Big Changes To The Buffalo Common Council

While it may seem like a long time has passed, it was just over two months ago when we had local elections here in Western New York that brought in a series of electoral changes all over the 716.

One of the major shakeups we're now seeing in Buffalo is changes to the makeup of the Buffalo Common Council.

What Is The Buffalo Common Council?

The Common Council is the official name of the legislative branch of government for the city of Buffalo. The Council is a Unicameral body that was founded when Buffalo was officially incorporated in 1832.

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This legislative body is made up of nine members who each serve a section of the city and serve for four years at a time. Each section, or district, has approximately 30,000 residents.

So What's Changed This Year On The Common Council?

In 2023, two council members, Council President Darius Pridgen and Masten District Councilmember Ulysees Wingo, announced they were not seeking reelection. That announcement guaranteed that the council would not only have two new members serving but also have a new president.

After the 2023 elections, the seven incumbents were reelected to their positions, along with two newcomers: Zeneta Everhart, who was elected for the Masten District, and Leah Halton-Pope, who was elected for the Ellicott District. This change is also significant for Buffalo because this marks the first time in a decade that a woman has served on the council.

In addition to these changes, the council also has a new president as South District Councilmember Christopher Scanlon was elected the President in an 8-1 vote.

Once the new President was elected, the council then elected Lovejoy District Councilmember Bryan Bollman as President Pro Tempore, and Leah Halton-Pope was also named majority leader.