BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN).....For Erika Shields to become Buffalo's new police commissioner she needs at least five members of the Buffalo Common Council to agree to her taking the position.
Mayor Sean Ryan says he feels confident at least five positive votes are there.
"I would hope so," Ryan said.
Put it this way:
* Three councilmen, during an April 21 public meeting, said they would back Shields.
That was Rasheed N.C. Wyatt (University); Mitch Nowakowski (Fillmore) and David Rivera (Niagara).
Wyatt was originally on the fence but after meeting with Shields and then hearing her answers to his - and others questions - during the April 21 meeting, and, also talking with family members and friends in Georgia, he moved into the pro-Shields camp.
* Two are definite no votes.
Masten District Councilwoman and President Pro Tempare Zeneta Everhart and North District Councilmen Joseph Golembek.
Everhart has questions about Shields' controversial departure from the Atlanta and Louisville police commissioner posts while Golembek believes Shields' $250,000 annual salary is too pricey for cash-poor Buffalo.
* Four have not publicly said how they vote.
That includes Council President Joel Feroleto, South District and former Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon; Lovejoy's Bryan Bollman and County Majority Leader Leah Halton-Pope.
Still sources with Buffalo City Hall believe Shields will end up with either 6 or 7 positive votes.
The vote is likely to happen on April 28 and Shields will start in May.
Shields needs at least 5 councilmembers to support her
Shields needs at least 5 councilmembers to support her
