Longtime Erie County Legislator Betty Jean Grant finished the three-way race in the Democratic primary for Mayor of Buffalo with just 13 percent of the vote. However, Grant said she was proud of the campaign she ran and that she felt like a winner.
"I believe that because of me and my campaign, I believe Mayor Brown has done a lot in the community he had probably not thought about doing, or maybe had forgotten that he needs to be doing," Grant said. "And I think I reminded him that you have to have people in the community to be a voice in government. You cannot go in there, into office, and represent a seat based what your input is. You have to get community input."
Grant said it is nearly impossible to win a mayoral race without significant resources, but said she ran a viable campaign on only about $12,000 and thanked the voters who turned out to support her.
As for giving up her 2nd District seat in the County Legislature to take on a well-financed incumbent, Grant said she had "no regrets."
"I'm glad I got into the race," she said. "I've been in my seat 10 years and I knew that I was not guaranteed to win this election - and I was able to tell myself that, at the end of the day, win or lose, that I think it's time to move forward. Give someone else a chance to win the legislative seat. Give someone else a chance to be the legislator of that district."
Grant also hinted that - who knows with State Senate elections next year - she may jump back in the political ring. Whether in politics or community service Betty Jean Grant said she will remain committed to serving the people of Buffalo.
"My motto is, courageous and caring, dedicated and daring - and I'm going to keep that in place," she said.
Grant said she will now throw her support behind Democratic primary winner Mayor Byron Brown.