Democrat Eddie Sundquist addresses his supporters on Election Night 2019 after learning he will be the next mayor of Jamestown.

JAMESTOWN – Jamestown’s next mayor will be Democrat and local attorney Eddie Sundquist. Sundquist was announced the winner of the 2019 mayoral election Tuesday night, defeating both Republican and Chautauqua County legislator David Wilfong and Libertarian and current Jamestown City Councilman Andy Liuzzo.

Sundquist took 49.8% of the unofficial vote total, bringing in 2519 votes, while Wilfong came in second with 1959 votes, which was 38.7% of the vote. Meanwhile, Liuzzo came in a distant third with 11.4% of the vote (574 votes). Approximately 204 absentee ballots remain to be counted.

Following the victory announcement at Democratic Headquarters inside the Jamestown Brewing Company, Sundquist thanked those who helped to make him mayor elect.

“We fought long and hard, starting way back in the winter months. I can tell you that I am probably the proudest that I have ever been to see all of you here gathered to support what we are going to do for the future of the city of Jamestown,” Sundquist said. “I just want to say from the bottom of my heart ‘thank you’ to each and every single one of you who made this happen. Family, friends, volunteers, countless hours on the phone, knocking on doors, on social media – we could not have brought the city of Jamestown into the future without each and everyone of you. So for that, I thank you.”

Sundquist also said that in the coming weeks he will be working to prepare for the transition into the mayors office when he replaces current Mayor Sam Teresi, who decided not to run for a sixth consecutive term, on January 1, 2020.

“We have a long road ahead but we are going to do this and hopefully, we get through these four years and then work four more,” Sundquist said.

It was Sundquist’s second run for office in as many years. In 2018 he made an unsuccessful bid for Congress, failing to get the Democratic Party’s endorsement in that year’s primary.

CONTROL OF CITY COUNCIL TO BE DECIDED BY ABSENTEE BALLOT COUNT

While Sundquist was able to win the Mayor’s office, it’s not yet known if he will be working with a Democratic or Republican-controlled Jamestown City Council. That’s because the council is split with four Republicans winning and four Democrats also winning, with the ninth and deciding race still too close to call.

Brent Sheldon (left) and Tim smeal

In Ward 1, Republican incumbent Brent Sheldon (355 votes) leads Democratic Challenger Tim Smeal (348 votes) by just 7 votes. The outcome of that race won’t be known until absentee ballots are counted and according to the Board of Elections, 70 absentee ballots are left to be counted on Monday, Nov. 18.

City Democratic Chairman Jim Walton said he and the rest of the party are anxiously awaiting the results for the Ward 1 race.

“It looks like the fight for control of the council will come down to absentee ballots because we’re within several votes there. That Ward has always lived and died by the absentees that have come out of the Aldren Avenue area,” Walton said. “We’ll look forward to counting those and hopefully Tim Smeal did his work there and we’ll come out victorious. That will be the difference in who controls the city council.”

OLSON, RUSSELL WIN FIRST TERM ON CITY COUNCIL

Meanwhile, one of the ward races featured a challenger defeating an incumbent. In Ward 5, Republican Grant Olson (495 votes) was able to defeat Democratic incumbent Maria Jones (397 votes). Jones was first elected to the city council in 2011 and since then she’s served as chair of the council’s Public Safety Committee and has also served on the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities.

In the only other contested ward race, Democrat and current City Council president Marie Carrubba (630 votes) defeated Republican challenger Brittnay Spry (576 votes).

In the race for the council’s three at large seats, it was newcomer Republican Jeffrey Russell (2483 votes) joining fellow Republican and incumbent Kim Ecklund (2721 votes), along with Democratic incumbent Tamu Graham-Reinhardt (2173 votes) winning.

Those failing to get enough votes to be elected to the at large seats were Democrats Greg Rabb (2026 votes) and Taylor Scott (1985 votes) along with libertarian Raven Mason Thompson (293 votes).  Republican Greg Lindquist, who withdrew from the race earlier this year, also appeared on the ballot and was able to garner 1966 votes.

