Mayor Byron Brown took the Oath of Office as the 58th Mayor of Buffalo, New York on December 31, 2005.

Elected Mayor with over 60 percent of the vote in the November 2005 General Election, Mayor Brown came into office emphasizing greater accountability and efficiency in City Hall, progressive public policy initiatives and a commitment to strengthening and expanding the city’s economic development activities.

Featured in the New York Daily News as “winner” among national and New York State-based elected officials for 2005, Mayor Brown’s victory was also featured in the national publication, Jet magazine.

In his Inaugural Address, Mayor Brown stated, “I have already restructured City Hall to help create an environment that will attract investment, grow business and create jobs.

“I am excited that best practices – such as CitiStat, performance-based budgeting, and progressive discipline – will shape my administration’s policies.

“Combining new ideas with an old-fashioned work ethic, we will create Buffalo’s new foundation.”

Mayor Brown was sworn into office by the Honorable Samuel L. Green, Senior Associate Justice, New York State Appellate Division, Fourth Department, with his wife, Michelle and son, Byron III at his side. A standing room only audience of over 2,000 people attended the ceremony at the Buffalo Convention Center.

Prior to his election as Mayor of Buffalo, Mayor Brown served five years in the New York State Senate. Sworn in January 1, 2001, Mayor Byron Brown became the first African-American elected to the Senate outside of New York City. He also made history by becoming the first minority member of the New York State Senate to represent a majority white district.

He was first elected to represent the Masten District on the Buffalo City Council in 1995. While on the Council, Mayor Brown was called "bright, creative and hardworking," in a Buffalo News survey and was recognized in 1989 by Ebony Magazine as one the “30 Leaders of the Future.”

Mayor Brown started his career holding key staff positions with the President of the Buffalo City Council, the Chair of the Erie County Legislature, and the Deputy Speaker of the New York State Assembly. Mayor Brown also served as Erie County Executive Dennis Gorski’s Director of the Division of Equal Employment Opportunity.

A native of Queens, New York, Mayor Brown came to Buffalo as a college freshman, earning a dual Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Journalism from Buffalo State College. Mayor Brown also completed a certificate program for senior executives in state and local government at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

The Buffalo Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1991 honored him with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for community service. In1993, he was selected by Business First (Western New York’s weekly business newspaper) to its "40 Under Forty Honor Roll." In 2001, he was awarded the Infinity Broadcasting/WBLK "Voice of Power Award" and he received the "Political Impact Award" from the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. In 2004, Mayor Brown was again honored by Infinity Broadcasting/WBLK with the “Citizen of the Year” award.

Mayor Brown is married to the former Michelle Austin and they have a son, Byron III. They are members of the congregation at St. John Baptist Church. Mayor Brown is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., a past President of the Buffalo State College Alumni Association Board and sits on the Board the Boy Scout Council of Western New York. Mayor Brown is also a member of the Erie County Democratic Committee. He was a delegate to the 1992, 2000 and 2004 Democratic National Conventions.

From the announcement of his candidacy for Mayor in February 2005 through victory in November 2005 and inauguration in December 2005, Mayor Brown has maintained his commitment to make Buffalo better, stronger and safer.

And now, as the city’s chief executive, Mayor Byron Brown will run the City of Buffalo like a business; using new initiatives, best practices, and fresh approaches to problem solving from all over the nation, to make Buffalo a city of hope and opportunity once again.