Michael P. Kearns
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Mickey Kearns | |
|---|---|
 | |
| County Clerk of Erie County | |
| Assumed office December 5, 2017 | |
| Deputy | Kevin M. Linder |
| Preceded by | Chris Jacobs |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 142nd district 145th district (2012) | |
| In office March 21, 2012 – December 4, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Mark J.F. Schroeder |
| Succeeded by | Erik Bohen |
| Member of the Buffalo Common Council from the South District | |
| In office January 2006 – March 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Jeffrey M. Conrad |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Scanlon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 1969 (age 56) Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations | Republican (electorally) |
| Spouse | Stephanie |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Erie Community College Canisius College |
Michael P. "Mickey" Kearns is an American politician who serves as Clerk of Erie County, New York. Kearns previously represented the 142nd New York State Assembly District, which spans South Buffalo, half of the city of Lackawanna, West Seneca and Orchard Park, from 2012 to 2017;[1] he has also served on the Buffalo Common Council. Kearns was elected Erie County Clerk in a 2017 special election and has been re-elected twice since (2018 & 2022) to represent the more than 900,000 residents of Erie County.
Prior to his election to the Assembly, Kearns served as South Buffalo's representative on the Buffalo Common Council,[2] where he was elected to succeed Jeffrey M. Conrad.[3] Kearns unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown in a Democratic primary in the 2009 Buffalo mayoral election.[4]
State Assembly
Kearns is a registered Democrat. He ran for Assembly in a March 2012 special election[5] without the Democrats' support on the lines of the Republican and Independence Parties.[6] He was elected in a special election on March 20, 2012, defeating Chris Fahey, the endorsed Democrat.[7] While he stated his intention to caucus with the Democrats, Kearns also stated that he would not support Speaker Sheldon Silver; this stance mirrored the position taken by Kearns's predecessor, Mark J. F. Schroeder. On May 20, 2013, Kearns left the Assembly Democratic Conference and called for Silver to resign from his post as Speaker of the Assembly; Kearns took these steps after Silver's confidential, taxpayer-funded settlement of sexual harassment claims against fellow Assembly Democrat Vito Lopez became public.[8][9] Following the ouster of Speaker Silver, Kearns rejoined the Assembly Democratic Conference.[10][11]
While in the Assembly, Kearns pushed for accountability for banks who allow properties that are the subject of abandoned foreclosures to fall into disrepair,[12] and he fought against a bill that allowed the Western New York Children's Psychiatric Center to be closed or relocated.[13]
Kearns resigned his Assembly seat after being elected Erie County Clerk.[14]