South Buffalo born and raised Councilman Mickey Kearns is optimistic about his run for Mayor of Buffalo. “It’s the rule of threes,” he says. If you do a good thing, each person who witnesses it tells three other people. If you do a bad thing, they tell thirty-three. I’ve done some good things, and word may be slow getting around, but people know.” Kearns describes himself as having substance over style, and though his childhood idol, Mayor Jimmy Griffin had both, Kearns’ low-key style is in stark contrast to the often irascible and outspoken Griffin.
In fact, it was Kearns who initiated the resolution to have a plaza at Coca-Cola Field named after the late ex-mayor. Not one to steal thunder, Kearns wasn’t featured in the ceremony that marked the naming, but that is Kearns’ way. In a recent unveiling at Rick Smith’s Rigidized Metal building of the Larry Griffis III sculpture, Kearns jumped to the back row for a group shot.
One good “thing” Kearns has initiated is still in the works, so it can’t be divulged just yet, but it’s a creative, well-placed, mixed-use, public and private-funded project that will enhance the quality of life in Kearns’ South Buffalo District. It’s something that he promises he’ll see played out in the rest of Buffalo if elected mayor.
Kearns lights up when talking about putting the deal together. “My background is in fundraising,” he says. “That’s what I did before I was a councilman.” He also says that as a councilman, he’s done his share to help put numerous deals together in his district. “All of us councilmembers do it,” he says about facilitating projects. “When a developer or business owner hits a snag in the process, who do you think they come to? Their councilman,” Kearns says in answer to his own question.
He brings up his 3-month-long listening tours several times, saying that he’s “reached out to the people, and they want a change.” He says he’s been quiet, and that the petitions for his candidacy, signed by his supporters, will be proof of the good response he’s getting.
Is it hard running against an incumbent with daily visibility? “The voters will level the playing field,” Kearns says. He points out that he and Mayor Byron Brown started their respective city posts on the same day, and says of time spent getting one’s act together, “Eventually, the sand in the hourglass runs out.” He’s especially upset about the use of anti-poverty funds, the amount of city time and money devoted to individual projects such as the failed One Sunset Restaurant, and outraged that (without specifics) city employees who were involved are not only still in place, but in some cases, were promoted. All of the above is the subject of ongoing audits.
Is this a way to bring attention to one’s self, or negative attention to the competition? “Our system is about openness and transparency,” Kearns says. “This is about the 1st amendment that people fought and are still fighting for. It’s amazing that everything I do is [looked at as being] political.”
Sounding more like a pithy Griffin statement, Kearns says, “Like our snow-fighting plan last winter. You know snow’s coming. Where’s the plan?”
Kearns want to institute a Smart Code that will spell out (in pamphlet form) everything a citizen or developer would need to know about the process of getting things done in the City of Buffalo. He says that one person can make a difference and feels that the present administration has stepped-up their duties based on his candidacy alone. “I’ve already made changes, he says. “That’s a good thing.”
So big picture or detail man? “Big picture,” Kearns answers.
City permitting? “We need a survey filled out by every single person who applies for a permit. We’ll let them tell us what needs to be fixed.”
Bridge? “Not if it has anything to do with taking out an historic community. I won’t support that.”
“Look at that,” Kearns says of the photo of his 12-year-old self (above) with Mayor Griffin. “he wrote ‘Good luck’. Isn’t that amazing?”