Mayoral candidate James McLeod pushing work with youth as part of bid

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo mayoral candidate James McLeod pushed his work with youth in his two decades of public service before running for public office.

McLeod, a former Buffalo City Court judge, brings two decades of experience on the bench. He retired in 2019. He also spent time as an acting Erie County Court judge and and an acting Erie County Family Court judge.

During his time in the judicial system, he created the city's first "young adult" court, dedicating to handling criminal cases for 16-18 year olds in an effort to reduce their re-engagement in the criminal justice system.

In an interview with WIVB News 4 on Thursday, McLeod pushed his work with the youth of Buffalo.

"Realizing that there was too much crime being engaged in by young people and at the same time too many people were not in school, dropping out of school, or being taken out of school, giving them the opportunity to engage, unfortunately, in nefarious activity," McLeod said.

McLeod said that he has gone into schools to try to find the root of the issue, and that is something that the city needs to do in order to work with children and teens in order to reduce crime. He said that a big part of that is keeping them in school and making sure they graduate.

"If we're going to be a great city again, we have to work with our young people because they are indeed our future," McLeod said. "We have to find the root cause of the problems."

McLeod has never held political office before, which he added is a benefit for him.

"I bring a broad range of experience and the ability to work with people," he said. "I don't bring the politics that's there, and I think that's what people are looking for. They're looking for someone who isn't bringing politics, but someone who is bringing solutions."

McLeod is one of four confirmed major candidates in the running. The other three are New York State Senator Sean Ryan, former Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield and Buffalo Common Council member Rasheed Wyatt. Acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon is seeking the Democratic party's endorsement, but has not yet made the official announcement that he is running.

The candidates are vying to be the permanent replacement for former Mayor Byron Brown, who stepped down in October after more than 18 years in office to take the position as president and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting.

Considering all of the candidates so far are Democrats, the election is likely to be essentially decided by the June 2025 primary, before the general election on Nov. 4, 2025.