Rod Watson: Money talks – and says campaign funding is about more than ideology By Rod Watson News Urban Affairs Editor Jul 21, 2021 Jul 21, 2021 Updated Mar 18, 2026 0 India Walton and Mayor Byron Brown saw their funding fortunes reverse after she knocked him off the ballot in the Democratic Primary. Buffalo News photos Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save By Rod Watson News Urban Affairs Editor If Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown is singing the blues these days, it’s probably to the tune of “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out.”kAm(9:=6 967EJ 4@?EC:3FE:@?D E@ 9:> A@FC65 :? AC:@C E@ E96 yF?6 aa s6>@4C2E:4 AC:>2CJ[ E96 =2E6DE 42>A2:8? 7:=:?8D D9@H E96> 5CJ:?8 FA 27E6C 2 D9@4<:?8 =@DD 7@C465 9:> E@ H286 2 =@?8\D9@E HC:E6\:? 42>A2:8? E@ ECJ E@ <66A 9:D ;@3]k^AmkAmx? 724E[ 2 =@@< 2E 9:D =2E6DE 42>A2:8? 7:=:?8 H:E9 E96 DE2E6 q@2C5 @7 t=64E:@?D D9@HD 2 5C2>2E:4 56>2C42E:@? =:?6 C:89E 2C@F?5 AC:>2CJ 52J 7@C 5@?2E:@?D @7 S`[___ @C >@C6]k^Am kAm%96C6 H2D 2 3F:=5FA @7 86?6C@FD 4@?EC:3FE:@?D E9C@F89@FE >F49 @7 yF?6] %96? 42>6 2 5C2>2E:4 DA:<6 C:89E 367@C6 AC:>2CJ 52J – 2D :?E6C?2= A@==D 2AA2C6?E=J H2C?65 @7 EC@F3=6 – :?4=F5:?8 D6G6C2= Sd[___ 4@?EC:3FE:@?D 2?5 S`_[___ 7C@> 9@>6E@H? >28?2E6 #@36CE #:49] %96? E96 AC64:A:E@FD 5C@A\@77 7@==@H65 @?46 E96 C6DF=ED H6C6 :?]k^Am People are also reading… Franklin County residents push back on proposed tax increases, zoning changes Single-vehicle wreck kills 18-year-old in Franklin County Former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax fatally shot wife before taking own life, police say Franklin County School Board expels 4-day school week proposal After fall: Justin Fairfax's 'profound retreat' from family Madison Warner, daughter of Sen. Mark Warner, dies at age 36 Bonnie & Clyde musical coming to Smith Mountain Lake Martinsville audit reveals control failures under former city manager Justin Fairfax: Virginia rising political star's story ends in tragedy Spanberger signs into law, amends major gun control proposals Manhunt ends with fatal shooting of Henry County suspect Skydiver rescued after crashing into Lane Stadium video board Spanberger signs bills that tighten controls on guns Franklin County wants to raise taxes. Here's where the money would go. Franklin County sheriff's deputies often make immigration arrests for ICE kAmqFE E96 DF556? 4=@D:?8 @7 H2==6ED ?@H E92E qC@H? :D E96 F?56C5@8 5@6D >@C6 E92? ;FDE C6G62= E96 7:4<=6?6DD @7 9F>2? ?2EFC6]k^AmkAmxE’D :?DECF4E:G6 3642FD6 :E 2=D@ 96=AD AFE E96 =:6 E@ E96 ?@E:@? E92E 3:8\>@?6J 5@?@CD >6C6=J 2C6 6IAC6DD:?8 E96:C DFAA@CE 7@C 2 42?5:52E6’D 8@G6C?:?8 A9:=@D@A9J – ?@E ECJ:?8 E@ 3FJ 2446DD]k^Am kAmqC@H?’D A9:=@D@A9J 92D?’E 492?865]k^Am kAm%96 @?=J E9:?8 E92E 92D 492?865 :D 9:D DE2EFD 2D 2 D9@@\:? 7@C 7@FC >@C6 J62CD :? 2? @77:46 E92E 42? >2<6 =:76 62D:6C @C >@C6 >:D6C23=6 7@C E9@D6 H9@ H2?E E@ 5@ 3FD:?6DD :? @C H:E9 E96 4:EJ] v:G6? E96 F?6IA64E65 3FE C62= A@DD:3:=:EJ E92E 96 H@?’E 36 AF==:?8 E9@D6 DEC:?8D[ E96 >@?6J65 >6? 2?5 H@>6? 2C6 AF==:?8 324<[ 9:D 8@G6C?:?8 A9:=@D@A9J 36 52>?65]k^Am kAmp?5 :7 J@F C62==J H2?E E@ <?@H 9@H >F49 – @C 9@H =:EE=6 – :56@=@8J 92D E@ 5@ H:E9 :E[ 4@?D:56C E96 6I2>A=6 @7 %C:?:EJ %:E=6 U2>Aj p3DEC24E] %96 5@H?E@H? 4@>A2?J 82G6 Sd[___ E@ qC@H? 367@C6 E96 AC:>2CJ[ 2?5 E96? 