Community organizer whose brother died in blizzard running for mayor

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A community organizer whose brother died in the 2022 Christmas blizzard is the latest to throw his hat into the ring for Buffalo mayor.

James Payne is the latest name in the race. He will make his formal announcement at the Imperial Mart at 3045 Kensington Avenue and Bailey Avenue on Dec. 24.

Payne’s brother, William Clay, froze to death at the location during the 2022 blizzard, one of 46 people who died in Erie County from the blizzard.

Payne is now one of five candidates officially in the race, joining State Senator Sean Ryan, former Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield, Buffalo Common Council member Rasheed Wyatt and former City Court judge James McLeod. Acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon is seeking the Democratic party’s endorsement, but has not yet made the official announcement that he is running.

The candidates are vying to be the permanent replacement for former Mayor Byron Brown, who stepped down in October after more than 18 years in office to take the position as president and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting.

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Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.

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