Winners of the 2019 contested Jamestown City Council races on election night (from left to right): Marie Carrubba (D-Ward 4), Grant Olson (R-Ward 5), Kim Ecklund (R-At Large), Jeffrey Russell (R-At Large), and Tamu Graham Reinhardt (D-At Large)

Candidates running unopposed this year were Tom Nelson (D) in Ward 6, Vickye James (D) in Ward 3, and Tony Dolce (R) in Ward 2 – although another person, Democrat Thomas Vitale, also appeared on the ballot for that office. However, Vitale had announced his withdrawal from the race earlier in the year.

David Wilfong

JAMESTOWN – The Republican candidate for Mayor of Jamestown reportedly failed to report his campaign finance numbers with the state board of elections on three separate occasion.

According to a media release sent out by Jamestown City Democratic Committee chairman Jim Walton, Republican Candidate David Wilfong failed to file a Pre and Post primary finance report and a periodic report – which was due on July 15 of this year. Walton said as of July 17, no such reports had been filed.

As a result, Walton filed a formal complaint with the Chautauqua County Board of Elections for violation of New York State’s campaign finance laws.  The board then contacted Wilfong, who immediately submitted his reports.

Wilfong explained to WRFA on Monday he has a member of his campaign who was responsible for filing the reports, but did not. However, he also said that as the candidate in the campaign he takes full responsibility for it not happening, adding he would make sure all future reports are filed in a timely manner.

Walton, meanwhile, said that Wilfong has been a politician for several years now and should know better than to violate state campaign finance laws on three separate occasions.

“Being Mayor of the City of Jamestown requires transparency and honesty in everything you do,” Walton said. “Our City deserves better than someone who is not willing to be transparent with finances and cannot file a form on time… Being a couple of days late on the current report can possibly be explained as mere oversight. However, the two previous reports not being filed shows a blatant disregard for the law and bring into question the capabilities of a candidate who wants to become Mayor of the City of Jamestown.“

Wilfong is running not only as a Republican candidate, but also as the Conservative candidate. He is facing Democrat Eddie Sundquist (also running under the Working Families and Independence party lines) and Libertarian candidate Andrew Liuzzo. The three are vying for the seat being vacated by current Mayor Sam Teresi (D), who opted not to run for reelection to a sixth consecutive term.

Andy Liuzzo, Eddie Sundquist, and David Wilfong

JAMESTOWN – The Republican candidate for mayor of Jamestown says he’s surprised his primary opponent has decided to run as a Libertarian candidate, but adds he doesn’t think it will split the Republican vote in the Democratic candidate’s favor.

Republican David Wilfong defeated Andrew Liuzzo in the June Primary for the Republican line on the mayoral ballot. Last Tuesday, Liuzzo announced he would accept the Libertarian Party endorsement as a candidate for mayor, making the November race for the open seat of mayor of Jamestown an three-way race, with Democrat Eddie Sundquist the third individual seeking the office.

Wilfong admits that he was surprised to learn Liuzzo will still be running, considering he had initially pledged to not seek nor accept any other party endorsement in the 2019 election for mayor.

“I could have sworn that I heard somewhere that he wasn’t going to search for another line [on the ballot] and if he did not win he was not going to go on another line. So I was kind of shocked about that, but he has the right to [go with another party], I understand that,” Willfong told WRFA this week. “Now it’s going to be a three-way race – between myself, Eddie and Andy – and it should be more exciting now than ever.”

Liuzzo had made his pledge to not run as a third party candidate in May, making the statement on social media. However, last week he said he changed his mind because he felt the citizens of Jamestown deserved another option in November.

Despite both Wilfong and Liuzzo being registered Republicans, Wilfong said he doesn’t feel Liuzzo’s running will decrease his chances of winning.

“As far as taking votes, I think Andy will take votes from both sides. This is going to offer an opportunity for everyone in the city of Jamestown, not just the Republicans, everyone in the city will vote for the candidate they want to.  I’m sure that Andy has Democratic friends and he’ll pick up those votes. I myself happen to be a county legislator in District 11 and I’ve known Democratic people who’ve voted for myself too. And then I’m sure you’re going to have crossover with Eddie, too. I’m sure Eddie has Republican friends and Republican backers. So as far as splitting the vote, I don’t know if that actually will happen.”

