James Griffin
Encyclopedia
James Donald "Jimmy" Griffin (June 29, 1929 – May 25, 2008) was a former American
politician
who served in the New York State Senate
(56th District, 1967–77) and then for 16 years as the Mayor of Buffalo, New York (1978–93). He later returned to public life serving as a member of the Buffalo Common Council
.
He first entered political life as a Councilman in Buffalo in the 1960s. From the Council he was elected to the New York State Senate for several terms before he ran for mayor. He was a Democrat
during his service as a councilman and senator. While officially a registered member of the Democratic Party
, Griffin was very conservative
compared to the party platform and was frequently cross-endorsed by the Conservative
and Republican Parties
.
. In the general election he was the nominee of both the Conservative and Right-to-Life Parties and defeated Eve to be elected Mayor. He was reelected in 1981, 1985, and 1989.
As Mayor, Griffin was sometimes known for his outspoken personality. During the Blizzard of 1985, he recommended to Buffalo residents "go home, buy a six pack of beer, and watch a good football game." This earned him the nickname "Jimmy Six Pack."
While mayor he was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for Erie County Executive in 1991, losing to incumbent Dennis Gorski
. In 1996, Griffin sought the Democratic nomination for President in the New Hampshire Primary, finishing a very distant eighth to Bill Clinton
. After the "Spring of Life" demonstration in April 1992 where Griffin encouraged anti-abortion groups such as Operation Rescue
to protest in Buffalo, he declined to seek a fifth term as Mayor and was succeeded by Democrat Anthony Masiello
.
against future Congressman Brian Higgins
(where Griffin was defeated by Higgins in his home base of South Buffalo for the only time in his elector career) and was rumored to have an interest in a seat in the Erie County Legislature that was vacated in 2001, although in the end he did not run. In 2002 he led an effort to recall Masiello from office. This effort fell through because of petition discrepancies and disputes over whether a recall election was legal in New York State.
In 1996, Griffin entered the New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Primary election, finishing well behind incumbent Bill Clinton
, and even garnering fewer votes than perennial candidate and satirist Pat Paulsen
.
In 2003, Griffin was elected to a two-year term in the Buffalo Common Council, representing the South District. Taking office in 2004, Griffin was named Chairman of the Claims Committee and started working on fiscal issues relating to the Buffalo fiscal crisis. He also criticized Masiello's handling of city finances. Griffin focused much of his time on issues in his district.
In the spring of 2005, Griffin resigned from the Council with several months left in his term. He said he had completed what he sought to accomplish as a councilman and was retiring from public life.
Griffin served in the United States Army
during the Korean War
.
On January 28, 2007, during an interview on the Hardline with Hardwick radio program on Buffalo radio station WBEN
, Griffin said he might once again run for Erie County Executive as a Democrat. The County Executive at that time, Joel Giambra
, had announced he would not be seeking re-election. Then on April 15, 2007, he announced on WWKB
's "Public Opinions with Wayne Mack" that he had discussed running again with his wife, and decided he did not wish to seek public office anymore.
However, on July 17, 2007, Griffin announced that he was joining the race for the Erie County
Executive seat, against fellow South Buffalonian and endorsed Democratic Party candidate Jim Keane. Griffin was correctly considered an underdog and did not have much—if any—money with which to run a campaign. When the votes were counted after the primary on September 18, 2007, Griffin ran 3rd in a three way race with about 23% of the vote. He ran his campaign with only $11,000.00 against the millions his opponents spent on their campaigns. Griffin then said he had run his last electoral race and considered himself retired from political competition. Griffin later endorsed the candidacy of Republican candidate and with the assistance of his group of campaign volunteers, helped Christopher C. Collins
win the election for Erie County Executive.
Griffin died on May 25, 2008 at the Father Baker Manor in Orchard Park, from Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
.http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/492063.html His wife, Margaret "Margie" Griffin (née McMahon), died in July 2011. The couple had three children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served in the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
(56th District, 1967–77) and then for 16 years as the Mayor of Buffalo, New York (1978–93). He later returned to public life serving as a member of the Buffalo Common Council
Buffalo Common Council
The Buffalo Common Council is the legislative branch of the Buffalo, New York City Government. It is a representative assembly, with one elected member from each of nine districts: Niagara, Delaware, Masten, Ellicott, Lovejoy, Fillmore, North, University, and South. In the past, the Common...
.
He first entered political life as a Councilman in Buffalo in the 1960s. From the Council he was elected to the New York State Senate for several terms before he ran for mayor. He was a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
during his service as a councilman and senator. While officially a registered member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Griffin was very conservative
American conservatism
Conservatism in the United States has played an important role in American politics since the 1950s. Historian Gregory Schneider identifies several constants in American conservatism: respect for tradition, support of republicanism, preservation of "the rule of law and the Christian religion", and...
compared to the party platform and was frequently cross-endorsed by the Conservative
Conservative Party of New York
The Conservative Party of New York State is an American political party active in the state of New York. It is not part of any nationwide party, nor is it affiliated with the American Conservative Party, which it predates by over 40 years....
and Republican Parties
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
Mayor of Buffalo
Griffin was elected Mayor of Buffalo in November 1977 and was sworn in January 1, 1978. He had lost the Democratic primary for Mayor to then Deputy State Assembly Speaker Arthur EveArthur Eve
Arthur O. Eve is a retired American politician who served as a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly and Deputy Speaker of the Assembly representing districts in...
. In the general election he was the nominee of both the Conservative and Right-to-Life Parties and defeated Eve to be elected Mayor. He was reelected in 1981, 1985, and 1989.
