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The debate featuring the executive candidates was held Oct. 21 and took place at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts inside the 3rd Floor Multimedia Room. It was broadcast live on WRFA radio (107.9 FM or streaming at www.WRFALP.com/Streaming) and also live streamed by WNY News Now on Facebook or www.WNYNewsNow.com/live. It will also be rebroadcast at times TBA by WJTN and WRFA radio.

The debate was moderated by WRFA’s Julia Ciesla-Hanley and included questions from participating media members – Terry Frank (Media One Radio / WJTN), Justin Gould (WNY News Now). There was also an opportunity for each candidate to ask one question to one another.

The debate is intended to help inform voters of Chautauqua County on each of candidate prior to Election Day – Tuesday, November 2, 2021. It is made possible through funding from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

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The Chautauqua County League of Women Voters Meet the Candidates Forum/Debate, held at Jamestown Community College on Tuesday, Oct. 25 207 and featuring candidates for county executive (Mike Ferguson and George Borrello) and Jamestown area candidates for County Legislature (David Wilfong and Frank Besse for district 11 and Elisabeth Rankin and David Reinhardt) for District 12.

Recorded by WRFA Radio.

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A debate featuring the 2017 candidates for Chautauqua County Executive – George Borrello (R – Irving) and Mike Ferguson (D-Fredonia) – hosted by the Jamestown AM Rotary Club and taking place Monday, Oct. 2, 2017 at the Robert H. Jackson Center.

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WRFA’s Jason Sample talks with Chautauqua County Executive Candidate George Borrello (R, C, I – Irving) about why he’s running for executive and how he plans to deal with several issues affecting Chautauqua County.

Originally airing Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017.

The interview is the first part of a two-part series focusing on the County Executive’s Race. The second interview, featuring candidate Mike Ferguson (D, WF, WEP – Fredonia), was broadcast on the Thursday, Oct. 12 edition of Community Matters.

The election for county executive in Chautauqua County is an open race, following the January announcement by current county executive Vince Horrigan (R-Bemus Point) that he would not be seeking a second term in office.

More details on the Borrello Campaign at www.VoteBorrello.com.

More details on the Ferguson campaign at www.FergusonForChautauqua.com.

George Borrello

George Borrello

JAMESTOWN – The Republican candidate in this year’s Chautauqua County Executive race has received the support of the union representing Jamestown Police Department officers.

On Tuesday the George Borello Campaign announced that the Kendall Club Police Benevolent Association has endorsed Borrello (R, C, I -Irving) in the upcoming election for Chautauqua County Executive.

According to the media release, members of the union met on September 13 and “overwhelmingly passed” a motion endorsing Borrello in his election bid for County Executive.

“I am truly humbled to receive the endorsement of the men and women who work the front lines every hour of every day in the city of Jamestown ensuring safety and security for those they serve. During my tenure as a County Legislator I have always supported our first responders, and I am honored the Kendall Club PBA has recognized my efforts, Borrello said in a media release.

Borrello is an Irving area businessman who’s served on the Chautauqua County Legislature since 2010, representing the town of Hanover in the north county. He is also the chair of the county’s Regional Solutions Commission, which helped to create the county’s Shared Services Plan that is being considered for a $20 million state grant.

Part of the shared services plan includes a proposal to consolidate the JPD with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office by allowing vacant patrol positions in the JPD to be filled by sheriff’s deputies. Over a 20 year period, the JPD’s overall cost basis would be significantly reduced, at no additional cost to the county. Sources tell WRFA that members of the Kendall Club are against the proposal.

In July of 2017, as part of the state’s Municipal Consolidation and Efficiency Competition (MCEC), County Legislator and Regional Solutions Commission Chair George Borrello (pictured at left) presented an efficiency plan to the New York State Department of State (DOS). The efficiency plan includes a proposal to consolidate the JPD with the County Sheriff’s Office. (Image from Chautauqua County Shared Service Plan.

While Borrello has endorsed the full Shared Services Plan, he tells WRFA that he feels the JPD-Sheriff Consolidation proposal needs to be reviewed and further discussed.

“This agreement has languished for at least five years and does not appear to have the support of the rank and file members on either side, which is key,” Borrello told WRFA on Tuesday, following the endorsement announcement. “So I think some fresh thinking is needed on how best to address this concept.”

Borrello is running against Mike Ferguson (D-Fredonia) in the county executive race. Ferguson comes from a law enforcement family with his father serving as a Buffalo Police Officer. Ferguson has several ties to the Jamestown area, including being a former General Manger of the Northwest Ice Arena and of the past Jamestown Jammers professional baseball team.

The Kendall Club has not stated the reasons why it’s members selected Borrello over Ferguson in giving its endorsement.

The winner of this year’s County Executive race will succeed Vince Horrigan (R-Bemus Point), who announced his decision not to seek reelection earlier this year.

This year’s election features races for several local offices, including County Executive, County Clerk, and all 19 seats in the Chautauqua County Legislature.

Already announced candidates include Republican George Borrello (Irving) and Democrat Mike Ferguson (Fredonia) running for the open seat of County Executive after Vince Horrigan announce at the start of this year he would not seek another term in office. Running for county clerk will be Republican incumbent Larry Barmore of Gerry, being challenged by Democrat LeeAnn Lazarony of Cassadaga.

10 out of 19 Legislature Seats Uncontested

A map of the legislative districts for Chautauqua County.

In addition to the two county-wide races, there will be nine contested races for in the 19-seat Chautauqua County Legislature, including two open seat races.

