County Democratic officials met last week in Mavyille to endorse their 2014 slate of candidates and threw their support behind Barrie Yochim as the Democratic Candidate for state Assembly. Yochim currently serves as the executive director of Meals on Wheels and is also the president of the Meals on Wheels Association of New York State.

According to the Dunkirk Observer, Yochim said he would focus on two specific points while campaigning: he plans to make the Assembly his full-time job and also stresses the importance of having a Chautauqua County Democrat as part of the assembly, which has a majority of Democrats.

Unless another democrat steps forward and challenges Yochim in a party primary, he will square off against incumbanent Republican Andy Goodell in November. Goodell first won election to the Assembly in 2010, defeating Democrat Nancy Barger. He won reelection in 2012 after defeating Democrat Rudy Mueller.

Petitions for assembly, along with County Sheriff or State Senate, will begin circulating on Tuesday, June 3. Petitions to be a candidate for Congress can be circulated starting Tuesday. March 4.