County Lawmakers to Consider Charter Ammendment Dealing with Filling Legislature Vacancies

MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Legislature could be making some changes to how a seat on the panel is filled once it becomes vacated.

During Wednesday’s scheduled legislature meeting, a local law amending the county charter is on the agenda. The amendment deals with how a new legislator would be appointed to a vacant seat.

Under current law, any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall be a member of the same political party as the person who vacated the office and shall be nominated by the district committee of said party. That nomination would then be approved or denied by the full legislature.

The proposed amendment would instead have the political party of the district committee appoint the replacement without the need for full legislature approval. As with the current law, the seat would be filled by the appointment until the next general election.

The amendment is in response to last month’s meeting, when Jamestown Democrat Chuck Cornell was unanimously nominated by members of the local Democratic committee to fill the seat vacated by recently appointed city court judge Fred Larson. However, that nomination was defeated 10 to 7 by the full legislature. As a result, Cornell was not added to the legislature and the District 12 seat has remained vacant.

KRESGE LIKELY REPLACEMENT FOR DISTRICT 12 SEAT

Fred Larson’s replacement on the legislator could be determined tonight. Jamestown Democrat Beth Kresge of Lakeview Avenue has been nominated by the local democratic committee to fill vacant District 12 seat. The seat has been vacant since April, when Larson was appointed to become the second Jamestown City Court Judge.

According to a report in the Jamestown Post-Journal, Kresge has never served in public office, but has served as a liaison for former Congressman Jack Quinn and also worked for former Congressman Amo Houghton.

The County Legislature will hold its regular meeting Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. in the legislative chambers of the Gerace Office Building in Mayville. It is open to the public.