All Democrats and Libertarians in the county, along with Busti Republicans, will vote for selected offices, including the Democratic Presidential Primary.

The primary elections are for 11 Democratic candidates who qualified for the New York statewide vote and some Democratic national convention delegate slates pledged to the candidates; a Busti Town Council Republican primary; and a countywide Libertarian race within the western New York 8th Judicial District.

Last month the Chautauqua County Board of Elections encouraged voters to vote by mail as a health precaution against the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. As a result, the board of elections sent out 26,469 absentee ballot applications to county Democrats, 211 applications to Libertarians and 2,316 applications to Busti Republicans so voters could skip traveling to the polls for the primary elections.

On-location voting for primary day will be available 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at all of the county poll sites.

For those who wanted to vote early but in person, early voting has also been underway since June 13 at the Mayville board of elections office. The Nov. 3 General Election will find expanded early voting available at the County Fair Grounds, Dunkirk and the Chautauqua Mall, Lakewood – as well as in Mayville.

All voters will be required to wear a protective mask and to observe social distancing, so as to protect poll workers and other voters. Complimentary facemasks will be given to voters who need one.

Anyone with a primary still wishing to vote by mail may call the Board of Elections at 716-753-4552 .

Voters wishing to view early voting and primary day results should visit votechautauqua.com  starting at 9 p.m. June 23.  However, since the majority of votes cast will be through the mail, absentees will not be added to the totals until the afternoon of June 30.

Jamestown city councilman and mayoral candidate Andrew Liuzzo (left, foreground) stands with supporters and with 2018 Libertarian candidate for New York Governor Larry Sharpe during an announcement event on Sunday, Sept. 22 in Jamestown.

JAMESTOWN – Jamestown City Councilman At Large and 2019 mayoral candidate Andrew Liuzzo has left the Republican Party to join the Libertarian Party. The announcement was made during a press conference Sunday morning with county Libertarian party officials present, along with an appearance by Larry Sharpe, 2018 Libertarian candidate for New York Governor.

“I ran for City Councilman at Large to represent all the citizens of Jamestown. I am running for Mayor to continue to serve you,” said Liuzzo. “My values for less government restrictions and interference, lower taxes, making decisions openly, reducing expenditures, and admission of mistakes have not changed. I appreciate the support I have received from Republican, Democrats, and everyone that see my efforts for what they are. I will continue as Mayor to listen to everyone that has concerns or questions. I care about individuals, businesses, big or small, manufacturing, and schools. I firmly believe we can do better if we do things together.”

Liuzzo was elected to the city council during the 2017 election when he ran as a Republican candidate. He unsuccessfully sought the Republican Party’s endorsement for mayor earlier this year, having been defeated in the city Republican Primary by Chautauqua County legislator David Wilfong, with a final vote of 480 to 271. Shortly after losing the primary he accepted the Libertarian party’s nomination to run as mayor under their party line on the ballot.

This is the first year where a local election will feature the Libertarian Line on the ballot. The addition comes after Sharpe received at least 50,000 votes during his failed run for governor in 2018.  Under state law, any party that receives 50,000 or more votes in a governor’s race will secure a line on the ballot for the next four general elections, including all local races.

“As I have always said, every county matters,” said Sharpe. “I want us to turn our counties gold. One of the ways we do that, is by having local people who care to make change. Andrew Liuzzo is one of those people. He is a man who actually cares about his local community and wants to bring this community together. He knows that right now in many small towns across the state, people are so worried about the internal, in their own home and that’s it, and they are not looking out for the community at large. And they should be looking out for the community at large.”

“I am grateful that the Libertarian Party recognized me as an individual that cares about the residents and holding our elected officials accountable,” Liuzzo added. “Because of their support, I can now represent all parties and all people that want to work hard to restore a community that is one city.”

“I want to thank Larry Sharpe for joining us for this important occasion,” said Andrew Martin Kolstee, Chair of the Chautauqua County Libertarian Party. “This is an important and historic election for the city of Jamestown, and everyone in this city should be heard and represented. This isn’t about one party or the other. This is about all the people of Jamestown and their concerns and ideas that we can exchange to make our community a better place.”