As Mayor, Griffin was sometimes known for his outspoken personality. During the Blizzard of 1985, he recommended to Buffalo residents "go home, buy a six pack of beer, and watch a good football game." This earned him the nickname "Jimmy Six Pack."
While mayor he was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for Erie County Executive in 1991, losing to incumbent Dennis Gorski
Dennis Gorski
Dennis T. Gorski is a retired politician in New York and an ex-Marine. A resident of Cheektowaga, New York, Gorski is a former County Executive of Erie County, New York, which includes Buffalo, New York and many of its suburbs. He was the first Democrat elected Erie County Executive and the first...
. In 1996, Griffin sought the Democratic nomination for President in the New Hampshire Primary, finishing a very distant eighth to Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. After the "Spring of Life" demonstration in April 1992 where Griffin encouraged anti-abortion groups such as Operation Rescue
Operation Rescue
Operation Rescue is a pro-life organization which originated in California and is now based in Kansas....
to protest in Buffalo, he declined to seek a fifth term as Mayor and was succeeded by Democrat Anthony Masiello
Anthony Masiello
Anthony M. Masiello was mayor of Buffalo, New York from 1994 to 2005. Prior to being mayor, he served as a New York State Senator.-Personal and Educational Background:...
.
Post-mayoral career
Griffin remained as outspoken and controversial as a former Mayor as he was during his career in City Hall. He frequently commented on public policy issues in Buffalo. He unsuccessfully sought a seat in the New York State AssemblyNew York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
against future Congressman Brian Higgins
Brian Higgins
Brian Higgins is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes the southern two-thirds of Buffalo proper, most of that city's eastern and southern suburbs, and all of Chautauqua County.-Early life, education and career:A native of...
(where Griffin was defeated by Higgins in his home base of South Buffalo for the only time in his elector career) and was rumored to have an interest in a seat in the Erie County Legislature that was vacated in 2001, although in the end he did not run. In 2002 he led an effort to recall Masiello from office. This effort fell through because of petition discrepancies and disputes over whether a recall election was legal in New York State.
In 1996, Griffin entered the New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Primary election, finishing well behind incumbent Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, and even garnering fewer votes than perennial candidate and satirist Pat Paulsen
Pat Paulsen
Patrick Layton "Pat" Paulsen was an American comedian and satirist notable for his roles on several of the Smothers Brothers TV shows, and for his campaigns for President of the United States in 1968, 1972, 1980, 1988, 1992, and 1996, which had primarily comedic rather than political objectives,...
.
In 2003, Griffin was elected to a two-year term in the Buffalo Common Council, representing the South District. Taking office in 2004, Griffin was named Chairman of the Claims Committee and started working on fiscal issues relating to the Buffalo fiscal crisis. He also criticized Masiello's handling of city finances. Griffin focused much of his time on issues in his district.
In the spring of 2005, Griffin resigned from the Council with several months left in his term. He said he had completed what he sought to accomplish as a councilman and was retiring from public life.
Griffin served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
On January 28, 2007, during an interview on the Hardline with Hardwick radio program on Buffalo radio station WBEN
WBEN (AM)
WBEN is an AM and FM radio station serving the Niagara, Buffalo and Western New York area, broadcasting on 930 AM and, as of April 5, 2011, simulcasting on sister station WLKK at 107.7 FM. It previously simulcasted between 1946 and 1960 on 102.5 FM as WBEN-FM. Both stations retained the WBEN...
, Griffin said he might once again run for Erie County Executive as a Democrat. The County Executive at that time, Joel Giambra
Joel Giambra
Joel Giambra is the former County Executive in Erie County, New York. The county seat is Buffalo, New York, where Giambra currently resides.-Early life:...
, had announced he would not be seeking re-election. Then on April 15, 2007, he announced on WWKB
WWKB
WWKB is an AM radio station in Buffalo, New York that operates on a frequency of 1520 kHz. It is owned and operated by Entercom Communications. The station carries a progressive talk radio format. Declaring itself as A New Voice, A New Choice, The Voice of the New Majority; WWKB carries a number...
's "Public Opinions with Wayne Mack" that he had discussed running again with his wife, and decided he did not wish to seek public office anymore.
However, on July 17, 2007, Griffin announced that he was joining the race for the Erie County
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
Executive seat, against fellow South Buffalonian and endorsed Democratic Party candidate Jim Keane. Griffin was correctly considered an underdog and did not have much—if any—money with which to run a campaign. When the votes were counted after the primary on September 18, 2007, Griffin ran 3rd in a three way race with about 23% of the vote. He ran his campaign with only $11,000.00 against the millions his opponents spent on their campaigns. Griffin then said he had run his last electoral race and considered himself retired from political competition. Griffin later endorsed the candidacy of Republican candidate and with the assistance of his group of campaign volunteers, helped Christopher C. Collins
Chris Collins (Erie County)
Christopher C. Collins is the County Executive in Erie County, New York. The county seat is Buffalo, New York. He is a resident of Clarence, New York. Born in Schenectady, New York, in 1950, Collins moved around the country with his family as his father was transferred several times by General...
win the election for Erie County Executive.
Griffin died on May 25, 2008 at the Father Baker Manor in Orchard Park, from Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease or CJD is a degenerative neurological disorder that is incurable and invariably fatal. CJD is at times called a human form of mad cow disease, given that bovine spongiform encephalopathy is believed to be the cause of variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease in humans.CJD...
.http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/492063.html His wife, Margaret "Margie" Griffin (née McMahon), died in July 2011. The couple had three children.