Wilfong has served as a member of the Chautauqua County Legislature since January 2014. He’s also the current chair of the Chautauqua County Republican Committee.  Liuzzo has served on the Jamestown City Council since January 2018.  Sundquist, a local attorney, has not held political office. He did make an unsuccessful run for congress last year, losing in the Democratic Primary.

The three are vying to replace current Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi, who is in the final year of his fifth term in office and who announced earlier this year he would not be seeking a sixth consecutive term.

JAMESTOWN – City councilman Andrew Liuzzo (R-At Large) announced Tuesday that he would accept the Libertarian Party’s nomination as candidate for Mayor of Jamestown, following his failed effort last month to gain the GOP nomination.

“After much consideration and with the support of my family I’ve chosen to accept the Libertarian endorsement for mayor of the city of Jamestown. I’m grateful to the support form the Libertarian Committee, who have given us another opportunity to give voice to the citizens of this great city,” Liuzzo said while standing in front of his childhood home on Hazard Street with several supporters on hand.

The announcement comes after the Chautauqua County Libertarian Party committee met last week and announced it had nominated Liuzzo to be the candidate for mayor.

Andrew Liuzzo

Liuzzo had sought the GOP nomination for mayor but was defeated 528-284 in the June primary by county legislator David Wilfong. He had said during the GOP primary campaign that he would not seek nor accept any other party’s nomination for mayor. However, he said he had to reconsider once he learned the Libertarians were making him their choice for mayor.

“When the primary was over, I did say that the citizens will make their choice for who they think is best fit to run this city. I didn’t commit to either side but I had no way of knowing that I was still being vetted for the Libertarian party,” Liuzzo said. “Once the Libertarian party said that they would endorse me, I gave this a lot of thought. That endorsement came almost a week ago and it’s taken me this many days to come out and say, ‘Yes. I’m going to accept that endorsement.'”

Liuzzo said he will continue to campaign for mayor with the same message he carried during the primary, and that’s with a pledge to question current city policies while also pushing for more transparencies.

Liuzzo is serving his first term on the city council after running for the first time in 2017 as an At Large candidate. Of the six candidates seeking the three at large seats in that race, Liuzzo came in second with 2,075 votes.

“I have been steadfast in representing the citizens and asking the questions on how and why we spend our money the way we do,” Liuzzo said. “I have consistently asked questions to have full transparency and accountability from the mayor and the city council. During the 18 months that I have served as city councilman at large, it has been obvious that I am not well-liked in city government. It was made clear to me very early on that my approach was out of step with other members of the city council.”

County Libertarian Party Chair Andrew Kolstee was on hand for the announcement and explained why Liuzzo was tapped to be his party’s candidate for mayor of Jamestown.

“He differentiates himself from all the other elected officials. He asks more questions and challenges government and that’s what we do, the Libertarian party challenges government. He’s striving for transparency and less regulations in the city charter. Those kinds of things are what Libertarians are in support of,” Kolstee said.

The Libertarian party is considered a new party on the ballot for this year’s elections and as a result, state law gives it more time to nominate candidates for the November election.

Tuesday’s announcement by Liuzzo means there will be a three-way race for the open mayoral seat, with Wilfong being the Republican candidate and attorney Eddie Sundquist being the Democratic candidate. Current mayor Sam Teresi had announced in February he would not seek a sixth consecutive term in office.

Andrew Liuzzo

JAMESTOWN – Both Republican candidates running for mayor of Jamestown agree that city police officers and fire fighters deserve every cent they are paid by local taxpayers. But both Andrew Liuzzo and David Wilfong also acknowledge that financial challenges facing Jamestown will likely prevent public safety workers from getting all they they deserve.

• [RELATED] LISTEN TO FULL LIUZZO/WILFONG INTERVIEW

In 2019 the city of Jamestown has budgeted nearly a third of its total budget – $11 million – toward police and fire salaries and other related expenses. And a larger chunk could be on the way if a state appellate court upholds a recent state Supreme Court decision involving an arbitration ruling giving the police union a 2% pay raise. City officials say any increase the police receive in salary will also likely be given to firefighters as well, so the outcome of the arbitration appeal will be a challenge facing whoever is the next mayor of the city.