In addition to Liuzzo and Wilfong (who’s also received the endorsement of the local Conservative Party), Jamestown Attorney Eddie Sundquist is also running for mayor in this year’s election, making it a three way race. Sundquist is running on the Democratic, Independence, and Working Families lines on the ballot.

To learn more about Liuzzo’s campaign, visit his campaign’s Facebook page or website at www.AndrewLiuzzo.com.

To learn more about Wilfong’s campaign, visit his campaign’s Facebook page or website at www.WilfongForMayor.com.

To learn more about Sundquist’s campaign, visit his campaign Facebook page or website at www.EddieSundquist.com.

WRFA will also be participating in a debate featuring the three mayoral candidates on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019 at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts. the debate will be broadcast live on 107.9 FM and also streamed at our website.

Vitale sent a signed letter to election officials on Monday stating:

It is with great regret that I am forced to notify you that I will not be an active candidate in the 2019 General Election race for Ward 2 Jamestown City Councilman. As you know, I previously filed paperwork to be the Democratic and Working Families parties candidate for this office. Now, due to unforeseen personal circumstances, I must announce that I withdraw my name as an active candidate for this office.

Vitale was going to challenge long-time Ward 2 incumbent and Republican Tony Dolce in the November General Election. With Vitale no longer being a candidate, Dolce will run unopposed in November. He has already been endorsed by the Conservative, Independence and Libertarian Parties.

In June Dolce ran a primary against Raven Mason Thompson for the Republican nomination and defeated her by 119 to 34 votes. Mason Thompson has since been tapped by the Libertarians to run for one of the three city council at large seats.

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.

George Borrello (left) and Curt Crandall

The Chautauqua County Board of Elections says a total of 25,500 Republican voters are eligible to vote in today’s Primary for the 57th NYS Senate District – with candidates George Borrello, the current Chautauqua County executive, and Curt Crandall, the chair of the Allegany County Legislature, squaring off.

The Senate district includes Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany and part of Livingston Counties. There are 64,000 active Republican voters eligible to vote across the district.

Borrello was elected Chautauqua County executive in 2017 after spending eight years in the Chautauqua County Legislature, representing his home area of Hanover. Crandall is a long-time member member of the Allegany County Legislature and has served as its chair for the past 14 years.

Sen. Cathy Young was reelected to office in November 2018, but when she announced she was resigning from her seat in late February of this year, it meant that a special election would have to take place to fill that seat. As a result, the Republican party chairs for each of the four counties that comprise the 57th district (Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Livingston) met in early March to select their candidate and it was Borrello, with only the Republican Party chair from Allegany County selecting Crandall.

When Gov. Andrew Cuomo did not set a special election date to fill the vacated seat, the special election date was set for this coming November’s general election. That gave Crandall an opportunity to challenge Borrello’s endorsement and force a primary.

Borrello is also the endorsed candidate for the Conservative Party.

• LISTEN: WRFA INTERVIEWS GEORGE BORELLO AND CURT CRANDALL

Andrew Liuzzo (left) and David Wilfong

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR JAMESTOWN MAYOR

An estimated 3800 Republicans will be choosing their candidate for mayor to appear on the ballot for the November general election.

The two candidates who will appear on today’s republican party ballot are City Councilman at Large Andrew Liuzzo and Chautauqua County Legislator David Wilfong. Liuzzo was first elected to the Jamestown City Council in the 2017 election, while Wilfong was first elected to the County Legislature in 2013. He’s also the current chair of the Chautauqua County Republican Committee.

In February, Wilfong became the endorsed candidate of the Jamestown Republican Committee. But Liuzzo was able to force a primary by collecting an overwhelming number of petition signatures from registered Republicans living within the city.

Wilfong is also the endorsed candidate for the Conservative Party.

• LISTEN: WRFA INTERVIEWS ANDREW LIUZZO AND DAVID WILFONG

Tony Dolce and Raven Mason Thompson

CANDIDATES FOR CITY COUNCIL – WARD 2

There’s also a Republican primary for Jamestown City Council Ward 2 – with incumbent Tony Dolce being challenged by newcomer Raven Mason Thompson.

Dolce is the city Republican committee’s endorsed candidate, having served on the city council since 1999. This is Mason Thompson’s first attempt at running for public office.

