enrolled as a student at Medaille College,earning degrees in Business, Business Management and Organizational Leadership.Rodriguez served as the Deputy Director of the Erie County Veterans Services Agencyfrom 2008 to 2010, when he became the Coordinator of the Office of Veterans andMilitary Affairs at Medaille College, helping other military veterans gain the same greateducation he himself had earned at Medaille.

Rodriguez considers himself a 'serial entrepreneur,' having self published achildren's book and founding 'GI Bill Magazine,' an online magazine covering militaryand veteran education news. Rodriguez founded Luminant Digital Media LLC in 2012,an entity offering a diverse portfolio of digital media publications, including 'Military

News Channel.' Rodriguez has been recognized as a 'Veteran Small Business Championof the Year' in 2011 by the Small Business Association and featured in the BuffaloNiagara Partnership's 2012 Spotlight Professionals.

Rodriguez is also dedicated to his Hispanic heritage, serving as President of LosTanios Senior Citizens Center, as well as on the Board of The Hispanic Heritage Councilof Western New York. Rodriguez is the founding chairman of the Hispanic AmericanVeterans Memorial Committee of WNY. He received Hispanic United of Buffalo's "OurPride" Award in 2011.

Rodriguez also serves on several local and regional boards and committees,

including the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park and the Boy Scouts ofAmerica Greater Niagara Frontier Council. Since 2012, Rodriguez has also beencompiling submissions for a book, '101 Illuminating Ideas for the City of Light: How WeCan Rebuild Buffalo," slated for release in Fall 2013.


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DEBATE RESPONSES

Buffalo Association of Black Journalists DebateAugust 14, 2013 - Moderated by Al Vaughters, WIVB Reporter

FULL VIDEO

Question:I have heard all three candidates express concerns about the poor statisticson education in our City, especially the low graduation rates of Black males. I have notheard one specific plan; they have all been general statements. I know that there arethings that the leader of the City can do, so my question is: what can you do, as Mayor,specifically to help improve the education of our students?

B. Tolbert: "Clearly education is first and foremost among the issuesaffecting our community. Education cuts through everything else that wedo: it impacts poverty, it impacts crime, it impacts quality of life. So we

must do a good job in education. Just this evening I will be rolling out acomprehensive plan that addresses the issues of education in ourcommunity and the things I plan to do to have a positive impact.

"One of the things that I can tell you that I will be doing as Mayor is I will appointas a Deputy Mayor an individual who will be responsible for education and our children.That will be their sole responsibility, to ensure that we are paying the proper attention toeducation and that we are ensuring that our children are heading in the right direction.

"One of the things that I have talked about over time is that the City gives $70million to the Board of Education each year. In my estimation, for that $70 million theMayor's office should have a seat at the table with the Board of Education, with theteachers, with the unions, assuring that for our $70 million we have a say with what ishappening with our kids and providing some direction in that regard.

"I would also, as Mayor, [mandate] that the Board of Education at least report ona quarterly basis what is happening with the money from the City, instead of giving it tothem with no strings attached. I want to know how it is being used, what impact it ishaving on academics.

"Lastly, let me say that many times parents cannot be involved in the processbecause the meetings of the Board of Education are downtown at City Hall, they'reinaccessible, they're in a very small room. I would push the Board of Education to havemeetings in the community, in each of the six districts; we spent a lot of money, over abillion dollars, on the school renovation program, we have great technology. We canhave those meetings there, provide child care, so that parents can get there and beinvolved, be a part of the process, making sure that we are doing everything we can to

push our children to succeed."

B. Brown: "We all, as residents of this community, [are] concerned aboutthe low academic achievement and low graduation rates of children in theBuffalo Public Schools, particularly African-American males. The realitythough, given the legal governing structure of the schools, the Mayor doesnot have the ability to demand anything currently under the presentconfiguration of the schools.
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"I have sought to partner with the schools in every single way that we can andsupport them in every single way that we can. When I was first elected Mayor of the Cityof Buffalo, one of the first things that I did budgetarily [sic] was increase the budget forthe Buffalo Public Schools, increase Buffalo's contribution by $2 million. During mytenure as Mayor we have sent another $13 million to the Buffalo Public Schools to

support their programming."We have also made the hiring of our youth a priority. This year, in my budget,the City is spending the largest amount in its history on summer youth employment.And it is not just an employment program, it is a training program to prepare our youngpeople for the future.

