Demone Smith promoted despite violations

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Demone Smith’s long history of violating the state elections law hasn’t stopped Mayor Byron Brown from appointing him to a key position in his cabinet.

Smith, majority leader of the Common Council and a political ally of the mayor, starts next week as executive director of the Buffalo Employment and Training Center. The center matches employers with city and county residents seeking jobs.

Over the past decade, Smith has failed to file campaign disclosure reports on time 28 times. That’s prompted the state Board of Elections to impose seven penalties, five of which remain unpaid. Smith owes $3,382 in penalties.

Brown, in an interview Tuesday, said he is aware of the unpaid penalties and has told Smith he must pay them off to retain his new job, which pays $89,000. Smith earned $52,000 representing the Masten District on the Council, a position he has held since 2008.

The mayor said his office received nearly 100 applications for the position, but he did not interview any of the candidates except Smith.

For previous coverage, view  my 2010 story in The Buffalo News and 2013 piece for Investigative Post and WGRZ.