• LISTEN: WRFA INTERVIEWS TONY DOLCE AND RAVEN MASON THOMPSON

OTHER LOCAL PRIMARIES

Other local primaries for the Republican Party include Carroll Town Supervisor and Town Clerk, Charlotte Town Council (Vote for 2), and Kiantone Town Supervisor. Also, Republicans have County Legislature primaries in Legislative District 1 in Dunkirk and Legislative District 18, covering the Mayville area, along with the towns of Mina and Findley Lake.

There are no primaries scheduled for the Democrats in Chautauqua County. However, a few third party primaries will be taking place in other areas of the county outside of Jamestown.

Polls are open Noon to 9 p.m.

Election officials say the busiest times to avoid will be Noon to 1 p.m. and in the evening during the dinner hour. All county poll sites will be open.

Results for all races will be posted online tonight at the website VoteChautauqua.com for local races and at Elections.NY.gov for 57th Senate district-wide results.

• 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

The four candidates for Chautauqua County Family Court Judge in the 2014 General Election will be (from left to right): Sally Jaroszynski (Democrat), Jeffrey Piazza (Republican, Conservative and Independence), James Spann Jr. (Working Families), and Michael Sullivan (Green Party).

JAMESTOWN – It appears that all four candidates for the recently created second Chautauqua County Family Court judge position will have their names on the ballot for the 2014 General Election.

Primary day 2014 saw contested races for six parties in the race for county court judge and each of the four candidates won at least one of the races.

In the Democratic Primary, Falconer’s Sally Jaroszynski defeated Westfield’s James J. Spann Jr. Jaroszynski had a strong showing, picking up over 60 percent of the vote.

In the Republican primary, Jamestown’s Jeffrey Piazza defeated Fredonia’s Michael Sullivan.  In that race, Piazza received 60 percent of the vote.

Piazza also won the Conservative and Independence Party lines. Meanwhile, Spann walked away from Primary Day with the Working Families Party endorsement while Sullivan will run on the Green Party line.

In the other local primary race, involving a special election for the Chautauqua County Legislature’s District 12 seat, Elisabeth Rankin won the Independence Party line vote in the narrowest of margins. Rankin picked up 19 votes while her opponent, current legislator Beth Kresge, picked up 18 votes. Rankin will also run on the Republican line while Kresge will serve have the Democratic and Working Familes endorsements.

Election day will take place on Nov. 4. For a complete list of all candidates appearing on Chautauqua County ballots for this year’s elections, visit voteChautauqua.com.

Highlighting this year’s primary is the race for governor and lieutenant governor for the Democratic party, with three candidates on the ballot for governor and two candidates on the ballot for lt. governor.

• COMPLETE LIST OF CANDIDATES ON THIS YEAR’S LOCAL BALLOTS

THREE VIE FOR DEMOCRATIC ENDORSEMENT IN GOVERNOR’S RACE

In the governor’s race, incumbent Andrew Cuomo (Kisco, NY) will facing upstart challenger Zephyr Teachout (Brooklyn, NY) and fellow challenger Randy Credico (New York, NY). Teachout is a Fordham University professor who’s garnered a lot of attention after winning a court decision that would allow her name to remain on the ballot following a challenge by Cuomo’s campaign. Credico is a Comedian and considered a long-shot candidate.

In the Democratic Primary race for Lt. Governor, Kathy Hochul of Erie County has been tapped to be governor’s Cuomo’s running mate, replacing current lt. Gov. Robert Duffy of Rochester, who announced earlier this year he would not be seeking a second term as lt. governor Hochul is running against fellow democrat and Teachout running mate Timothy Wu.

FAMILY COURT JUDGE RACES HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL PRIMARIES

In addition to the democratic primary for governor, there will also be six party primaries in the newly created office for a second Chautauqua County Family Court Judge. A total of four candidates will have their names on the ballot, with all of them vying for at least one of the six party endorsement.

In the Democratic Party primary for that office, Falconer attorney Sally Jaroszynski, who is currently Ellicott Town Justice, will be facing Westfield attorney James Spann Jr. – who currently serves as the Westfield town justice.

For the Republican Party, Jamestown attorney Jeffry Piazza will be running against Fredonia Mayor and attorney Michael Sullivan.

