Sense of urgency marks mayoral campaign

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - "Well I need your vote. I hope you can consider me," said mayoral candidate Mickey Kearns.

A sense of urgency now marks the Buffalo mayoral campaign.

"We've added 126 police officers," said Mayor Brown.

Monday morning, Mayor Byron Brown began his final push before Tuesday's democratic primary with a stop at Hispanics United.

"I've expanded employment opportunities for Hispanic youth. I've expanded employment for Hispanics in city government," Brown said.

His loudest applause there came after this comment, "You've got an older one. I'd like to see you get a big flat screen."

Brown was asked, Can you get them a flat screen TV? He answered, "Well we've been able to assist other senior centers with equipment."

The mayor's opponent, South District Councilman Michael Kearns, was also busy seeking votes from seniors, visiting nine districts in nine hours.

We caught up with him in the Old First Ward.

"The reason I can get the job done is I can get politics out of City Hall," said Kearns.

Just weeks ago, Brown was considered the heavy favorite, but the gap seems to have narrowed after a series of revelations about the way his administration handled the Leonard Stokes controversy.

Monday,the Mayor continued to highlight his record of reducing crime, raising the city's credit rating, blaming his challenger for playing dirty politics.

Brown said,"Why don't they talk about issues? Their platform for the City of Buffalo? They can't because they don't have one."

Kearns said, "My platform has been the same platform for six months. It's change."

"These things he's talking about in last couple of weeks, he didn't raise in four years," Brown said.

"I didn't originate these investigations, they were originated with the police department," said Kearns.

Obviously it's crunch time for both the mayor and his challenger, as they fight it out for the top spot in City Hall.