By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Buffalo mayoral candidate Byron Brown has picked up another key endorsement for his campaign -- this time from a state colleague. State comptroller Alan Hevesi says he believes Brown has the vision to turn the city around.
The state's top fiscal watchdog is very familiar with Buffalo's financial crisis and recovery. It was Hevesi who recommended a control board for Buffalo back in 2003. Hevesi says the city needs a mayor who understands the difficult financial circumstances and is ready to make tough choices.
"This is not a game. This is not politics. This is serious business about the future of this city," Hevesi said. "Who will make the tough choices, do it fairly and in a sophisticated way that will get Buffalo out of this crisis and rebuild it for the future."
Hevesi is convinced that Brown would be able to bring the right reforms to City Hall to restore the financial health of Buffalo, while making the city attractive to businesses for future economic development. Brown says one of his goal's if elected mayor would be to wean the city off the dependency of the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority.
"Our plan is to move the city control board into dormancy sooner than later," Brown said. "My plan is to balance the city budget in the next three years without borrowing. We are going to be very fiscally conservative in how we manage the city by using best practice management tools."
Brown's latest endorsement is now part of a list of Democratic political leaders who are supporting him. US Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and former Governor Mario Cuomo have all endorsed Brown.