82G6 Sd[___ E@ x?5:2 (2=E@? 27E6C 96C G:4E@CJ]k^Am kAmv:G6? 9@H C25:42==J 5:776C6?E E96:C A=2E7@C>D 2C6[ 9@H 4@F=5 E96 D2>6 5@?@C DFAA@CE 3@E9n %C:?:EJ’D AC6D:56?E 2?5 rt~ 925 “?@ 4@>>6?E]”k^AmkAmq6=:6G6 :E @C ?@E[ E92E’D ?@E F?FDF2= 2D 5@?@CD ECJ E@ 96586 E96:C 36ED 2?5 6?DFC6 2446DD ?@ >2EE6C H9@ H:?D[ H9:=6 56>@?DEC2E:?8 2 A9:=@D@A9:42= 7=6I:3:=:EJ @?=J 2 42>A2:8? DJDE6> 2D 4@CCFAE 2D @FCD 4@F=5 ?FCEFC6]k^Am kAm(2=E@?[ E96 56>@4C2E:4 D@4:2=:DE H9@ H@? E96 AC:>2CJ[ 5:5?’E 92G6 ?62C=J 2D >2?J =2C86 4@?EC:3FE:@?D 5FC:?8 E96 =2DE 7:=:?8 A6C:@5[ 3FE E96J 5:5 A:4< FA ?@E:4623=J 27E6C AC:>2CJ 52J]k^Am kAmp== @7 H9:49 3C:?8D E@ >:?5 E96 2A9@C:D> E92E H9@6G6C A2JD E96 A:A6C 42==D E96 EF?6] xE 92D ?6G6C 366? >@C6 ECF6 E92? :? 2 42>A2:8? 7:?2?46 DJDE6> E92E C6=:6D @? AC:G2E6 4@?EC:3FE:@?D C2E96C E92? AF3=:4 7F?5:?8]k^Am kAmqFE E92E’D E96 365 p>6C:42? G@E6CD 92G6 >256 7@C E96>D6=G6D] }@H H6’== H2E49 :E A=2J @FE :? qF772=@ 2D E96 3FD:?6DD 4=2DD BF2<6D 2E E96 AC@DA64E @7 2 56>@4C2E:4 D@4:2=:DE H:E9 ?@ 8@G6C?>6?E2= 6IA6C:6?46 H9@’D 2=C625J A2:?E65 2 3F==VD\6J6 @? E96:C 324<D 3J E2C86E:?8 “EC:4<=6\5@H? A@=:4:6D 2?5 DF3D:5:6D E92E 92G6 :?4C62D65 :?4@>6 :?6BF2=:EJ]”k^Am kAm$E:==[ x 5@?’E 5@F3E 7@C 2 >:?FE6 E9:D H:== 36 2 4@>A6E:E:G6 86?6C2= 6=64E:@? – H:E9 @C H:E9@FE DA@:=6CD E@ DA=:E E96 2?E:\:?4F>36?E G@E6[ @C E96 =6DD\E92?\DE@CJ3@@< 6=6>6?ED @7 (2=E@?’D =:76 E92E 2C6 4@>:?8 E@ =:89E 2?5 8:G:?8 DFAA@CE6CD E96 H:==:6D]k^AmkAmxE’D ECF6 E92E HC:E6\:? 42?5:52E6D 7246 =@?8 @55D] qFE 2D 2 7@FC\E6C> :?4F>36?E H9@ DE:== H:6=5D 2 A@E6?E A@=:E:42= @A6C2E:@? 2?5 H9@ 42? A@:?E E@ 56G6=@A>6?ED :? <6J A2CED @7 E96 4:EJ 2?5 A@D:E:G6 ?2E:@?2= AC6DD 7@C qF772=@ F?56C 9:D H2E49[ qC@H? :D ?@ @C5:?2CJ HC:E6\:?]k^AmkAmp?5 27E6C E96 D9@4< H62CD @77[ E9@D6 3FD:?6DD =6256CD H9@ 7:8FC6 E96J’== 92G6 ?@ 2446DD E@ 2 56>@4C2E:4 D@4:2=:DE 36?E @? 5:DEC:3FE:?8 A@H6C 5@H?H2C5 H:== D66 =:EE=6 49@:46 3FE E@ C66?8286 2?5 AFE 2== @7 E96:C 49:AD @? 2 HC:E6\:? ECJ:?8 E@ 362E E96 @55D]k^Am kAmq67@C6 E96 DA:8@ED EFC?65 @77 27E6C AC:>2CJ 52J[ qC@H? 925 E9C66 E:>6D 2D >2?J 5@?2E:@?D @7 S`[___ @C >@C6 2D (2=E@? 5FC:?8 E96 =2DE 7:=:?8 A6C:@5[ 7C@> yF?6 f E@ yF=J ``] tIA64E E92E A2EE6C? E@ C6DF>6 2D t=64E:@? s2J ?62CD] p?5 :? @FC DJDE6>[ >@?6J DE:== E2=<D] x? 724E[ E96 &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE 92D D2:5 2D >F49[ 6BF2E:?8 42>A2:8? DA6?5:?8 H:E9 DA6649]k^Am kAm(2=E@?[ @? E96 @E96C 92?5[ :D AC@F5 @7 E96 724E E92E – 56DA:E6 D@>6 3:8 8:7ED – 96C 42>A2:8? 92D 366? A@H6C65 AC:>2C:=J H:E9 D>2==\5@==2C 5@?2E:@?D[ D2J:?8 96C 2G6C286 4@?EC:3FE:@? 92D 366? Sde]c_]k^Am kAmp a_`f DEF5J 3J E96 E9:?< E2?< s6>@D 7@F?5 2E =62DE 2 5@K6? 4:E:6D 92G6 D@>6 7@C> @7 AF3=:4 7F?5:?8 @7 6=64E:@?D E@ C65F46 E96 :?7=F6?46 @7 3:8 >@?6J] qF772=@ :D ?@E 2>@?8 E96>] qFE :7 (2=E@? 