"I am in schools talking to parents and teachers all the time, to students all thetime. I think it is important that we realize that in the last 25 years there has only beenone school district that did not have mayoral control or mayoral responsibility that gotit, and that is the New York City public schools. No other school district that has soughtthat in New York State has received that permission. I think it is important for theMayor to work in collaboration and cooperation with the schools, to try to support theschools in every way possible, and that is what I have done as the Mayor..."

S. Rodriguez: "You know what is interesting, when I made myannouncement in February, I identified the education system as the singlebiggest issue facing the City of Buffalo, and by that what we did is in thebeginning of May we published a twelve-point platform, very specific I mindyou, on how to address this issue.

"I will be seeking mayoral control over the education system; this is amodel that works in New York City and the City of Yonkers. In New York City, mayoralcontrol in an increase of 19 percentage points in graduate rates. When they first startedin 2002, they had 48% graduation rate. I seek accountability over the education system.We graduated 47% of kids from high school: it is unacceptable. And it is not only

African-American males, one in four that graduate from the system, but also Hispanicmales only graduate one in four as well. So I noticed, what we're essentially doing iscreating a direct-to-jail pipeline, where we're not graduating three out of four kids thatare of color in this system.

"We have to stop that; we have to seek accountability. We must implement asystem that works, that takes into account the important role that truancy officers havein assuring that kids are attending school. That takes into account that we don't need tosuspend kids and send them home, we need to go with supervised in-schoolsuspensions. We need to expand vocational programs for our kids that have skill setsthat are going to serve them well, whether or not they go to college, or even in somecases if they are not fortunate enough to graduate from high school, they need

something to fall back on."So we have to be aggressive, we have to seek control over the education system.

The current system is simply not working for us folks: it's not working. Let's trysomething new, and that is what I am offering. I am taking the education system veryseriously, I've offered a platform on this issue, so let's make this happen."


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Question: If you are elected Mayor, would you attempt to disband the local schoolboard given the District's current difficulties?

B. Brown: "I would not seek to disband the local school district; Boardmembers have run for that office, they have been elected by the people of

the City of Buffalo. We have a separately elected school board."What I have done is, in this budget, provided money for the hiring ofattendance teachers and truancy aides. One of the major issues that we have

in the Buffalo public schools is chronic absenteeism, not only in high school, in someschools as much as 30% [of students] chronically absent, but in pre-K, kindergarten andfirst grade, in some schools as much as 15% chronically absent. Our children cannotlearn under any governance structure if they're not in school, which is one of the reasonswhy we provided money in this year's budget to hire attendance officers and a truancyaide to make sure that our children are in school so that they can learn.

"Another thing that we have funded, and I took the lead on in the City of Buffalo,that I think is going to be a game changer for our children is Say Yes to Education. SayYes promises a college scholarship for every child that graduates from a Buffalo publicor a Buffalo charter school. I was one of the first funders of Say Yes to Education,making a $500,000 to the scholarship portion of that program and getting the BuffaloCity Council to follow my lead. That is leadership. Now that program also providessupports for children and their parents, and one of the first things that you will see inthis school year under Say Yes to Education is an additional two hours of afterschoolprogramming to help get our children to the level where they can graduate from schooland to improve and enhance their academic achievement."

S. Rodriguez: "I would have to say I don't quite agree with the premisethat the Mayor has to take a leadership role as it pertains to the Say Yes toEducation program.

"I would like to address your question directly: as it stands, I wouldsupport a school board that is not necessarily working on a part time basis.Right now the only incentive we provide school board member to prioritize

this massive, complex, billion-dollar system is a $5000 annual stipend. This needs to betheir number one priority. We need to have school board members that are makinginformed decisions. This needs to be their full time salaried job. Certainly if we have a[City] Council of nine members that oversee a significantly smaller budget, and they geta staff, and they get paid full time so they can make informed decisions, surely it makessense that we support the school members on the same basis....

"When we look at the state of the education system, we have to realize that no oneis seeking accountability over the system. We have school board members that do not

want to hold themselves accountable, we have superintendants, we have principals, wehave teachers, we even have parents, that no one wants to take responsibility for thesystem. I am seeking full accountability for the system, which is something that thecurrent administration is not doing. They're not leading, they don't have a vision for theschool system going forward, and they certainly don't have the sense of urgencyrequired to move this city forward and take over the education system. I will."


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B. Tolbert: "Throughout my professional career, I've always been willingto stand up and be held accountable, and I will do the same thing with theschool system. I've said in the past that we do need more accountability inour public school system. We have nine school board members, six of whichare elected in districts and three who are elected at-large across the city. I've

said that, at a minimum, the office of the Mayor should have some inputinto that process, so I've pushed for that at the very least the Mayor should be able toappoint three school board members, the three at-large members. This will allow theMayor some direct input, some direct involvement, some direct say in how our schoolsystem is going.

