Politics Now

   Mayor Byron W. Brown has some extremely close associations with people involved in the potential Republican takeover of the State Senate.

   First, Brown was a Democratic member of the upper house in Albany before he was elected mayor in 2005.

   Second, coup instigator B. Thomas Golisano -- owner of the Buffalo Sabres -- is a Brown supporter. He told The Buffalo News in an interview earlier this year that he planned to stay close to the mayor during this election year.  He did not say exactly what being close meant, but there is no question the billionaire founder of Paychex Inc. has shown a willingness to spend money in elections. His Responsible New York committee, for example, spent more than $4 million on the Democratic Senate candidates with whom he has now parted company.

   And third, Golisano lieutenant G. Steven Pigeon has rekindled close ties with the mayor that were severed for a time as Brown prepared his run for City Hall in 2004. Pigeon also had a key role in last year's primary challenge by Brown ally Barbra A. Kavanaugh to Assemblyman Sam Hoyt. Golisano financed the Kavanaugh effort.

   But on Wednesday, Brown said through spokesman Peter K. Cutler that he would have no comment on the events in Albany. He would not answer questions about whether he would maintain ties with Pigeon and Golisano, who were the main forces in leading the charge against Brown's old Democratic allies.

   Do you view those as legitimate questions for the mayor of Buffalo as events continue to unfold in Albany?

-- Robert J. McCarthy