Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - One nearly became Buffalo's first female mayor. The other was thrust into prominence after her son survived a racist mass shooting.
Democrats India Walton and Zeneta Everhart consider themselves political allies but they are pitted against each other in a race for the Masten District on Buffalo's Common Council, one of many local government offices at stake in primary elections being held in the city, Erie County and across New York on Tuesday.
The two Black women are vying to represent a part of the Rust Belt city still healing from a white supremacist's attack that killed 10 people at a neighborhood supermarket just over a year ago. That mass shooting was followed by a punishing December blizzard that killed 47 people in the city and its suburbs, with a disproportionate number of the victims coming from Buffalo's Black neighborhoods.
Walton, 41, ran for mayor in 2021, defeating Byron Brown on primary night, but losing in the general election rematch. Walton tells WBEN she's learned not to give up. "I learned that political power is very important in Buffalo," says Walton. "I knew that in 2021, but I didn't expect that race to be as dark and discouraging as it was. But I've spent the last two years being mentored and coached. I'm back in the public eye stronger than ever poised and ready to co govern, to lead and to work with the people of the Masten District."
Walton says she won't be elected and disappear. She also says she's not beholden to any other politician, corporations or big developers in the city. "I'm going to continue to fight for the people that every day working class people Masten district and all across the city of Buffalo like I have been doing, adds Walton. She says her plan includes support for homeowners and renters to close the racial, wealth, homeownership gap to make sure the district is supporting small businesses to bring back the glory days of the Masten district. "We need swimming pools in our community. We need fully funded community centers to serve our youth and our elders. And we need to make sure that we're expanding services all across the city," adds Walton.
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Everhart, a former television producer, had been quietly building a more conventional career in politics as an aide to a state senator when tragedy thrust her into the spotlight.
Her son, Zaire Goodman, was one of 13 people shot at the Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo on May 14, 2022. Goodman, who worked part-time at the supermarket, was hit in the neck but survived.
Weeks later, Everhart testified before Congress, telling members that some shrapnel will be left in her son’s body for the rest of his life. She's continued to speak publicly in the months since about racism and gun violence in the U.S.
Everhart, 41, tells WBEN the decision to run is a long time coming. "When I first started working for Senator Tim Kennedy over six years ago, a lot of the work that I did on the ground and community with black clubs, people paid attention to that. And so even back then people were asking me, like, when are you running? When are you running? And I'm like, What are you talking about?," says Everhart.
Everhart notes 5/14 did play a role in her decision, as her son Zaire Goodman was wounded. "Being able to travel to Washington, and talk to our congressmen and women and our senators, not just about 5/14 in the lives that we're taking from us," adds Everhart. She also says she had the chance to address other quality of life matters like food insecurity and housing issues.
Everhart says her experience in Kennedy's office makes her a viable candidate. "I've made many connections, and I've made friendships and partnerships, and I've collaborated with a host of people across the state, quite frankly, who absolutely want to help in making sure that we transform this community. So that's what I bring to the table. I'm a bridge builder," notes Everhart.
Ulysses Wingo will not seek re-election this year.
Everhart has been endorsed by the county Democratic Party while Walton has been endorsed by the left-leaning Working Families Party.
The two women have known each other for years and have expressed respect for each other.
“We're not adversaries, in my book,” Everhart said.