 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 24.97% | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 Results by city council district Brown: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The2005 Buffalo Mayoral Election took place on November 8, 2005. After incumbentAnthony M. Masiello, aDemocrat, announced on April 29, 2005, that he would not seek a fourth term as mayor,[1] a field of several Democratic candidates emerged, from whichNew York State SenatorByron Brown emerged victorious in the primary election. In the general election, Brown went on to defeatRepublican challenger Kevin Helfer, former member of theBuffalo Common Council for the University District, as well as two minor-party candidates. Buffalo's 2005 mayoral election is notable as the first in the city to be won by an African-American candidate.
In addition to Brown, candidates for the Democratic nomination for Mayor in 2005 included Brown's predecessor as State Senator for the 57th District,Al Coppola, attorney and government reform advocateKevin Gaughan, restaurateur Steven Calvaneso, neighborhood activist andperennial candidate Judith Einach, andErie County Democratic Committee member Darnell Jackson.[2] Coppola dropped out of the race early, while the latter two hopefuls were removed from the ballot in August 2005 by the Erie County Board of Elections due to petition irregularities,[3] leading to a three-way contest between Brown, Gaughan and Calvaneso for the Democratic nomination.
The Democratic primary election was held on September 13, 2005. Brown placed first in the polls with 16,900 votes cast, or 60.6% of the total, winning the Democratic nomination. In second place was Gaughan with 9,264 votes (34.5%), and Calvaneso placed third with 1,362 votes (4.9%).[4]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Byron W. Brown | 16,900 | 60.60% | |
| Democratic | Kevin P. Gaughan | 9,624 | 34.51% | |
| Democratic | Steven A. Calvaneso | 1,362 | 4.88% | |
| Total votes | 27,886 | 100% | ||
Despite the fact that Brown was cross-endorsed by the Erie CountyConservative Party under the terms of New York State'selectoral fusion law,[2] Republican candidate Kevin Helfer mounted an unprecedented write-in campaign[6] in the Conservative primary election on September 13, 2005, that was described as "crucial" for his hopes to win the general election.[7]
The Conservative primary was held on September 13, 2005. Helfer won the election handily, earning 190 votes (65.1%) to Brown's 95 (32.5%). Gaughan also earned 7 write-in votes (2.4%).[8]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Kevin J. Helfer (write-in) | 190 | 65.07% | |
| Conservative | Byron W. Brown | 95 | 32.53% | |
| Conservative | Kevin P. Gaughan (write-in) | 7 | 2.40% | |
| Total votes | 292 | 100% | ||
Despite the fact that the Erie CountyIndependence Party officially endorsed Brown for mayor, there were two candidates from that party who also sought the nomination: Louis P. Corrigan, the Secretary of the Erie County Independence Party, and former local party chairman Charles J. Flynn. Corrigan was ruled ineligible for the ballot by the Erie County Board of Elections due to petition challenges,[10] while Flynn's petitions withstood a similar legal challenge.[11]
The Independence Party primary was held on September 13. Flynn placed first with 135 votes (45.2%); Brown took second place with 128 (42.8%). Also, Helfer earned 32 write-in votes (10.7%), and Gaughan won four (1.3%).[12]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | Charles J. Flynn | 135 | 45.15% | |
| Independence | Byron W. Brown | 128 | 42.81% | |
| Independence | Kevin J. Helfer (write-in) | 32 | 10.70% | |
| Independence | Kevin P. Gaughan (write-in) | 4 | 1.34% | |
| Total votes | 299 | 100% | ||
Helfer was unopposed for the Republican nomination.
Despite the petition irregularities which kept her off the ballot in the Democratic primary, Judith Einach was able to secure the nomination of theGreen Party and contest the general election.
In addition to theErie County Democratic Committee, Brown received the endorsement of the Erie CountyWorking Families Party. Brown was also endorsed by both of New York'sUnited States Senators,Charles Schumer andHillary Clinton, as well asNew York State Attorney GeneralEliot Spitzer, andNew York State Assemblyman and futureCongressmanBrian Higgins.[14] Helfer was endorsed by the Erie County Republican Party as well as the Buffalo Niagara Partnership,[15] theBuffalo News,[16] and local businessman andfuture gubernatorial candidateCarl Paladino.[7]
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size[a] | Margin of error | Byron Brown (D) | Kevin Helfer (R) | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[17] | November 4–6, 2005 | 573 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 61% | 30% | 7% | 2% |
| SurveyUSA[18] | October 21–23, 2005 | 564 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 59% | 28% | 10% | 3% |
| SurveyUSA[19] | September 27–29, 2005 | 547 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 55% | 33% | 8% | 4% |
The general election was held on November 8, 2005. Brown placed first with 46,613 votes cast, or 63.8% of the total. Helfer placed second with 19,853 votes (27.2%). In third place was Einach, with 3,525 votes (4.8%), and in fourth was Flynn with 3,082 votes (4.2%).[20]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Byron W. Brown | 43,541 | 59.59% | |
| Working Families | Byron W. Brown | 3,072 | 4.20% | |
| Total | Byron W. Brown | 46,613 | 63.79% | |
| Republican | Kevin J Helfer | 17,680 | 24.19% | |
| Conservative | Kevin J Helfer | 2,173 | 2.97% | |
| Total | Kevin J Helfer | 19,853 | 27.17% | |
| Green | Judith S. Einach | 3,525 | 4.82% | |
| Independence | Charles J. Flynn | 3,082 | 4.22% | |
| Total votes | 73,073 | 100% | ||
