Zeneta B. Everhart
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. |
| Political 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]
Early life and education
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]
Personal life and activism
Everhart is the mother of Zaire Goodman, who survived the 2022 mass shooting at the Tops supermarket on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo.[5][6] After the shooting, she testified before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform about racism and gun violence in the United States.[5]
Everhart and her son later launched Zeneta & Zaire's Book Club, a literacy and anti-racism initiative that distributes children's books focused on diversity, race, and inclusion.[10][11]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Buffalo Common Council elects new leadership". WKBW. January 2, 2026. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Common Council Members". City of Buffalo. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Changing Her Story". Canisius University. August 1, 2018. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Zeneta B. Everhart". City of Buffalo. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "'I do not feel protected': Everhart, Gramaglia testify before House committee about 5/14". Buffalo Toronto Public Media. June 9, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Zeneta Everhart, mother of Buffalo mass shooting survivor, wins City Council primary". Associated Press. June 26, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "2023 Primary Election results". Buffalo Toronto Public Media. June 28, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Zeneta Everhart wins Buffalo Common Council Masten District seat". Spectrum News 1. November 8, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Zeneta Everhart, Leah Halton-Pope sworn in to Buffalo Common Council". Spectrum News 1. January 2, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Zeneta and Zaire's Book Club spreads message through reading". Spectrum News 1. February 3, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- ↑ "'Reading helps you in life': Councilwoman Zeneta Everhart getting books into the hands of children". WKBW. February 24, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
External links
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