Zeneta B. Everhart
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Zeneta B. Everhart | |
|---|---|
| President pro tempore of the Buffalo Common Council | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Bryan J. Bollman |
| Member of the Buffalo Common Council from the Masten District | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Ulysees O. Wingo Sr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | Villa Maria College (AA) Canisius University (BA) |
| Occupation | Politician; activist; former television producer |
Zeneta B. Everhart is an American politician, activist, and former television news producer who has served as President pro tempore of the Buffalo Common Council since 2026 and as the council member from the Masten District since 2024.[1][2] Before entering elected office, she worked in television news and later as an aide to New York State Senator Tim Kennedy.[3][4] She became known nationally in 2022 after testifying before Congress about gun violence following the 2022 Buffalo shooting, in which her son Zaire Goodman was wounded.[5][6]
Everhart is a Buffalo native who was born and raised on the East Side of the city.[4] She earned an associate degree in liberal arts and humanities from Villa Maria College and a bachelor's degree from Canisius University, where she studied television production and interpersonal communication.[4][2]
Media and public service career
After college, Everhart worked at Spectrum News Buffalo, first as a breaking news photographer and later as a producer.[4][3] In 2017, she left television news to work for Senator Tim Kennedy as an East Side community representative, and later served as his director of diversity and inclusion.[3][4] In Kennedy's office, she helped create Single Moms Club Buffalo, a support organization for single mothers.[4]
Political career
Everhart ran for the open Masten District seat on the Buffalo Common Council in 2023 after incumbent Ulysees Wingo announced that he would not seek re-election.[7] In the Democratic primary, she defeated former Buffalo mayoral nominee India Walton with 67 percent of the vote.[7][6]
In the November 2023 general election, Everhart defeated Murray Holman to win the Masten District seat.[8] She was sworn into office on January 1, 2024, alongside Leah Halton-Pope; the two were the first women to serve on the Buffalo Common Council since 2014.[9]
At the council's reorganizational meeting on January 2, 2026, Everhart was elected president pro tempore.[1][2]