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MAYVILLE – George Borrello will be Chautauqua County’s next County Executive.

The town of Hanover Republican and current member of the Chautauqua County Legislature defeated Mike Ferguson (D-Fredonia) by 63-37 on Election Night. The two were running for the open county executive seat following the announcement at the start of this year that current executive Vince Horrigan would not seek reelection for a second term in office.

Borrello talked with WRFA following his victory on Election Night and said he wants to continue focusing on moving Chautauqua County in what he feels is the right direction.

George Borrello

“We have all but eliminated politics in Mayville and I am proud to be a leading force in that,” Borrello said. “We’re going to continue that on throughout Chautauqua County, because this is not about political party politics. This is about what is best for everyone in Chautauqua County and I am confident that we are going to elevate the county to the next level.”

Borrello also said that just like he pledged during the campaign, his main focus will be on chipping away at the multiple layers of government in the county.

“That is thew quickest path for us to reduce taxes, reduce the burden of government, and restore jobs here in Chautauqua County,” Borrello said. “This is not something that the county executive or the legislature will make a decision on, this is something the [affected] voters will make a decision on. I just want to make sure that people will have the opportunity to get the right information and I am confident that they will make the right decision when it comes to shared services and consolidation.”

In the other county-wide race, incumbent County Clerk Larry Barmore (R-Gerry) easily won reelection to a second term after defeating challenger LeeAnn Lazarony (D-Cassadaga) by a 58 to 42 percent margin. Barmore ran for reelection on his record of improving the clerk’s office over the past four years, which included relocating the Department of Motor Vehicles’ Jamestown office and helping to reduce the annual cost for that office in the process.

George Borrello (left) and Michael Ferguson, the 2017 Candidates for Chautauqua County Executive

MAYVILLE – Election Day 2017 has arrived and by tonight most if not all the candidates around Chautauqua County will find out if they have been elected to public office.

BORRELLO VS. FERGUSON FOR COUNTY EXEC

The highlight of this local election year is the race for Chautauqua County Executive, which features George Borrello (R-Irving) and Mike Ferguson (D-Fredonia).

Borrello has touted his work as a private businessman and elected official on the Chautauqua County Legislature as reasons why residents should select him. Meanwhile, Ferguson has prided himself on being able to serve as a top administrator at a number of private and nonprofit operations, including a past GM of the Jamestown Jammers professional baseball team, the former GM of the Northwest Arena, a member of the county’s tourism board, and as current executive of the Fredonia Place skilled nursing facility.

• Listen to WRFA’s Community Matters’ Interview with Ferguson (Oct. 12)
• Listen to WRFA’s Community Matters’ Interview with Borrello (Sept. 28)

Larry Barmore (left) and LeeAnn Lazarony

BARMORE VS LAZARONY FOR COUNTY CLERK

Another county-wide election will feature the race for Chautauqua County Clerk, where incumbent Larry Barmore (R-Gerry) will square off against former Cassadaga Mayor LeeAnn Lazarony (D-Cassadaga).

• Listen to WRFA’s Community Matters’ Q&A with both Larry Barmore and LeeAnn Lazarony

COUNTY LEGISLATURE HAS NINE CONTESTED RACES

All 19 seats of the Chautauqua County Legislature are also up for a vote, but only nine of them feature contested races. The main focus will be to see if Democrats are able to cut into the Republicans Stronghold over the legislature, where currently the GOP outnumbers its counterparts 15 to 4.

In Jamestown there are two contested races for the Legislature.

In District 11, which is the northwest portion of the city, incumbent David Wilfong (R) who’s also the county GOP committee chair, is being challenged by local businessman Frank Besse (D).

In District 12, which covers the northeast portion of the city, incumbent Elisabeth Rankin (R) will face challenger Dave Reinhardt (D).

Another local race of interest features the open seat in District 16, which is currently held by Ron Lemon (R-Frewsburg). Lemon has opted not to run for reelection and as a result, that race will feature John Davis (R-Frewsburg) squaring off against Terry Walker of (D-Kennedy). District 16 covers the towns of Kiantone, Carroll, and Poland.

A map of the legislative districts for Chautauqua County.

Other contested races include:

District 8 – Towns of Ellery and North Harmony

• Pierre Chagnon* (R, Con, Ind – Bemus Point)
• Jeri Ann Simora (D, WF – Stow)

District 18 – Towns of Chautauqua, Mina and Sherman

• Ella Ames (D, Ind, WF, WEP – Mayville)
• David Himelein* (R, Con – Findley Lake)

District 19 – Towns of Ripley and Westfield

• Laurel Adams (D, WEP – Ripley)
• John Hemmer* (R, Con, Ind – Westfield)

District 1 – Dunkirk

• Kevin Muldowney* (R, Con, Ind – Dunkirk)
• James Palmatier (D-Dunkirk)

District 3 – Fredonia

• Robert Dando (D, WF, WEP – Fredonia)
• Robert Scudder* (R, Con, Ind – Fredonia)

District 6 – Hanover (Borrello’s current seat)

• Gary Cerne (R, Con, Ind – Irving)
• Kevin O’Connell (D, WF – Silver Creek)

Local legislators Paul Whitford (D), Chuck Nazarro (D), and Lisa Vanstrom (R) – all  of Jamestown – along with PJ Wendel (R) of Lakewood, are all running unopposed.

