Governor Kathy Hochul is attempting to secure a full four-year term on the Democratic and Working Families line against Republican and Conservative endorsed candidate Lee Zeldin. Zeldin currently is the 1st Congressional District Representative. Hochul took over as Governor following Andrew Cuomo‘s resignation in August 2021. For the Lieutenant Governor’s race, Antonio Delgado is running with Hochul and Alison Esposito is running with Zeldin

Voters from Chautauqua County across to Stueben County and now part of Erie County will vote on a new representative for the new 23rd Congressional District. Republican Nick Langworthy is facing Democrat Max Della Pia for that seat. The pre-2020 census district was formerly led by Tom Reed for the last 10 years and is currently represented by Joe Sempolinski.

Longtime incumbent and Democrat Chuck Schumer is running for re-election against Republican Joe Pinion and LaRouche party candidate Diane Sare.

Two other statewide offices on the ballot include incumbent State Attorney General Letitia James on the Democratic and Working Families line facing Michael Henry on the Republican and Conservative lines.

And incumbent State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli on the Democratic and Working Families lines is facing Paul Rodriguez on the Republican and Conservative lines.

In State Legislative races, incumbent State Senator George Borrello is running on the Republican and Conservative lines for the 57th District against Dan Brown on the Democratic line. Incumbent Assemblyman Andy Goodell is also running on the Republican and Conservatives lines against Democrat Sandra Lewis.

In Chautauqua County races, the County Sheriff race is unopposed with incumbent Jim Quattrone running on the Republican and Conservative lines.

There are two special elections for the Chautauqua County Legislature.

In District 7, incumbent John Penhollow is running on the Republican and Conservative lines against Barbara Colt who is running on the Democratic and Working Families lines. Penhollow was appointed to fill the seat after Mark Odell resigned in July 2021.

In District 10, Republican incumbent Jaime Gustafson is running unopposed. She was appointed to fill the seat after Ken Lawton resigned due to moving out of the district. District 10 represents the southwest side of Jamestown, the Village of Lakewood and part of the Town of Busti.

In the City of Jamestown, a special election for the Ward 5 City Council seat is being held between incumbant Bill Reynolds on the Republican and Conservative lines and Democrat Doug Lawson. The winner of that race will fill out the remainder of that seat’s term following Grant Olson declining to take the seat after the 2021 election.

There are five seats open for the 8th Judicial State Supreme Court Justices. Running on all four lines of Democratic, Republican, Conservative and Working Families is Craig Hannah. Kelly Vacco and Gerald Greenan III are running on the Democratic, Republican, and Conservatives lines. Shannon Heneghan is running on the Democratic and Working Families lines. And Joseph Lorigo is running on the Republican and Conservatives lines.

There is one proposition located on the back of the ballot.

The Clean Water, Clean Air, and Clean Jobs Environmental Bond Act would, if approved, authorize New York State to borrow $4.2 billion to fund environmental protection, natural restoration, resilience, and clean energy projects.

The State Legislature has already approved the plan, which allows the state to sell the bonds immediately after approval. But in order to sell the bonds, the state has to get approval from voters.

Polls are open Tuesday from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. in Chautauqua County.

For all of WRFA’s Election coverage, visit https://www.wrfalp.com/election-2022/

For voting information, including sample ballots and voting locations, visit VoteChautauqua.com

We’ll have Election Night coverage starting at 8pm tonight on 107.9 WRFA-LP.

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.

On the agenda are a local law setting new legislative districts at 17, which is a decrease from the current 19 district map. The other local law redraws district lines at the current 19 districts.

Two resolutions proposed by Fredonia Legislator Susan Parker will still be on the agenda that call for a public referendum on the reapportionment maps. If approved, that would send the map to voters to vote yes or no on in November. The two resolutions failed in the Administrative Services committee.

The Legislature also will vote on appointing Jamie Gustafson to lead Legislative District 10. She would replace Ken Lawton, who is moving out of the district. District 10 represents the southwest side of Jamestown, the Village of Lakewood and part of the Town of Busti. Chairman Pierre Chagnon will honor Legislator Lawton with a commendation at the beginning of the meeting.

The Legislature will also vote on a local law to create a Chautauqua County Landfill Commission.
The commission would advise the County Executive and Legislature on matters relating to the construction, renovation, operation, or discontinuation of any solid waste disposal and solid waste related facility.

The proposed commission would 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.

The Chautauqua County Legislature meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Public hearings on the reapportionment maps, creation of the Landfill Commission, the amendment of the County’s Self-Insurance Plan, and on the creation of a Public Information Officer’s position will take place at 6:35 p.m.

The meeting takes place in the Legislative Chambers of the Gerace Office Building and is open to the public. It also will be livestreamed on Chautauqua County Government’s Facebook page.

JAMESTOWN CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES

During a Zoom meeting Wednesday, the Jamestown Democratic Committee announced that Jamestown city council incumbents Marie Carrubba (W2), Vickye James (W3), and Tom Nelson (W6) will each be seeking two more years in office. However, Graham-Reinhardt (At Large) won’t be running for reelction.

Democrats are currently the minority party on the nine-member city council, but can pick up the majority with a win by all three incumbents also victories from two of the four newcomers. They include At Large candidates Christina Cardinale, Ellen DiTonto, and Alyssa Porter. Joining the three is Ward 5 candidate Doug Lawson.

Republicans haven’t announced their candidates for 2021 yet. Those currently on the council include City Council President Tony Dolce (W2), Brent Sheldon (W1), Grant Olson (W5), Kim Ecklund (At Large), and Jeff Russell (At Large).

They mayor’s office, held by Democrat Eddie Sundquist, is in the middle of its four-year term and is not up for election this year.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE TO LOSE MINORITY LEADER

Chautauqua County Democratic Party Chairman Norm Green announced the slate of Democrats running for Chautauqua County Legislature. But prior to naming the candidates, he first announced that long-time legislator Chuck Nazzaro (D9) would not be seeking reelection. Nazzaro is a long-time member of the legislature, is the current minority leader, and the ranking member of the legislature Audit and Control Committee.

Instead, running for District 9 (South Dide) will be Billy Torres. For the other Democratic candidates, current legislators Bob Whitney (D11-West Side) and Paul Whitford (D13-East Side) are both seeking reelection. And Heather Fagan (D12-North Side) will be making her first run for public office.

For Republicans, Elisabeth Rankin (D12) is the only current city resident who sits on the Chautauqua County Legislature. A portion of District 10 is also in Jamestown, but it is held by Lakewood area resident Ken Lawton, a Republican.

Republicans haven’t yet announced their full slate of candidates for 2021.