Betty Jean Grant is a Democrat U.S politician from Buffalo, New York. She has served as an Erie County Legislator since 2007. Grant currently represents the 2nd district, after previously serving the 7th district.
Grant was born and raised in Brighton, Tennessee, a small rural town approximately 18 miles from Memphis.. She attended Medaille College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1993. She earned a Master of Science degree in Special Education from Buffalo State College. She has also owned a deli and worked as a school teacher.
Grant was elected to the Buffalo Common Council in 1999 representing the University District. She served two full terms on the Common Council.
In 2004, Betty Jean Grant was elected to the Buffalo Public School Board of Education, representing the Ferry District. She was elected to the Erie County Legislature in 2007 and was re-elected in 2009 and 2011. In 2012, she began serving as Chair of the Erie County Legislature after both her Democratic and Republican colleagues unanimously voted for her.
Grant lost to Tim Kennedy in the Democratic Primary for New York State Senate District 63 in 2012.