42? >2:?E2:? E92E 8C2DDC@@ED 7@4FD 56DA:E6 96C ?6H7@F?5 A@AF=2C:EJ – 2?5 D4CFE:?J – 96C 42>A2:8? >:89E AC@G6 E@ 36 E96 ?6IE 36DE E9:?8]k^Am 0 comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Could Buffalo's mayoral race be a $10 million campaign? Both Byron Brown and India Walton are frantically preparing behind the scenes for the post-Labor Day blitz. Casey troubles likely to figure in fall mayoral campaign When Steven M. Casey appeared in a federal courtroom Thursday to answer wire fraud charges against his political consulting company, he may ha… India Walton agrees to only one general election mayoral debate “We believe it is more appropriate to prepare to take office than to engage in a lengthy series of debates with a candidate who wouldn’t debat… Election 2021: Buffalo mayor Early voting begins Oct. 23, and Election Day is Nov. 2. Buffalo voters will either write down Byron Brown's name and vote him in for an unpre… Voter guide: 2021 election Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Election Day. Find out what you need to know before heading out to cast your votes. Click here for… Rod Watson: On her way out, student rep has lessons for Buffalo School Board Her most important accomplishment may be in having the courage to shine a spotlight on the role of the School Board's student representative. Rod Watson: Exploring critical concepts of race and diversity – but without the label JoAnn Tenebra, who retired in 2019 after three decades of educating students, muses about trying to educate the critics of dealing openly with… Rod Watson: A challenge for mayoral voters: Don’t let two-word label become four-letter word The question is whether voters will be sophisticated enough to know that you can’t judge a book by the cover somebody else tries to slap on it… Watch Now: Related Video Unable to play video AP top stories for April 20 AP top stories April 19 AP AP top stories April 19 AP top stories April 17 AP AP top stories April 17 The 10 safest cities in the United States The 10 safest cities in the United States
Could Buffalo's mayoral race be a $10 million campaign? Both Byron Brown and India Walton are frantically preparing behind the scenes for the post-Labor Day blitz.
Casey troubles likely to figure in fall mayoral campaign When Steven M. Casey appeared in a federal courtroom Thursday to answer wire fraud charges against his political consulting company, he may ha…
India Walton agrees to only one general election mayoral debate “We believe it is more appropriate to prepare to take office than to engage in a lengthy series of debates with a candidate who wouldn’t debat…
Election 2021: Buffalo mayor Early voting begins Oct. 23, and Election Day is Nov. 2. Buffalo voters will either write down Byron Brown's name and vote him in for an unpre…
Voter guide: 2021 election Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Election Day. Find out what you need to know before heading out to cast your votes. Click here for…
Rod Watson: On her way out, student rep has lessons for Buffalo School Board Her most important accomplishment may be in having the courage to shine a spotlight on the role of the School Board's student representative.
Rod Watson: Exploring critical concepts of race and diversity – but without the label JoAnn Tenebra, who retired in 2019 after three decades of educating students, muses about trying to educate the critics of dealing openly with…
Rod Watson: A challenge for mayoral voters: Don’t let two-word label become four-letter word The question is whether voters will be sophisticated enough to know that you can’t judge a book by the cover somebody else tries to slap on it…
