Christopher Scanlon

Christopher Scanlon was born to father John P. "Scanoots" Scanlon (1938–2022) and mother Paula Scanlon (née Kuntz).{{cite web | last=McCarthy | first=Robert J. | title=John P. 'Scanoots' Scanlon, 83, top Griffin aide and friend | website=Buffalo News | date=May 4, 2022 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/john-p-scanoots-scanlon-83-top-griffin-aide-and-friend/article_d424ceee-cafe-11ec-a9e3-af832fe81cfe.html | access-date=October 15, 2024}}

His father was vice chairman of the Erie County Democratic Committee and aide to both Mayor James D. Griffin and Mayor Anthony Masiello.{{cite web | last=Herbeck | first=Dan | title=POLITICAL INSIDER WITH DAY, NIGHT JOBS OPENING SOME EYES | website=Buffalo News | date=April 5, 1998 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/political-insider-with-day-night-jobs-opening-some-eyes/article_7763332a-7367-51ec-9af8-9ca92543ef6f.html | access-date=October 16, 2024}} John P. Scanlon was never paid directly for his political work, but collected multiple salaries for local government jobs.{{cite web | last=Heaney | first=Jim | title=The rap (sheet) on the Common Council | website=Investigative Post | date=May 31, 2012 | url=https://www.investigativepost.org/2012/05/31/the-rap-sheet-on-the-common-council/ | access-date=October 17, 2024}}

His family is of Irish descent, and he was raised in South Buffalo.{{cite web | last=Kenney | first=JoDee | title=Exploring the history of the Irish in Buffalo | website=spectrumlocalnews.com | date=March 12, 2023 | url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/in-focus/2023/03/11/exploring-the-history-of-the-irish-in-buffalo | access-date=October 15, 2024}} Scanlon and his family are Roman Catholic, and he attended grade school at the local St. Thomas Aquinas Church.{{cite web | last=Nice | first=Ed | title=Christopher Scanlon To Become Acting-Mayor of Buffalo, New York | website=Power 93.7 WBLK | date=October 1, 2024 | url=https://wblk.com/christopher-scanlon-acting-mayor-buffalo/ | access-date=October 15, 2024}} His six siblings also attended private school.

He is a graduate of Bishop Timon – St. Jude High School, and holds both an associate's degree in business administration from Erie Community College and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Buffalo State University.{{cite web | title=Five questions with Chris Scanlon | website=Buffalo News | date=July 1, 2012 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/five-questions-with-chris-scanlon/article_7924d4a2-fb1e-5009-a873-f4169bcc23ba.html | access-date=October 15, 2024}}{{cite web | title=Christopher P. Scanlon | website=Buffalo, NY | date=January 2, 2024 | url=https://www.buffalony.gov/1139/Christopher-P-Scanlon | access-date=October 15, 2024}}

Scanlon was appointed to the Buffalo Common Council in May 2012, filling the South District seat vacated by Michael P. Kearns who had left to join the New York State Assembly.{{cite web | last=Leitner | first=Mark | title=Scanlon named to Common Council | website=WBFO | date=May 16, 2012 | url=https://www.wbfo.org/politics/2012-05-16/scanlon-named-to-common-council | access-date=October 15, 2024}} His appointment was attributed to patronage due to his father's political connections, as he lacked a four-year college degree and relevant experience.{{cite web | last=Kelly | first=Geoff | title=The Sins of the Father | website=artvoice.com | date=May 17, 2012 | url=https://artvoice.com/issues/v11n20/week_in_review/sins_of_the_fater.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919194124/https://artvoice.com/issues/v11n20/week_in_review/sins_of_the_fater.html | archive-date=September 19, 2017 | url-status=dead | access-date=October 15, 2024}} Scanlon had to that point worked as a manager for UPS and a local restaurant chain.{{cite web | last=Scanlon | first=Christopher | title=About Chris | website=Christopher P. Scanlon | date=August 8, 2012 | url=http://christopherpscanlon.com/about/ | archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20120808193924/http://christopherpscanlon.com/about/ | archive-date=August 8, 2012 | url-status=dead | access-date=October 17, 2024}} The appointment was confirmed with a 5–3 vote by the council. Scanlon was later criticized for failing to disclose a 2007 conviction for driving while ability-impaired prior to the appointment.{{cite web | last=Besecker | first=Aaron | title=Scanlon's past includes conviction for driving while ability impaired | website=Buffalo News | date=May 25, 2012 | url=https://buffalonews.com/article_07196d60-2ac2-58f8-8c52-a6ba665b4283.html | access-date=October 17, 2024}}

He won a September 2012 Democratic primary, defeating A. J. Verel, Kevin Lafferty and Patrick B. Burke.{{cite web | last=Terreri | first=Jill | title=Scanlon wins primary in city's South District | website=Buffalo News | date=September 14, 2012 | url=https://buffalonews.com/article_38b6260d-9d64-5b88-9758-59336e0ee2f9.html | access-date=October 24, 2024}} Endorsements were received from politicians including Brian Higgins, Carl Paladino, Mark J. F. Schroeder and Michael P. Kearns.{{cite web | last=Terreri | first=Jill | title=Scanlon wins Democratic line in South Council race | website=Buffalo News | date=September 14, 2012 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/article_4ed1a57c-288f-5400-ac1a-4bf0b032b9d3.html | access-date=October 24, 2024}} In a November 2012 special election, Scanlon defeated A. J. Verel to retain the South District seat.{{cite web | last=Kelly | first=Geoff | title=Not much change afoot for Common Council | website=Investigative Post | date=March 23, 2023 | url=https://www.investigativepost.org/2023/03/22/not-much-change-afoot-for-common-council/ | access-date=October 15, 2024}} He was later re-elected in 2015 and 2019 after winning uncontested elections.{{cite web | title=Christopher P. Scanlon | website=Ballotpedia | date=November 7, 2023 | url=https://ballotpedia.org/Christopher_P._Scanlon | access-date=October 15, 2024}}