"I've also said that, as an option, we can seek mayoral appointment of thesuperintendant of schools, much like it is done in New York City, where the Mayorappoints the [school] chancellor. It would take a change in legislation, but what is wrongwith seeking that legislation? If it is good for our kids, if it is going to help us, if it isgoing to make us better, then we should not dismiss that as an option. Everything is onthe table, especially when it comes to our children.

"The Mayor mentions the Say Yes program, and I would add that I commend himfor the $500,000 that he got the City to donate to that program; I would also add that Iam a trustee of the Statler Foundation and I was instrumental in getting the StatlerFoundation to donate $1 million to Say Yes, which we did this past year. Say Yes is agood program, but keep in mind that it is a program that provides scholarships tochildren who graduate. Currently, state testing shows that only just under 10% of ourchildren are on a path for success in college and careers. That means a very smallnumber of high school students will have the opportunity to take advantage of Say Yes.We have to first improve the graduation rates so that we'll have more students that canuse those scholarships."

Parkside Community Association DebateAugust 22, 2013 - Moderated by Brian Myer, Buffalo News ReporterFULL VIDEO

Question: The City gives, give or take, about half of every dollar it raises in property taxes toeducate our children, yet our Mayor and the Common Council have virtually no power over how

that money is spend and how the schools are run. Should that change and, if so, specifically howshould it change?

B. Tolbert: "You're absolutely correct: half of every property tax dollar wecollect goes to the Board of Education. In the past when asked about

education, our current Mayor has said 'that is not under my purview; that issomething I have no control over.' First and foremost, I say that as Mayor,you do have some control. You certainly have an office where you can be a

loud vocal advocate on behalf of our children, speaking up every day, letting the Boardof Education know, letting the teacher's union know, letting parents know that what'shappening is not good enough for our children.

"So I propose that we should change that. First, I would seek to gain some moremayoral input by seeking legislative change that would allow the Mayor to appoint some
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of the school board members. We have nine school board members, six elected in thedistricts; I suggest that the other three should be appointed by the Mayor. Also, I wouldconsider the option of the Mayor having the ability to appoint the superintendent, muchlike they do in New York City, Washington D.C., Cleveland and other cities. That wouldallow the Mayor to now not stand behind the facade that 'it's not mine,' you must be

accountable, and I welcome the accountability and the responsibility. It's too importantan issue, the education of our children, for anyone, especially the CEO of the City, tostand back and say 'I have nothing to do with that.'"

B. Brown: "Well actions speak louder than words. During my tenure asMayor we've raised our commitment, as a City, to the Board of Education by$13 million over the course of my administration. We have fundedimportant programs like refunding music that was cut, that was a crisiscreated by the Board of Education where we were able to come up with$400,000 to restore music programs to the Buffalo public schools. We have

hired school resource officers to make the schools safer. So we have taken strategic,specific actions to support the Buffalo Public schools and I will continue to do that asMayor of the City of Buffalo."

S. Rodriguez: "Education is the single biggest issue that is facing the Cityof Buffalo. When you take into account that we only graduate 47% of kids,our Mayor should be more involved. We spend $72 million annually [oneducation]. We should seek nothing less than full mayoral control over theeducation system. This is a model that works in New York City, a model thatworks in the City of Yonkers, and it points to a person who has complete

and total accountability of the system. We need to expand the vocational programs, goto supervised in school suspensions, we need to make sure that truancy officers are outon the streets ensuring that these kids are going to school and holding the parents

accountable. There is a lot that we can do, and surely it is not convenient for the Mayorto take over this issue. Graduation rates fell from 54% to 47% last year: unacceptable."

Question:Is there a city that you think we could learn something from or should modelourselves after, and what would that be?

S. Rodriguez: "In terms of education, we can learn a lot from New YorkCity, a city right here in the State of New York. Mayor Michael Bloombergsaw the issue of education as the number one issue, so he sought mayoralcontrol over the education system. The current mayor just shifts the blame,"look, this is the school board's problem,' but does nothing to take

ownership of the issue of education..."

B. Tolbert: "...With schools, certainly New York City as Mr. Rodriguezsays. Also Newark: Newark has made some efforts in improving their schoolsystem. They have a Mayor that says I'm not going to wait for people to tellme that I have the authority, I'm going to do it and then let them tell melater..."


