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Buffalo Teachers Federation Endorsement

 For Immediate Release

August 19, 2009

BTF ENDORSES MAYOR BROWN FOR RE-ELECTION

Buffalo Teachers Federation Cites Mayor’s Leadership in Difficult Times; Multiple Accomplishments During First Term

BUFFALO – The Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) has announced its endorsement of Mayor Byron W. Brown for re-election as Mayor of the City of Buffalo, citing the Mayor’s leadership of the city in “difficult times” and achieving multiple accomplishments, including lowering property taxes every year since 2006, adding 126 new police officers to the Buffalo Police Department (BPD), creating the new position of Chief of School Safety in the BPD and expanding the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment program to over 10,000 city youth over the past 3 ½ years.

In an August 18th statement, BTF President Phil Rumore stated, “We are proud to endorse Mayor Brown in the primary. [He] has established an air of civility and thoughtfulness to city government. We need more leaders like Mayor Brown who lead with sincerity, poise and intelligence, and set a positive example for our students and community.”

“I’m honored to receive the endorsement of the BTF, which represents the city’s 3,700 public school teachers, whose dedication and commitment to the well-being of our city’s youth has resulted with an increase in overall academic achievement and also an improvement in their students’ overall educational experience,” said Mayor Brown. “Our teachers play such a pivotal role in the quality of life of all city residents and I commend them for their hard work and positive contributions to the city. I have always held in high regard the working men and women of organized labor, who have made significant contributions to our city, state and country. When I took office I dedicated myself to fighting for the working men and women of our city by fulfilling my 2005 campaign pledge to lift the previously state control board-imposed wage freeze for all city employees, which allowed us to increase employee wages, bringing all full-time city employees up to the living wage and negotiated four new union contracts for city employees. We have made great progress over the past 3 ½ years and I am confident Buffalo is continuing to move in the right direction.”

In addition to the support of the BTF, Mayor Brown has received the endorsement of SEIU Local 200 United, Building Trade Inspectors Association Local 2651, AFSCME Local 650, Boilermakers Local # 7, the International Union of Elevator Constructors, Local 14, the Buffalo Building & Construction Trades Council, the Western New York Chapter of the Working Families Party, the Erie County Independence Party, the Erie County Conservative Party, the Western New York Hispanic & Friends Association, Goin’ South and the Buffalo Educational Support Team.

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