Liuzzo is currently a member of the Jamestown City Council and is the only council person to vote against challenging the arbitration ruling in State Supreme Court, as well as voting against the decision to appeal the Supreme Court decision.

Liuzzo told WRFA in our recent interview that it’s not the salaries but the healthcare and pension mandates from Albany that are what the city should be focused on.

“This all goes back to our retirement benefits and our healthcare benefits, and the Taylor Law and the Triborough Amendment. These laws and amendments have hurt upstate communities immensely. These were downstate laws that got applied to the whole state,” Liuzzo said. “My question would be, ‘Why hasn’t the New York Conference of Mayors, as a group, addressed this?’ Our current mayor was president of NYCOM, yet that question is still out there. Why wasn’t this addressed? These kinds of laws are what has hurt upstate New York Communities.”

Liuzzo added that he would also be willing to local at regional policing by trying to improve relationship with adjacent communities like the Town of Ellicott and Busti – which each have their own police force as well.

“Jamestown encompasses West Ellicott, Ellicott, Lakewood-Busti. What I would like to see is an inter-municipal police force. I would like us to negotiate instead of litigate with our neighbors and come to an agreement where we can use the existing police force we have outside of Jamestown to be the same police force. And to protect all of us. That’s one way I see of bringing the cost down, or at least maintaining the cost,” Liuzzo explained.

David Wilfong

Wilfong has served on the Chautauqua County Legislature since 2014 representing Jamestown. During his time in Mayville a report was completed by the Center or Governmental Rochester using over $200,000 in state money that provided a plan to consolidate the Jamestown Police Department with the County Sheriff’s office gradually, over two decades or no longer.

The consolidation would come at no additional cost to county taxpayers but would save Jamestown some money. That plan was never put up for a vote, let alone publicly discussed by Wilfong and his colleagues after it was completed.

• VIEW THE CGR REPORT

Wilfong said he agrees that regional policing may be better solution, though the push should come from the state, not the local, level.

” It would have been very difficult to put together a group of people that would have voted in favor of the consolidation. I don’t know if that would ever go off. I’ve seen it, I’ve read the document and I actually think it was a good proposal. But one of the things is, ‘Do we want a change?’ I don’t know if the Jamestown Police Department wants to merge and I don’t know if the sheriff wants to merge,” Wilfong said. “I did see the figures and the cost savings would be good for the city of Jamestown and a flat cost the county. But we’re talking about the county legislators and you’ve got to get them on board with their own districts. Because what they’re going to say is, ‘How does that benefit my district. I live in Silver Creek or I live in Findley Lake.’ It’s a hard sell.”

Instead, Wilfong said he’d prefer to see the effort to deal with police costs lead by the state representatives, similar to what former Sen. Cathy Young had worked on with school districts.

“I am not against it. I think to make change and to move our county forward and our state forward, we’ve got to start thinking consolidation. I don’t know at the mayor level what can be done there. I think that needs to be done more at the state level – maybe our assemblyman or our next senator. I think that is where that type of change has to come from,” Wilfong said.

The complete audio of our interview with Liuzzo and Wilfong can be found at our website.

Liuzzo and Wilfong will square off in the June 25 Republican Primary, which runs from noon to 9 p.m. and is eligible to all 3800 registered republicans living in the city.

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.

• MOBILE APP USERS: LISTEN VIA SOUNDCLOUD

Originally airing Thursday, June 13, 2019

There are 3800 Republicans in Jamestown who will have the opportunity to vote in the June 25 Primary and select their party’s candidate for mayor in the 2019 Election.

Those candidates Jamestown City Councilman (at Large) Andrew Liuzzo and current County Legislator (District 11) and County Republican Party chairman David Wilfong.

As a follow up to our interviews earlier this year, WRFA spent time talking with both candidates in separate interviews to produce this Primary Day preview.