For more information on Election Day 2017, visit www.VoteChautauqua.com.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. and will remain open until 9 p.m.

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The Chautauqua County League of Women Voters‘ Meet the Candidates Forum/Debate, held at Jamestown Community College on Tuesday, Oct. 24 2017 and featuring candidates for county clerk, incumbent Larry Barmore (R-Gerry) and challenger LeeAnn Lazarony (D-Cassadaga).

Recorded by WRFA Radio.

The two-hour event, which begins at 7 p.m., and will feature the candidates for Chautauqua County Executive – Mike Ferguson (D-Fredonia) and George Borrello (R-Hanover) – and Chautauqua County Clerk – Larry Barmore (R-Gerry) and LeeAnn Lazarony (D-Cassadaga).

Also, there will be several Chautauqua County Legislature candidates on hand.

The event is open to the public.

Larry Barmore (left) and LeeAnn Lazarony (right)

MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County Clerk Larry Barmore (R-Gerry) is being criticized by his opponent for allegedly violating state motor vehicle law as part of his campaign for reelection.

This past week county clerk candidate LeeAnn Lazarony (D-Cassadaga) sent out a media release, stating Barmore was recently issued a traffic ticket for the alleged illegal use of New York State auto dealer plates.

The citation was apparently issued Oct. 14 by the New York State Police when Barmore was found driving around with a car-full of “Barmore for County Clerk” signs in Stockton with the intention of posting the signs as part of his reelection effort. State law says that the dealer plates cannot be used on a vehicle for regular business or transportation uses.

In addition to serving as county clerk, Barmore is also the owner of a small dealership in Gerry.

Lazarony said that as elected Couty Clerk and business owner, Barmore should know the rules regarding the use of dealer license plates.  Part of the clerk’s position involves overseeing the State Department of Motor Vehicle offices in the county, is the office that oversees vehicle registration and providing license plates to local residents.

Lazarony also criticized Barmore for mingling his auto-buying business with his day job as county clerk. She said that issue was brought before the county ethics board a couple of years ago following complaints. WRFA was made aware of the allegation when it first took place, but learned the county ethics board addressed the issue in executive session and no formal disciplinary action was ever taken against Barmore. As a result, the specific details of the allegations were never made public.

Barmore responded to the criticism in the Jamestown Post-Journal on Friday, stating the dealer’s manual specifies that dealer plates are not allowed to be used on family members vehicles, and also cannot be used for regular towing or hauling. He emphasized the use of the word “regular” and said the issue seems like a matter of interpretation.

Barmore also said he does not operate his business during his time at the County Clerk’s Office. Once or twice a month, Barmore said he takes time off to go to car auctions, but he is clocked out and the time is made up.  He also admits he was brought before the county ethics committee after a former employee filed grievances against him, but all allegations came back unfounded.

Barmore and Lazarony are squaring off in this year’s county clerk’s race as part of the 2017 general election on November 7.  The two were recently featured on WRFA’s Community Matters program.

Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli (left) talks with Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi at the Gateway Train Station in Jamestown during his visit and tour of the city on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. (image courtesy of Mayor Sam Teresi’s Facebook Page)

JAMESTOWN – New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli was in Jamestown last Friday to get an update on state-funded economic development efforts in the city, along with meeting with and endorsing two candidates for Chautauqua County Government.

DiNapoli met with Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi Friday afternoon to tour the city and learn the details about the development efforts that are being funded with the $10 million New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant.

Following his tour of the city, the comptroller appeared at a local Democratic Political meeting and announced his endorsement of Mike Ferguson (D-Fredonia) for Chautauqua County Executive and LeeAnn Lazarony (D-Cassadaga) for Chautauqua County Clerk.

Ferguson is squaring off against Republican George Borrello (R-Hanover) in the executive Race and Lazarony is facing incumbent Larry Barmore (R-Gerry) for County Clerk.

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.

LeeAnn Lazarony

CASSADAGA – The former mayor of Cassadaga has announced her intention to run for Chautauqua County Clerk on the Democratic ticket.

LeeAnn Lazarony announced Tuesday her candidacy for the County clerk position, which is currently held by Republican Larry Barmore of Gerry.

In her media release, Lazarony describes herself as a lifelong resident of Chautauqua County. She currently serves as the resource coordinator for the Dunkirk City drug treatment court and also has in the past worked in that same capacity for the Jamestown drug treatment court.

Lazarony holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Fredonia State University in Political Science and Human Services, as well as an Associate’s in Applied Science degree from Jamestown Community College in Legal Studies.

She said her education and experience makes her well trained to be the county clerk, with the goal of providing a professional, non-political, customer friendly county clerk’s office where the customers are happy and her colleagues that staff the department are happy and motivated to serve.

Lazarony will likely square off against Barmore, who has not yet formally announce his run for a second term, but has indicated to WRFA that it’s no secret he’ll likely run again.