Mickey, Erin, and McKenna Kearns. (Picture credit: Elena Cala Buscarino)

A lifelong Buffalo resident, Michael P. "Mickey" Kearns is the son of Mary and Paul Kearns of South Buffalo. His father Paul is a retired Buffalo Fire Fighter. One of six children, Michael is a graduate of Bishop Timon High School, Erie Community College, and Canisius College.

After completing a B.A. in Political Science at Canisius, Mr. Kearns began his public service on the streets of Buffalo as a sanitation worker. Michael then turned to the private sector, earning a Paralegal degree from Erie Community College while working at the law offices of Hiscock & Barclay. Mr. Kearns next dutifully served his neighborhood as Legislative Assistant to former South District Common Council Member Dennis Manley, before once again returning to the private sector as a professional fundraising consultant. Michael successfully took on the role of Vice President at Kearns & Associates, a full service fundraising firm founded by his cousin Jack Kearns, where he personally raised $17.9 million for non-profit organizations.

In 2005, while working full-time for Kearns & Associates, Michael ran for the office of South District Common Council Member. As an unendorsed candidate, he won the Democratic Primary and General Election in landslide victories, and was sworn into office on January 1, 2006. Since joining the Buffalo Common Council, Kearns has tackled some of the toughest District issues.

Michael has been regularly involved in neighborhood issues, frequently attending various block club meetings and other public forums in South Buffalo and throughout the City. He hosts an annual Senior Seminar and Luncheon, and participates in Read Across America Day at different schools each year. Kearns traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois, at the invitation of former Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist to learn more about lakefront and economic development possibilities. Kearns is a strong proponent of form-based codes, and benefited from seeing, firsthand, the progress that has been made in similar post-industrial communities.

Michael P. Kearns is Chairman of the Council's Waterfront Development and Finance Committees. He is an active member of the Budget, Civil Service, Claims and Rules Committees, and sits on the board of the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency. Michael is an ex officio member of the Board of Directors for Cazenovia Community Resource Center, Inc. and for The Buffalo Legacy Project, Inc.

He currently lives in South Buffalo with his wife Erin and daughter McKenna.