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WBFO DebateAugust 27, 2013 - Moderated by Jim Ranney, WBFO/WNED Station ManagerFULL VIDEO

Question: Understanding that the Mayor has no direct role in the Buffalo Public

Schools, Mr. Rodriguez and Mr. Tolbert have both criticized the incumbent for notdoing enough to champion education. What role would you embrace to address whatcould be called a crisis situation in the City's schools?

S. Rodriguez: "Well I absolutely agree that it is a crisis situation in theschool district. We're only graduating 47% of kids from our high schools. Iam seeking full mayoral control over the education system. This is a modelthat has proven to work in New York City, they have seen a 19% increase ingraduation rates since [Mayor] Michael Bloomberg took over in 2002. TheCity of Yonkers, [rates] have increased by 10.4% under mayoral control.

"But even other mayors who do not have control have done more than the currentadministration. We have Stephanie Minor [Mayor of] Syracuse, she interviewed theincoming superintendent, she used the platform to inform voters as to what can be doneto address the single most important issue facing the City of Buffalo. We have a silentadministration that has done absolutely nothing to address these issues. I havepublished a 12-point platform to address these issues; this includes expanding ourvocational programs, bringing in truancy officers, going to supervised in-schoolsuspensions, rather than sending these kids home."

B. Tolbert: "I agree that our schools' situation can be described best asdire. The current administration has said that schools do not come underthe purview of the Mayor's office, therefore it's the responsibility of theBoard of Education, the superintendent, and others. I say that as the head of

this City you use your office as a platform to talk about the issues facing ourchildren. Our future is in our children and we must do everything we can to

impact education."As Mayor, I plan to hire a Deputy Mayor level person to serve with the sole

responsibility of looking out for schools and children. I also seek to get more mayoralinvolvement, not necessarily by taking full control, but by having the ability to appointseveral members of the school board. I would also look for a change in state legislationthat would allow [the Mayor] to appoint the superintendent. Unlike the currentadministration, I'm not afraid to stand up, be a leader and face the fact that nothing ismore important to this City right now than the future of our education and ourchildren."

B. Brown: "I have led from Day One. I have already hired a Deputy Mayorto work with our schools and public education, Dr. Ellen Grant. I saw thecrisis in education 12 years ago; that's why I started a summer readingprogram to get our children reading and writing over the summer months.I've continued that program and it has grown every single year. One of thefirst things I did when I came into office as Mayor is spent more money for
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our Buffalo public schools. During my tenure we have sent an additional $13 million tothe Buffalo public schools."Question: Families with school age children are not rushing to live in the City ofBuffalo because of the Buffalo schools. We have seen city and county control boards

that have made a difference: should the State take over Buffalo's schools?

B. Tolbert: "You're absolutely right: we've lost 20,000 residents sinceByron Brown came into office, people who have not been able to stay in thecity for one reason or another, some of them because of education.

"I do not think the State should take over the schools. As Mayor, Iwould want to have the opportunity to work the school board, with theBoard of Education, with the [Buffalo] Teachers Federation, with parents,

with everyone involved to do all that I could as Mayor to make sure that we are movingalong on the right path for bettering our schools. While a control board has been helpfulin our fiscal situation, I would want to have a chance first to use my office to implementthe kinds of programs I've talked about: a deputy mayor who is responsible for one thingand one thing only, schools and our children. Not a deputy mayor who shares otherresponsibilities. I believe we can do that with a state takeover at this point."

B. Brown: "I don't favor a full state takeover of our schools at all. I haveworked to collaborate with our schools, with parents, with teachers, andothers in our community for the best outcomes of our children. Mr. Tolbertagain shows that he does not understand how the school system works andhow the school district works. We have worked with superintendents, everysuperintendent who has been in office during my tenure I have worked

with. And one of the things that I have focused on doing are strategic initiatives to helpthe schools. When there was a crisis when music instruction was cut from our schools, I

stepped up as a leader and my team put a plan in place to restore music instruction tothe schools where it was cut."

S. Rodriguez: "I don't favor a state takeover of our education system. Ibelieve that the people in charge of our education system should berepresentatives of Buffalo residents.

"Now, this is where I think I am very different from [the incumbent]:I am seeking accountability through mayoral control, the same model thathas proven to work. The Mayor, since 2005, has basically pushed 20,000

residents out of the City of Buffalo. From last year to this year, we went from a 54%graduation rate to 47%. And then [the Mayor] does nothing. He is not urgent, he is not

involved, he does not see what can actually be done by him to be involved in theeducation system. There is so much that can be done. We have a $1 billion system, andthe Mayor has done nothing to address these issues. We do have a solution: I have a 12-point platform on this issues. Mayoral control is the beginning."


