Binghamton History: Five Mayors Celebrate the City’s Birthday

Binghamton's five living mayors - the current mayor and his four predecessors - celebrated the city's 158th birthday by getting together for a radio interview.

Binghamton was incorporated as a city on April 9, 1867. Mayor Jared Kraham suggested it would be an appropriate occasion to have a conversation about the city's history.

Three former mayors - Richard David, Matthew Ryan and Richard Bucci - still live in Binghamton and they joined Kraham Wednesday in WNBF Radio's downtown studio. Juanita Crabb participated in the chat by phone from Washington, DC.

Each mayor discussed their impressions of the city when they were younger and a bit about how they wound up at City Hall.

Crabb, Bucci, Ryan, David and Kraham also talked about some of the challenges of serving as Binghamton mayor.

Despite the current uncertainties, all five mayors expressed optimism about the city's future.

LISTEN: The first segment of an interview with five Binghamton mayors on WNBF Radio on April 9, 2025.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: A brief chat with all of Binghamton's living mayors before the live radio interview on April 9, 2025.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.