This episodes guest is Chautauqua County League of Women Voters President Mary Croxton. The League of Women Voters is a political grassroots network and membership organization that believes the freedom to vote is a nonpartisan issue.

YWCA Jamestown’s Broadscast features members of the local YWCA Jamestown team – Hillary Belin, Indo Quinones, Alize Scott, and Cienna Simon – discussing a variety of issues and topics with various guests from the Jamestown and Chautauqua Region.

The program covers a wide range of topics, including Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) issues; racial justice and civil rights; empowerment and economic advancement of women and girls; and health and safety of women and girls.

Funding for the program comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The Chautauqua County League of Women Voters held a “Meet The Candidates” debate for special election candidates for the 23rd Congressional District on August 18, 2022. Democrat Max Della Pia and Republican Joe Sempolinski participated in the event.

Democratic candidate Max Della Pia, League of Women Voters’ Marcia Merrins, and Republican candidate Joe Sempolinski

Democratic candidate Max Della Pia, League of Women Voters’ Marcia Merrins, and Republican candidate Joe Sempolinski

Around 50 people came out to hear what the men running in the special election for the 23rd Congressional District had to say at the Chautauqua County League of Women Voters‘ “Meet The Candidates” event Thursday night.

Democrat Max Della Pia and Republican Joe Sempolinski responded to a broad variety of questions submitted by the audience, with inflation being the first topic mentioned.

Sempolinski cited inflation being the most serious issue facing the district because it affects those with limited means the most, “People who are living paycheck to paycheck. People who are on fixed income. That’s the most important issue. And the way we deal with it is to stop the loose spending in Washington D.C. The so-called Inflation Reduction Act was just signed into law. It’ll do nothing of the sort. I would have been against that. My opponent would have been for it. I think it’s a clear distinction on the most important issue today.”

Della Pia, in support of the Inflation Reduction Act, said he believes it will reduce the United State’s dependence on foreign oil,reduce the country’s debt, and increase steps toward environmental protection.

Candidates were also asked if they’d support an assault weapons ban. Della Pia said what is considered an assault weapon needs to be defined given that virtually every deer rifle is semi-automatic. He said there are things that can be done, “Number one, universal background checks without exceptions for gun shows or exchanges between family members or friends; including a background check that includes if someone is on the no-fly list, if they’re domestic abusers, if they have mental issues. Number two, I think we need to have a national ban on large magazines, detachable magazines.”

Sempolinski said he would not support an assault weapons ban and said underlying causes for why mass shooting events happen need to be dealt with including mental health issues.

Early voting is currently underway for the special election with Tuesday, August 23 being the final special election and primary day for the 23rd Congressional District.

The full audio from the “Meet The Candidates” event is available here:

District 10 Legislator Jamie Gustafson introduces herself to the County Legislature (July 27, 2022)

The Chautauqua County Legislature has approved a 19-district reapportionment map, but voted down sending it to referendum in November.

A local law establishing a 17-district map failed in a vote of 3 to 14 with Legislators John Penhollow and Paul Whitford being absent. Only Legislators Bob Bankowski, Susan Parker, and Billy Torres supported the reduction.

Proponents of the 17-district plan included local League of Women Voters representative Mary Croxton who spoke at the public hearing saying with the over 5% decrease in population from the last census, keeping the same number of legislators makes less sense, “We need to be more efficient and cost effective as a county government. Maintaining the same number of legislative districts with all of the technical and economical challenges that we have taken place and are expected to take place over the coming decade is not efficient or cost effective. Chautauqua County residents and the taxpayers cannot afford the status quo.”

County Reapportionment Co-Chair Larry Wilcox spoke in opposition to the 17-district plan, saying the plan would divide more rural towns into different election districts than the 19-district plan, which would only divide two towns, “One-third of the small towns in this county are divided into two or more legislative districts under the 17-member plan. That’s one of the reasons the 19-member plan, which I encourage you to adopt, is far superior to the 17-member plan. The people in this rural area would have their voting power diluted under the 17-member plan, but it would be intact under the 19-member plan.”

The local law setting a 19-district map passed 14 to 3 with Legislators Bankowski, Parker, and Torres voting against it. A resolution to have a referendum on the 19-district map failed along the same lines in a vote of 3 to 14.

The Legislature approved the appointment of Jamie Gustafson to lead Legislative District 10. She replaces Ken Lawton, who has moved out of the district. Legislator Gustafson has lived in the district with her family for 30 years and is employed by M&T Bank. District 10 represents the southwest side of Jamestown, the Village of Lakewood and part of the Town of Busti.

The Legislature approved a local law by a vote of 12 to 5 to create a Chautauqua County Landfill Commission.

Public Facilities Deputy Director Aaron Gustafson, speaking at privilege at the floor, stated concern over why the Commission was being proposed. He stated that the doors of communications work both ways, “We do not feel that the added level of government, the commission, will solve anymore issues than the current processes that are already in place, especially given the concerning involvement of private interest that are proposed to be part of the commission. We fail to see how private business members would help foster better communication between the division and this legislative body. In fact, it seems it most certainly would create an environment for conflicts of interest.”

Legislator Susan Parker proposed two separate amendments that would have added language not allowing the commission to entertain privatizing landfill operations and also would not allow private customers as members of the commission. Both proposed amendments failed. Legislators Parker, Bob Bankowski, and Elisabeth Rankin cited concern about conflicts of interests from private businesses and that concerns about the Landfill could be handled with existing means of communication.