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CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRES

In order to dive deeper into the many issues facing Buffalo's educational system,Buffalo ReformED sent questionnaires to each candidate, allowing them a moremeasured response to the most important education questions in this election.

Bernie Tolbert

1.a) What is the most pressing issue facing the Buffalo Public Schools?

Low graduation rates, high student dropout rates, and abysmal standardized testresults are only a symptom of the problem. The problem and most pressing issue, ispoor leadership; the city has suffered for far too long without the kind of leader thatcan bring people together, be clear and consistent about common expectations, rules,and our goal for public education in Buffalo. We have not had a visionary leader thatcommunicates meaning and purpose and facilitates understanding by connecting failing

of our children with the deterioration of our collective future in Buffalo.

1.b) How can the Mayor's office help to address this problem?

The Mayors office can be active in supporting district leadership whenimplementing a cohesive plan for reforming and improving Buffalo Public Schools. TheMayors office should be the consistent voice when advocating for actions that willproduce results and utilize the authority of the office to generate legislative and fiscalsupport from the state and Federal government for reform efforts. The Mayors office,under my leadership would be a reliable place for tax payers to access with utmosttransparency the current status of quality in BPS and how BPS are progressing for their

dollar contribution and the trust they grant us in sending their children into our schoolseach day. Lastly, the Mayors authority can be strengthened to have direct influence inthe operations of Buffalo Public Schools. The Mayors authority can also bestrengthened by supporting school board candidates who share the Mayors vision ofschool reform.

2.a) Would you, as Mayor, demand greater accountability and transparencytied to the tax funds the City provides to the District?

Yes. I would seek to obtain greater accountability and transparency tied to taxfunds, but currently the Mayor does not have the authority; the school district is not

obligated to adhere to a request for greater transparency and accountability, and theMayor cannot withhold tax funds should they not to comport.

2.b) If so, how would you demand greater accountability and transparency?

I would support through resource allocation and facilitation training andprofessional development for the BOE so they can become a highly trained and effectiveboard inclusive of best practices in accountability and good governance.


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My Deputy Mayor of schools would provide objective oversight and reporting,attend every BOE meeting, and be a presence in our public schools.

Other agencies directly under the purview of the Mayor, for example strategicplanning, public works public safety and youth development that contribute to school

district operations, will be appropriately managed and reciprocal to the BOEs efforts tobe transparent and accountable.

Because accountability and transparency are essential to improvement andgaining the trust of the public, I would be a vocal advocate for greater transparency ofthe BOE with the Common Council. The Mayors office would advocate and lobby foradditional support including funding and mandate relief with the State EducationDepartment, County, State and Federal government as well as with the philanthropicand business community in exchange for greater accountability and transparency of theBOE.

3) Would you support leasing or selling unused City school facilities tocharter schools?

Yes.

4) How can the City collaborate with the District to provide safer, morereliable transportation for students?

The City can facilitate and collaborate in planning for better and smartertransportation contracts, bus routes, and school calendar. The City can also utilize theoffice to collaborate with NFTA to better utilize our public transportation systemespecially before and after normal school hours. The City can allocate additional

resources and staffing from the police department to provide additional safety asstudents ride NFTA. The City can also support better and more appropriate training forschool aids and school safety officers that work on the school busses, as crossing guards,and in buildings during arrival and dismissal. The City can collaborate to ensureappropriate patrolling before and after school round schools and surroundingneighborhoods.

5) What would set you apart from the current Mayor on education issues?Where would you most like to make progress on?

In contrast to the current administration, my administration and myself as

Mayor, would be intensively active and inextricably involved with Buffalo PublicSchools. It is a priority of paramount proportion; the strategic planning of the city wouldintegrate our plan for improving Buffalo Public Schools. I am unafraid of becoming thesingle point of accountability and pursuing the statutory authority for Mayoral Controlshould the supportive efforts of the Mayors office be rejected, progress stagnated, andchildren and our city continue to suffer the costs of our education crisis.


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I would like to see the kind of progress that results in 100 percent of our schoolsincreasing the percentage of students proficient by 20-25 percentage points each year onall State standardized exams with the four-year goal of every public school in Buffalo hasa minimum of 75 percent of students proficient. I would also like to see growth in thenumber of students taking college entrance and career readiness exams with higher

percentages of students with results indicating they are qualified, able and ready foracceptance to four- year universities and careers without additional support andremediation.

Buffalo Mayoral Election Voter's Guide 2013

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Transcript of Buffalo Mayoral Election Voter's Guide 2013