Buffalo mayoral election, 2001
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The 2001 election for Mayor of Buffalo, New York took place on November 6, 2001. Incumbent Anthony M. Masiello, a Democrat, easily trounced his sole opponent in the primary, going on to win a third term with no serious opposition in the general election. Buffalo's 2001 mayoral election was notable for its uncharacteristic quietness, despite pressing issues such as allegations of environmental contamination in the Hickory Woods neighborhood of South Buffalo and chronic poverty and urban blight. This was speculated as being due to reticence on the part of would-be candidates to "challenge a powerful and well-liked mayor like Masiello", especially one with a campaign fund in excess of $1 million. It was also only the second time in history when the Democrats and Republicans endorsed the same candidate for mayor of Buffalo, a phenomenon made possible by New York State's electoral fusion law.
Masiello's opponent in the primary was Beverly A. Gray, who had served as an at-large member of the Buffalo Common Council since 1996. Despite her endorsement by fellow Councilmember Charley Fisher, and her candidacy's survival in the face of electoral petition challenges and her own health problems, Gray was badly outspent by Masiello, and her campaign was hampered by criticism by Erie County Democratic Party chairman G. Steven Pigeon of her tenure on the Council as "divisive" and "extremist", and of her mayoral campaign as devoid of a coherent message and failing to make a real effort to reach voters outside the African-American community. The Democratic primary election took place on September 25, 2001; Masiello placed first with 20,980 votes cast, or 72.4% of the total, with Gray receiving 7,988 votes, or 27.6% of the total.
The general election was held on November 6, 2001. Masiello was the only official candidate in an election that was marked by historically low voter turnout, with 37,685 votes, or 98.6% of the total, going to him. Masiello's closest challenger was neighborhood activist Judith Einach, whose independent write-in campaign garnered 523 votes, or 1.4% of the total. The Buffalo News and other local media outlets were criticized by some for their lack of coverage of Einach's campaign.
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