• RELATED: WRFA FEB. 14 INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW LIUZZO
• RELATED: WRFA FEB. 28 INTERVIEW WITH DAVID WILFONG

Voting on primary runs from noon to 9 p.m. in all election districts within the city.

Andrew Liuzzo (Left) and David Wilfong

2019 Jamestown Mayoral Candidate Eddie Sundquist addresses the crowd during a March 8 campaign rally in Jamestown.

JAMESTOWN – The Democrat who wants to be the next Mayor of Jamestown held a campaign kickoff rally Friday in downtown Jamestown and was joined by dozens of supporters along with other Democratic candidates for local office.

Jamestown attorney and mayoral candidate Eddie Sundquist appeared at the DoubleTree by Hilton early Friday night to officially accept the Jamestown Democratic Committee’s endorsement for the 2019 General Election and also lay out his campaign platform.

Sundquist said he wants to tap into what made Jamestown great in the past to help it move forward in the future.

“As mayor it is my goal to build on our city’s strong foundation and grow our future as we move Jamestown forward. Jamestown is an incredible city built on a proud heritage of immigrants and union workers. We’re a city with grit, unyielding resilience, and incredible potential. But like most cities across New York, we are not without our challenges,” Sundquist said.

• WATCH THE FULL SUNDQUIST SPEECH ON FACEBOOK
• RELATED: EDDIE SUNDQUIST ON WRFA’S COMMUNITY MATTERS (Feb. 28, 2019)

One of the main planks of the Sundquist vision is growing the economy and he said to do that the city must take advantage of 21st century opportunities.

“Who says that we can’t become a technology hub attracting businesses around the country with our low cost of living and rich resources? Who says we can’t wire broadband and fiber to every home and business in this city at a lower cost? Who says we can’t have some of the best parks in Western New York? Together we are creating a city with a vision,” Sundquist said.

And Sundquist said that while attracting new opportunities is important, he said it’s just as important to focus on neighborhood and community revitalization.

“No matter where you live in this city you should feel safe when sitting on your front porch at night. We must have strong, safe, and supportive neighborhoods across our city,” Sundquist said. “We need to deal head-on with the growing addiction crisis and focus on fixing our homes across this area. As we start to tear down, we must also focus on rebuilding and getting people to stay in Jamestown. Proud home ownership, not run down rentals, is the vision we have for our neighborhoods.”

Sundquist added that his goal as mayor would be to build on collaborations within the city between residents and businesses, along with other stakeholders, in order to maximize potential opportunities.

Sundquist, who has not held public office before, has had past campaign experience. In the 2018 Election he ran an unsuccessful campaign when he was among a field of five hopefuls in the bid for the Democratic nomination for Congress (which instead went to Tracy Mitrano and who eventually lost to incumbent Republican Tom Reed). It was Sunduist’s first attempt at running for public office.

In addition to thanking Democrats for their support, Sundquist also announced he has received the endorsement of the Working Families Party in the city, ensuring he will have at least two lines on the November ballot.

Last month Mayor Sam Teresi (D) announced he wasn’t going to seek a sixth term in office, which opened the door for Sundquist.

Sundquist will likely be unchallenged for the Democratic nomination, which means he will be able to focus most of his attention on the November Election. The same can’t be said for the Republican party, where two individuals are vying for the party nomination and will likely square off in a June Primary. They are the Jamestown Republican Committee’s endorsed candidate – county legislator David Wilfong, along with first-term city coucilman at large Andrew Liuzzo.

Also during the rally, several other Democratic candidates for other city offices also spoke to those in attendance, including newcomers who used the event as an opportunity to introduce themselves.  They included at Jamestown City Council Large Candidate Taylor Scott, Ward 1 candidate Tim Smeal, and Ward 2 candidate Tom Vitale. Also on hand were incumbent councilmembers Vickye James of Ward 3, Tom Nelson of Ward 6, and Tamu Graham Reinhardt for council at large.

Former council president Greg Rabb, who was not reelected in 2017, is also seeking to be reelected to the council for the third at large seat.
Both Democratic incumbents Marie Carrubba of Ward 4 and Maria Jones of Ward 5 were unable to attend due to prior commitments.