In addition, Piazza, Sullivan and Spann will be competing for the endorsement of the Conservative Party.

Both Spann and Sullivan are candidates for the Working Families Party.

For the Independence Party, Piazza, Spann and Sullivan are all running for endorsement.

And for the Green Party, Spann and Sullivan are running for endorsement.

DISTRICT 12 SPECIAL ELECTION TO FEATURE INDEPENDENCE PARTY PRIMARY

There is also a primary for Jamestown residents who live in district 12 for the Chautauqua County Legislature. That seat is having a special election in November, since current legislator and Democrat Beth Kresge was only appointed to the seat earlier this year. She’ll be facing Jamestown Republican Elisabeth Rankin in the November general election. However, both candidates are also vying for the Independence Party endorsement on primary day – meaning any registered members of the independence party that live in District 12 will have the opportunity to vote for one of the two.

Primary day is on Tuesday, Sept. 9. All Chautauqua County poll sites will be open from Noon to 9 p.m.  Voters can find their personal voter information at www.votechautauqua.com.

Hendrickson said the party will be throwing its support behind Vince Horrigan (Bemus Point) in his bid for County Executive. In addition, the party is also supporting Larry Barmore (Gerry) for the office of County Clerk. Both Barmore and Horrigan are currently serving on the county legislature. The party is also endorsing David Foley (Fredonia) in his reelection bid for District Attorney.

Due to a public vote in 2011, the county legislature has been reduced from 25 to 19 members and of the republicans have candidates for 14 of the 19 districts. In fact, two of the districts will feature a Republican Party Primary.

In District 16 (Towns of Kiantone, Carroll and Poland), former county legislator Ron Lemon (Frewsburg) and former legislator Tami Downey (Kiantone) will be running for the party’s endorsement. Lemon had previously served on the legislature until stepping down from the office in 2010 to become the county legislature clerk. At that time Downey was then selected to serve his unfinished term. She lost the election in 2011 to Tom Erlandson (D-Frewsbug).

There will also be a GOP primary in District 18 (Towns of Mina, Sherman and most of Chautauqua) featuring two incumbents. Because of redistricting, both Republican Fred Crosscut (Sherman) and Republican David Himelein (Findley Lake) are now in the same district.

Others who have received the party’s endorsement for county legislature include Pierre Cagnon in District 8 (Towns of Ellery and North Harmony); David Wilfong in District 11 (Jamestown); William Prieto in District 12 (Jamestown); and Lisa Vanstrom for District 15 (Town of Ellicott south of I—86).

Republican incumbents who’ve announced they’ll be seeking reelection include Bob Scudder in District 3 (Town of Pomfret), Bob Stewart in District 5 (Towns of Sheridan, Arkwright, Villenova, Cherry Creek), George Borello in District 6 (Towns of Hanover), John Runkle in District 7 (Towns of Portland and Stockton), PJ Wendel in District 10 (Town of Busti, Jamestown), Mark Tarbrake in District 14 (Towns of Charlotte, Ellington, Gerry and Ellicott north of I-86), Jay Gould in District 17 (Towns of French Creek, Clymer, Harmony and Busti) and John Hemmer in District 19 (Town of Westfield and Ripley).

The County Democrat Party Nominating Committee will be finalizing its slate of endorsements this coming weekend.

A complete list of all candidates for the 2013 election can be found on our blog site, www.wrfalp.wordpress.com.

In the race for County Judge, Democratic County Legislator William Coughlin of Fredonia is challenging incumbent Republican County Judge John Ward, Jr. of Ashville for both the Independence and Conservative Party nominations.

In the race for State Assembly, Republican Assemblyman Andrew Goodell of Ellicott is facing off against former county legislator Rudy Mueller of Lakewood for the Independence Party nomination.

Republicans in the Town of Charlotte will be going to the polls to fill a highway superintendent vacancy for that town.  Mark G. LeBaron will be running against Michael A. Livermore.

There will also be nineteen Conservative Party primaries to choose election district level county committee representation.  There are to be only two committee members from each of the county’s 124 election districts.

The Board of Elections will be opening just one poll site for every town and city for the today’s primaries.  The consolidated list is available at votechautauqua.com. Contact the Board of Elections at 753-4580 for more information.