As a council member, Scanlon often voted in favor of the policies of Mayor Byron Brown.{{cite web | last=Ashley | first=Grant | last2=Kirkpatrick | first2=Holly | title=Christopher Scanlon elected as next Buffalo Common Council president | website=WBFO | date=January 2, 2024 | url=https://www.wbfo.org/local/2024-01-02/buffalo-common-council-chris-scanlon-elected-president | access-date=October 15, 2024}} His top donors included prominent conservatives, such as real estate mogul Carl Paladino.{{cite web | title=With All Due Respect: Scanlon, Ellicott Development, and a Charter School | website=The Public | date=June 12, 2018 | url=http://www.dailypublic.com/articles/06122018/all-due-respect-scanlon-ellicott-development-and-charter-school | access-date=October 16, 2024}} Scanlon is credited with spearheading the write-in campaign that led to Byron Brown defeating progressive challenger India Walton in the 2021 Buffalo mayoral election.

After his re-election following another uncontested race in 2023, Scanlon was elected President of the Buffalo Common Council in January 2024 with a 8–1 council vote.

Upon the resignation of Byron Brown, Scanlon succeeded him to become acting Mayor of Buffalo in October 2024.{{cite web | last=Mirand | first=Kristen | title=Who is Chris Scanlon? Buffalo's Common Council President will become the city's acting mayor | website=WKBW 7 News Buffalo | date=October 15, 2024 | url=https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/buffalo/who-is-chris-scanlon-buffalos-common-council-president-will-become-the-citys-acting-mayor | access-date=October 15, 2024}} He will serve the remainder of Brown's term, with numerous individuals planning on challenging him in the 2025 Buffalo mayoral election.{{cite web | last=Rose | first=Susan | title=No shortage of interest in becoming Buffalo's next mayor | website=audacy.com | date=September 9, 2024 | url=https://www.audacy.com/wben/news/local/buffalo-mayors-race-in-2025-drawing-plenty-of-interest | access-date=October 16, 2024}}{{cite web | last=Williams | first=Deidre | title=City Hall insiders considering running for mayor | website=Buffalo News | date=September 14, 2024 | url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/government-politics/buffalo-mayor-byron-brown-chris-scanlon-zeneta-everhart-leah-halton-pope-rasheed-wyatt/article_e7bbd6a4-71ce-11ef-ba39-6f9dc34321c8.html | access-date=October 16, 2024}}

{{quote box|width=20em|align=right|When you grow up in a household involved in all those previous campaigns, if nothing else, you learn by osmosis.{{cite web | last=McCarthy | first=Robert J. | title=Analysis: And in this corner, Chris Scanlon | website=Richmond Times-Dispatch | date=November 14, 2021 | url=https://richmond.com/article_7ea6f540-46b0-59f4-af34-bb7b6edf4b71.html | access-date=October 15, 2024}} |source= —Christopher Scanlon}}

He is married to his wife Katie Scanlon (née Wopperer) and they have three children. Katie works as Bingo Inspector for the City of Buffalo.{{cite web | title=Staff Directory • Katie Scanlon | website=Buffalo, NY | url=https://www.buffalony.gov/directory.aspx?EID=370 | access-date=October 16, 2024}}

Five of his six siblings work for the City of Buffalo.{{cite web | last=Kelly | first=Geoff | title=Buffalo lawmakers' side gigs | website=Investigative Post | date=June 11, 2024 | url=https://www.investigativepost.org/2024/06/11/buffalo-council-members-side-gigs/ | access-date=October 15, 2024}} His brothers Brian and Patrick work for the Buffalo Fire Department, his brothers Michael and John work for the Department of Public Works, and his sister Kara works for the Buffalo Police Department. Brian is also a restaurateur, owning Forty Thieves Kitchen & Bar in downtown Buffalo.{{cite web | last=Schwartz | first=Michael | title=Two Buffalo restaurants 'closed until further notice' after sudden death of co-owner | website=WKBW 7 News Buffalo | date=May 7, 2024 | url=https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/two-buffalo-restaurants-closed-until-further-notice-after-sudden-death-of-co-owner | access-date=October 15, 2024}}

His brother Mark worked as a sergeant for the Erie County Sheriff's Office before dying in a November 2024 hunting accident.{{cite web | last=Veronica | first=Nick | title=Buffalo mayor’s brother dies in hunting accident | website=News 4 Buffalo | date=November 7, 2024 | url=https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/western-new-york/cattaraugus-county/police-buffalo-man-dies-in-hunting-accident/ | access-date=November 8, 2024}}

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• [https://www.buffalony.gov/490/Mayor Buffalo Mayor website]
• [https://www.chrisscanlonbuffalo.com Campaign website]

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{{s-ttl|title=Mayor of Buffalo|years=October 2024–present}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Buffalo Common Council Member, South District|years=May 2012 – October 2024}}

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Category:1981 births

Category:21st-century mayors of places in New York (state)

Category:Buffalo Common Council members

Category:Buffalo State College alumni

Category:Catholic politicians from New York (state)

Category:Living people

Category:Mayors of Buffalo, New York

Category:SUNY Erie alumni