Former Chautauqua County Executives recognized at the Robert H. Jackson Center

The eight men who have led Chautauqua County in the nearly 50 years since the County Executive position was created were honored at an event held at the Robert H. Jackson Center Friday.

Until 1975, the Chautauqua County Board of Supervisors appointed a chair to serve as chief executive of county business. The Board of Supervisors system was challenged as being unconstitutional, with the challenge succeeding and the county required to rewrite its charter. The new charter included the establishment of a County Legislature and the County Executive position.

The former County Executives all shared memories of successes and challenges during their tenure.

The County Executives who have served Chautauqua County include:
Joseph Gerace (serving Jan. 1, 1975 to May 10, 1983),
John “Jack” Glenzer (serving Nov. 25, 1983 to Dec. 31, 1989),
Andrew Goodell (serving Jan. 1, 1990 to Dec. 31, 1997),
Mark Thomas (serving Jan. 1,1998 to Dec. 31, 2005),
Gregory Edwards (serving Jan.1 2006 to Nov. 17, 2013),
Vincent Horrigan (serving Jan. 1 2014 to Dec. 31, 2017)
George Borrello (serving Jan. 1, 2018 to Nov. 27, 2019)
Paul “PJ” Wendel (serving Jan. 1, 2020 to present).

Current County Attorney Stephen Abedella also was in attendance and was recognized for serving as Acting County Executive from November 18 to December 31, 2013. While not in attendance, David Dawson was recognized as well for his service as an Acting County Executive from May 10 to November 25, 1983.

We’ll be sharing the full recognition event on WRFA at a later date.

Incoming Economic Development Director Kevin Sanvidge (left) and County Executive Vince Horigan.

MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan has announced his choice for the new head of economic development.

On Wednesday afternoon, Horrigan announced the appointment of Kevin M. Sanvidge as the new Administrative Director/CEO of the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) and Director of the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Economic Development.

Sanvidge begins his new position on Tuesday. He is replacing current director Bill Daly, who will be retiring on May 31.

Sanvidge is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Lake Shore Savings Bank, where he also serves as the chairman of its Compensation Committee and as a member of its Corporate Governance Committee. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of ECR International Corporation and he’s is a past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce.

He previously was involved with both Cliffstar Corporation and Al Tech Specialty Steel Corporation.

The selection of the new director was made through the help of a search committee established by Horrigan. Members of the committee included: County Legislator George Borrello, former IDA administrative director, past acting county executive and president of Dawson Metal Dave Dawson and Mike Metzger and Dennis Rak, members of the CCIDA Board of Directors.

Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan

MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan has started the process of finding a new director for the county’s Planning and Economic Development Department.

Last month, current P&ED director Bill Daly announced he would be retiring from the position at the end of May. Since the announcement, Horrigan has been working with a search committee to find the best possible candidate to replace Daly.

“I have two legislators. Legislator [George] Borello has agreed to chair the committee and legislator [Fred] Larson is also on that committee,” Horrigan said during the March 26 County Legislature Meeting, adding, “IDA Chairman Mike Metzger is also on that committee. David Dawson, who is a past IDA director is on that committee, and we will be adding a few more.”

Horrigan added that he will also be working with regional economic development officials to help find a candidate. He says that he’s hoping to have some names by the end of this month so that a new replacement could be selected by the time Daly retires.

“Our goal is to try to get this process underway quickly in April to be able to get some candidates for me to look at by the end of May. Mr. Daly will be there through the end of May. If we need an interim director, I have a couple of prospects but I’m not ready to announce that at this time.”

And while the county has received some recent bad news regarding layoffs and closures in the manufacturing sector, Horrigan doesn’t think that the timing of Daly’s retirement and the search for a replacement will impact the effort to bring in new businesses and jobs.

“That’s not a concern. First of all, those that know Mike Mitzger, he and I work very closely together. We talk one or two times a day. We have a great board of directors – Rich Dixon is doing a great job over there. We are in regular contact with companies. I have someone who is willing to step forward who is a very strong person if we need that in the interim.”

Not only does Daly’s position oversee the county’s department of planning and economic development, but it also is the executive director of the county’s industrial development agency.