The commission will have seven members appointed by the County Executive including two County Legislators as well as representatives of the government of the Town of Ellery, a large municipal customer, a large private customer, a waste hauler, and a representative of a community hosting a County transfer station.

• AUDIO ALSO AVAILABLE AT OUR SOUNDCLOUD PAGE

The 2019 Chautauqua County League of Women Voters Candidate Forum for New York State Senate 57th District, featuring candidates Austin Morgan (D) and George Borrello (R). Presented by the LOWV, the AAUW, and the Jamestown Community College Poli Sci department and taking place at JCC on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019.

Austin Morgan (left) and George Borrello

Andrew Liuzzo

JAMESTOWN – About 3800 registered Republicans will be eligible to vote in this year’s June 25 Republican Primary for mayor, featuring current Jamestown City Councilman (at Large) Andrew Liuzzo and current Chautauqua County County Legislator (District 11) David Wilfong.

But those who are planning to vote will do so without having the opportunity to hear the two candidates square off to discuss and debate the issues. That’s because Liuzzo declined any invites that involved a forum where both he and Wilfong would be present.

In early April WRFA invited both candidates to participate in debate that would be hosted and broadcast by our radio station prior to June 25. Wilfong accepted the invite but Liuzzo declined, saying he would rather focus on running his campaign.

In an interview last week with WRFA, Liuzzo offered further details on why he didn’t want to debate Wilfong before June 25.

“I’m very accessible to the public. I’m a servant and I see myself as a servant. In order for me to sit down and have a debate with a primary opponent is premature. I’d be willing to debate the candidate once I become an [endorsed] candidate. I will share my views as opposed to the opposing candidates views. But in a primary, our records speak to what they speak for,” Liuzzo said when asked about not doing a debate.

David Wilfong

WRFA also spoke with Wilfong about the lack of a debate prior to the primary. He didn’t mix words in offering his reaction.

“As far as Andy not wanting to debate, he’s either afraid or he’s a little arrogant. I think it’s a little bit of both,” Wilfong said. “I can’t see what it would hurt for us to sit down in front of a group of people and kind of discuss the issues. I’ve had to do it before as a county legislator. I actually think it’s one of my strong points. But he’ll have to answer to the voters on that. I’m not going to try and put words in his mouth or make up answers for him.”

WRFA has also learned at least one other local media outlet – WNY News Now – also invited the two candidates to participate in a debate, but Liuzzo respectfully declined that invitation as well.

As indicated earlier, Liuzzo has said that he would be willing to debate any and all candidates for mayor prior to the November General Election. Jamestown attorney Eddie Sundquist is the endorsed candidate for the Democratic, Independence, and Working Families parties. Wilfong is the endorsed candidate for the Conservative Party. So far there is not a candidate for the Libertarian Party, which has until the end of August before it has to name a candidate.

It’s not uncommon for two candidates vying for the same party endorsement to square off in a debate or similar “meet the candidates” forum prior to a primary. We see it on the national level when it comes to the office of president, as well as for Congress – as we witnessed in 2018 when five different Democratic candidates were vying for the party’s endorsement to run against Congressman Tom Reed in the 23rd Congressional District.

And the Chautauqua County League of Women votes will be hosting the two Republican candidates for  state senate during a forum Monday night, June 16 at Dunkirk City Hall. Those candidates are Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello and Allegany County Legislature Chairman Curtis Crandall. Both men will also be interviewed on WRFA for this week’s Community Matters program.

The money would come from $24.7 million that was recently allocated by the state Legislature in its 2019 budget.

Of the money, $14.7 million has been set aside for creating electronic poll books, which replaces the paper poll books and will facilitate early voting – allowing voters to cast their Election Day ballots up to nine days early, while ensuring that the electronic list will automatically cross check voters so that they are not able to vote again on the actual Election Day.

There is also $10 million allotted to cover costs for the counties to operate the early voting sites. Early voting was passed by the State Legislature in January. Chautauqua County is mandated to open at least one early voting site, but the Election Commissioners have committed to opening three sites including a South, North and Mayville site.

The location of sites and details of early voting will be announced at the Chautauqua County League of Women Voters annual luncheon on Wednesday April 17 at the Harbor Hotel in Celoron.

According to the Chautauqua County Board of Elections, the local share of the $24.7 million will likely be about $150,000.

Also new this year is an election law change that mandates all New Yorkers to have up to three hours of paid time off to vote on Election Day and starting in 2020 allowing online voter registration at votechautauqua.com, along with expanding county Primary Day voting hours an addition six hour. Currently the polling hours for primary day begin at noon, but in 2020 they will start at 6 a.m.

The event, jointly sponsored by the Jamestown chapter of the American Association of University Women and the Political Science Department of Jamestown Community College, will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, in the Weeks Room at JCC.

During the event the audience will be able to question candidates for the Assembly, Republican incumbent Andrew Goodall and his Democrat challenger, Judy Einach, and also incumbent Democrat Sheriff Joseph Gerace and his Republican challenger, James Quattrone. Some of the candidates are sponsored by additional parties and will appear on more than one line on the ballot.

Time-keepers are strict about keeping the candidates’ statements brief so that many members of the audience can ask questions. Candidates are also encouraged to question one another in true debate form. The candidate events are free and open to the public.

A second Meet the Candidates event will also take place in the north county at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, in the courtroom in Dunkirk City Hall.

Marion Beckerink, Development Director of the Robert H. Jackson Center, will be the guest speaker on “Race, Gender, and Age: Voting Privilege Becomes Voting Right: 15th, 19th, and the 26th Amendments to the US Constitution.”

The presentation will be held in JCC’s Student Union at noon and is open to the public.