Highlighting today’s primary are three legislative races. They include a Democratic primary in legislative district 5, where Susan Baldwin of South Dayton will face Amy Farnham of Forestville.

There will also be two key republican primaries scheduled to take place. In Legislative District 16 former legislator Tami Downey of Kiantone will face former legislator and former county legislature clerk Ron Lemon of Frewsburg. In Legislative District 18, David Himelein of Clymer will face Fred Croscut of Sherman. Both men currently sit on the legislature but because of redistricting and downsizing the legislature, they now share the same district.

In addition to the legislative district primaries, several towns will have contested party races.  In the south county, half-a-dozen towns will be hosting a republican primary for various offices. They include the towns of Carroll, Gerry, Kiantone, Poland and Sherman. Also the town of Chautauqua is having a republican primary in all districts except district 4.  Also in the town of Chautauqua, there will be a Working Families primary in District 4.

In order to determine current major party affiliation and registration, visit www.votechautauqua.com and click on “voter lookup.” Residents can also contact the Board of Elections.

Ballots for viewing and election night unofficial results are available at: www.votechautauqua.com.

As WRFA previously reported in June, the legislature’s District 16 race, which covers the towns of Carroll, Poland and Kiantone, will feature Tami Downey (Kiantone) squaring off against Ron Lemon (Frewsburg) in a Republican primary. Incumbent Tom Earlandson is running again for the Democrats.

The District 18 race will also feature a Republican party primary as Fred Crosscut (Sherman) faces David Himelein (Findley Lake). Both men currently sit on the legislature but because of redistricting and downsizing the legislature, they now share the same district, which includes the towns of Chautauqua, Sherman and Mina.  Democrat Ed Carutis of Sherman is also running for that seat.

And two woman will be vying for the Democratic line on the ballot for the legislature’s District 5 seat, which covers four towns in the northeastern part of they county. They are Amy Farnham (Forestville) and Susan Baldwin (South Dayton). Republican Terry Niebel, a former county board of elections commissioner, is also running for that seat.

Primary day in Chautauqua County is September 10. For a complete listing of all residents who are running for office this year, visit votechautauqua.com and click the link for petitions filed for 2013 offices. You can also find more information on this year’s elections on this website.

A map of the legislative districts for Chautauqua County, approved and finalized for the 2013 elections.

MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County’s Democratic Committee has approved its list of preliminary endorsements for the 2013 local elections.

Last weekend the party’s nominating committee met, and endorsed Ron Johnson of Pomfret as the candidate for County Executive and Lori Cornell of Jamestown as the candidate for Chautauqua County Clerk. The party also cross-endorsed current District Attorney David Foley, a Republican from Fredonia, in his bid for reelection.

For the county legislature, the party so far is endorsing candidates for 14 of the 19 legislative districts.

A total of 8 incumbent democrats were endorsed by the party. They are: Dunkirk’s Shaun Heenan and Keith Ahlstrom in Districts 1 and 2 respectively; Billy Coughlin of Fredonia for District 3; Tom DeJoe of Brocton for District 7; Chuck Nazarro of Jamestown for District 9; Robert Whitney of Jamestown for District 11; Paula DeJoy of Jamestown for District 13; and Tom Erlandson of Frewsburg for District 16.

Democratic newcomers this year include Fred Larson of Jamestown, who is running for the District 12 seat and Sam Ognibene of Falconer who is running for the District 15 seat. Other democrats running for the first time include Fredonia’s Janet Keefe in District 4; Amy Dillenburg Farnham in District 5; and Sherman’s Ed Carutis in District 18.

The Democrats are also cross-endorsing Mark Tarbrake of Jamestown in district 14.  That district covers the area of Ellicott north of I-86, plus the towns of Gerry, Charlotte and Ellington.

County Democratic Commissioner Norman Green says they are still looking for candidates for District 6 which covers the town of Hanover; District 8 which covers Ellery and North Harmony; District 10 which covers Lakewood and parts of Busti and the city of Jamestown; District 17 which covers the towns of French Creek, Clymer, Harmony and parts of Busti, and District 19, which covers Westfield.

For a complete rundown of all candidates, plus exclusive audio interviews, visit our 2013 Election page.