Contested races include:

• District 1 (Dunkirk) – Democrat Tommy Roque is facing Republican incumbent Kevin Muldowney;
• District 3 (Fredonia) – Democrat Robert Dando is facing Republican incumbent Bob Scudder;
• District 6 (Hanover) – Democrat Kevin O’Connell of Silver Creek is facing Republican Gary Cerne of Irving. The two are vying for the seat currently held by Borrello, who is running for County Executive;
• District 8 (Ellery and North Harmony) – Democrat Jeri Ann Simora of Stow is challenging Republican incumbent Pierre Chagnon of Bemus Point;
• District 11 (Jamestown) – Democrat Frank Besse is challenging Republican incumbent and County Republican Party Chair Dave Wilfong;
• District 12 (Jamestown) – Democrat Dave Reinhardt is challenging Republican incumbent Elisabeth Rankin;
• District 16 (Kiantone, Carrol, Poland) – Democrat and Poland Town Councilman Terry Walker of Kennedy is facing Republican John Davis of Frewsburg. The two are vying for the seat currently held by Republican Ron Lemon (Frewsburg) who has announced he will not seek reelection;
• District 18 (Chautauqua, Sherman, and Mina) – Independence Party member Ella Ames of Mayville is running on the Democratic ticket and is challenging Republican incumbent and Legislature Chairman David Himelein of Findley Lake;
• District 19 (Westfield and Ripley) – Democrat Laurel Adams of Ripley is challenging Republican incumbent John Hemmer of Westfield.

It appears 10 races will be uncontested this year.

The four incumbent Democratic legislators are all seeking re-election and are apparently not being opposed by Republicans. They include Minority Leader Chuck Nazzaro (District 9 – Jamestown) Assistant Minority Leader Bob Bankoski (District 2 – Dunkirk); Christine Starks (District 4 – Fredonia) and Paul Whitford (District 13 – Jamestown).

Six Republicans, including five incumbents, are also running unopposed. They are Terry Niebel (District 5 – Dunkirk), Mark O’Dell (District 7 – Brocton), Paul “PJ” Wendel (District 10- Lakewood), Lisa Vanstrom (District 15 – West Ellicott), and Frank “Jay” Gould (District 17 – Ashville).

Republican Dan Pavlock of Charlotte will be running unopposed in the open District 14 seat, which is being vacated by Republican Mark Tarbrake (Jamestown), who is vacating the seat due to moving out of the district. District 14 covers the Town of Ellicott north of I-86, along with the towns of Gerry, Ellington, and Charlotte.

Republicans currently hold at 15 to 4 majority in the legislature.

MAYVILLE – Democrats in Chautauqua County have announced their candidate for county executive.

During a announcement event Thursday afternoon in front of the County Courthouse in Mayville, Fredonia’s Mike Ferguson announced his intention to run for the county’s top administrative position, with a focus on creating an environment in the county that is conducive to job development and growth for working class families throughout the county.

Mike Ferguson speaking on May 11, 2017, when it was announced he would be the Democratic Party’s candidate for Chautauqua County Executive in the 2017 General Election.

“I believe there are opportunities to bring new jobs to our community,” Ferguson said during his announcement speech. “I also believe that government doesn’t create jobs. We create the atmosphere that is conducive to creating new jobs and we will do that. We will provide a wage that gives dignity and hope to families and future generations, and a means to fulfill the educational needs of the incoming working, who merely needs a reeducation to obtain the jobs they are otherwise qualified to hold.”

Ferguson said a major component of his approach as county executive will be to continue to develop collaborations with and between educations institutions so that current employers in the area not only benefit, but others will also see the county as an ideal place to move and provide new jobs in the area.

“I will collaborate with our area’s education systems – SUNY Fredonia, Jamestown Community College, Jamestown Business College, MTI, The STEM Programs, and others – to bring the curriculum needed for incoming students to allow them to stay after graduation and begin their lives here in Chautauqua County,” he said.

Ferguson said he will also make agriculture a key component of economic development in the area, by leveraging the agricultural assets already in the area, which he says are not being fully served by current economic development efforts. And he said he has a three-front approach to tackling the area’s drug problem, by helping the addict, as well as going after both the manufacturers and dealers.

Ferguson is a native of Buffalo but has spent much of his professional life working in Chautauqua County with several organizations in both Jamestown and Fredonia/Dunkirk, as well as on Chautauqua Lake. His resume includes working as an administrator for professional sports teams including the Buffalo Blizzard and Jamestown Jammers, along with serving as the General Manager of the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena – now Northwest Arena. He’s also worked in marketing for various businesses including the Bemus Bay Pops and Merritt Estate Winery. And he’s served on various boards, including president of the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau as well as on the board of the Lucy-Desi Center for Comedy.

Ferguson lives in the Fredonia area with his wife Dianne. They have five children and three grandchildren.

The Republican Candidate for County Executive is County Legislator George Borrello (R-Hanover), who announced in April his intention to run.  This year’s county executive race is an open seat race, with current County Executive Vince Horrigan announcing he would not seek a second term in office.

More details on Ferguson and his election platform can be found at his campaign website, FergusonForChautauqua.com.

The Chautauqua County Democratic Committee says the party’s candidate for county executive will announce the start of their campaign during an announcement event on the front steps of the County Office Building in Mayville at 2 p.m. Thursday.

For the Republicans, Chautauqua County legislator George Borrello of North Harmony announced in April his intention to run for executive, following the announcement in February that current executive Vince Horrigan will not seek a second term in office.

This year’s local elections are highlighted by the county-wide executive race, along with the county-wide race for District Attorney and County Clerk.

Other offices up for election in November include all 19 Chautauqua County Legislature seats and various local government races, including all nine seats on the Jamestown City Council.  The next mayoral election for Jamestown isn’t until 2019.