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Press Pass: School Board elections drawing many candidates

WBFO News photo by Mike Desmond

Former Buffalo Sabres Managing Partner Larry Quinn announced last week that he will run for the Buffalo School Board, adding to the expanding list of candidates for three at-large seats. "It's a snapshot of the growing frustration" with Buffalo schools, says Jim Fink of Business First.

On WBFO's Press Pass, Fink argues that struggling public schools are holding Buffalo back.

"The Buffalo schools are failing."

Other well-known names, like former mayoral candidates Bernie Tolbert and Sergio Rodriguez, have announced their candidacies. Former gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino is already on the board.

"They don't have to do this. They're doing this out of their love, their concern for the community to make Buffalo a better place," Fink said.

Credit WBFO News file photo
WBFO'S Jay Moran in studio with Business First reporter Jim Fink.

A positive development for the area is the news that IBM will bring 500 "good-paying jobs" to  Buffalo. While some have speculated that the former HSBC Tower would be a good fit for the new venture, Fink thinks otherwise.

Though as many as 10 locations could be considered, Fink says, "It makes sense to put somewhere in or near the (Buffalo Niagara) Medical Campus."

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Jay joined Buffalo Toronto Public Media in 2008 and has been local host for NPR's "Morning Edition" ever since. In June, 2022, he was named one of the co-hosts of WBFO's "Buffalo, What's Next."

A graduate of St. Mary's of the Lake School, St. Francis High School and Buffalo State College, Jay has worked most of his professional career in Buffalo. Outside of public media, he continues in longstanding roles as the public address announcer for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League and as play-by-play voice of Canisius College basketball.