Michael P. Kearns

Michael P. "Mickey" Kearns is an American politician who serves as Clerk of Erie County, New York. Kearns previously represented the 142nd New York State Assembly District, which spans South Buffalo, half of the city of Lackawanna, West Seneca and Orchard Park, from 2012 to 2017;[1] he has also served on the Buffalo Common Council. Kearns was elected Erie County Clerk in a 2017 special election.

Mickey Kearns
Michael P. Kearns in 2009
County Clerk of Erie County
Incumbent
Assumed office December 5, 2017
Deputy	Karen McCarthy
Preceded by	Chris Jacobs
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 142nd district 145th district (2012)
In office March 21, 2012 – December 4, 2017
Preceded by	Mark J.F. Schroeder
Succeeded by	Erik Bohen
Member of the Buffalo Common Council from the South District
In office January 2006 – March 2012
Preceded by	Jeffrey M. Conrad
Succeeded by	Christopher Scanlon
Personal details
Born	1969/1970 Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Other political affiliations	Republican (electorally)
Spouse(s)	Erin
Children	1
Residence	South Buffalo, New York
Alma mater	Erie Community College Canisius College

Early career

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Kearns served as South Buffalo's representative on the Buffalo Common Council,[2] where he was elected to succeed Jeffrey M. Conrad.[3] Kearns unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown in a Democratic primary in the 2009 Buffalo mayoral election.[4]

State Assembly

Kearns is a registered Democrat. He ran for Assembly in a March 2012 special election[5] without the Democrats' support on the lines of the Republican and Independence Parties.[6] He was elected in a special election on March 20, 2012, defeating Chris Fahey, the endorsed Democrat.[7] While he stated his intention to caucus with the Democrats, Kearns also stated that he would not support Speaker Sheldon Silver; this stance mirrored the position taken by Kearns's predecessor, Mark J. F. Schroeder. On May 20, 2013, Kearns left the Assembly Democratic Conference and called for Silver to resign from his post as Speaker of the Assembly; Kearns took these steps after Silver's confidential, taxpayer-funded settlement of sexual harassment claims against fellow Assembly Democrat Vito Lopez became public.[8][9] Following the ouster of Speaker Silver, Kearns rejoined the Assembly Democratic Conference.[10][11]

While in the Assembly, Kearns pushed for accountability for banks who allow properties that are the subject of abandoned foreclosures to fall into disrepair,[12] and he fought against a bill that allowed the Western New York Children's Psychiatric Center to be closed or relocated.[13]

Kearns resigned his Assembly seat after being elected Erie County Clerk.[14]

Erie County Clerk

Kearns announced his candidacy for Erie County Clerk in mid-2017 against Democratic candidate and former WBEN host Steve Cichon.[15] The position had been vacant since January 2017, when then-Clerk Chris Jacobs resigned the post after being elected the New York State Senate. Kearns ran for County Clerk on the Republican, Conservative, Independence, and Reform Party lines,[16] was elected County Clerk in November 2017,[17] and was sworn in on December 5, 2017.[18]

After becoming Erie County Clerk, Kearns urged the State of New York to delay the January 31 recertification deadline for pistol permit holders who obtained their permits before January 2013, arguing that a delay would allow state and county governments to work out kinks in the process. Kearns explained, "'We should not be making law-abiding citizens into criminals based on them not re-certifying.'"[19]

Kearns won re-election to the position of Erie County Clerk in 2018.[20]

References

1. District 145 map. New York State Assembly. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
2. Scanlon, Scott (12 January 2018). "Wellness effort afoot after deplorable Erie County health rankings".
3. Besecker, Aaron (19 January 2019). "Catholic Charities official announces run for Buffalo School Board".
4. McCarthy, Robert J. (12 June 2017). "Kearns may skip Democratic primary for county clerk".
5. http://nyassembly.gov/mem/Michael-P-Kearns/bio/
6. "Wayback Machine". 1 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Cite uses generic title (help)
7. McCarthy, Robert (March 21, 2012). Kearns is winner in landslide upset; Defeats Fahey for Assembly seat. The Buffalo News. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
8. Fetouh, Omar. "Kearns leaves Democratic caucus, calls on Silver to resign speakership". news.wbfo.org.
9. http://newyork.newsday.com/news/new-york/michael-kearns-democratic-assemblyman-calls-on-sheldon-silver-to-resign-1.5300675%5B%5D
10. Mahoney, Bill. "Votes on Assembly GOP bills still a rare occurrence". Politico PRO.
11. admin (1 December 2015). "Validated Kearns will rejoin Democrats after Silver conviction". CSNY.
12. admin (13 May 2016). "Kearns redoubles attack on 'zombie properties'". CSNY.
13. "Cuomo Vetoes WNY Children's Psych Center Bill". www.nystateofpolitics.com.
14. "EDITORIAL: Patrick B. Burke for Assembly". www.fgcueagleadvocacy.com.
15. "Mickey Kearns for Erie County Clerk - Home". Friends of Michael P Kearns.
16. "Erie County Election Results". www.erieelectionresults.com.
17. "Mickey Kearns wins Erie County Clerk's race". WGRZ.
18. "Erie County Clerk Michael P. Kearns". www2.erie.gov.
19. Mroziak, Michael. "Kearns urges deadline extension for pistol permit renewals". news.wbfo.org.
20. Sandra Tan (23 November 2018). "Incumbent 'Mickey' Kearns officially wins re-election as Erie County clerk".

External links

• New York State Assembly member website