By Mark Scott
Mark Scott – She's the darkest of dark horses. But in a year when voter dissatisfaction with incumbents is at its peak, a grass-roots candidate for Buffalo mayor believes she has a chance in this year's election.
Judy Einach was Mayor Anthony Masiello's lone challenger four years ago. Not surprisingly, she lost. But this year, Einach is back. She officially entered the race Friday evening with the support of Primary Challenge, a newly-formed group that is promoting candidates outside the political mainstream to run against incumbents.
Einach says she would bring both executive and managerial experience to the Mayor's office.
"I have experience in developing jobs and helping people start businesses," Einach said. "I have practical experience that I will apply to build the capacity of the people who live here now, rebuilding our tax base and restoring our local economy."
Einach received the Green Party's endorsement over the weekend. And she said she plans to run in September's Democratic primary. No one knows for sure if the backlash against incumbents in the wake of the Erie County budget crisis will translate into support for candidates running with Primary Challenge support. But Einach says if it's ever going to happen, it's this year.
"I believe there's considerable voter dissatisfaction," Einach said. "Since I ran in 2001, there wasn't a week that went by when someone didn't say to me, 'you need to do this again. I wish you'd been my mayor.'"
Einach said her best chance of winning a Democratic primary is for there to be a multi-candidate field. She said the more candidates there are splitting the vote, the better it will be for her to come out on top.