Both mean are running for the seat that was held by David Himelein of Findley Lake until his passing earlier this year. The district covers most of the town of Chautauqua – including the Mayville area – as well as the Towns of Mina and Sherman.

Ward is now the endorsed candidate for both the Republican and Democratic party, as well as the Independence and Working Families parties.

Syper will still appear on the ballot as a candidate for the Conservative party.

Meanwhile, incumbent Republican Kevin Muldowney of Legislature District 1 in Dunkirk won his party’s primary in the north county.

In the tightly contested Republican Primary for Town of Carrol Supervisor, challenger Russell Payne defeated incumbent Laura Smith 188 to 159.

In the Republican Primary for Town of Kiantone Supervisor, Joshua Ostrander defeated Kevin Myers.

District 18 covers the towns of Mina, Sherman and Chautauqua Lake.

Proctor, meanwhile, doesn’t appear as a candidate for the 2019 general election so it appears he will only stay until the current term is completed. There are currently two individuals running for the seat and they both are seeking the Republican party endorsement. They are Richard Syper (Mayville) and Bill Ward (Mayville) – who’ve both submitted petitions to run for that party and will square off in the June 25 primary.

Ward is also the lone Democratic Candidate.

Candidate petitions were submitted to the Chautauqua County Board of Elections last week and of the 19 seats that will be up for a vote, just seven have more than one candidate running.

JAMESTOWN AREA WILL FEATURE ONE CONTESTED RACE

In Jamestown, the lone contested race will be for District 12 on the north side of the city. Currently, Republican Elisabeth Rankin holds that seat and she is running for reelection. She will face Democratic challenger Margaret “Peg” Cornell.

All other candidates from the Jamestown area who serve on the county legislature are running unopposed. That includes the candidate for District 11, a seat currently held by Republican David Wilfong. Because Wilfong is running for mayor of Jamestown in this year’s election, the district 11 seat will be an open race. However, only Democrat and former county legislator Robert Whitney has submitted petitions to run for that seat. Whitney last served on the legislature in 2013, when he was defeated by Wilfong in that year’s election.

The other Jamestown-area seats all have incumbents running unopposed. They include Chuck Nazzaro, D-District 9 (Jamestown); Paul “PJ” Wendel, R-District 10 (Busti/Lakewood and Jamestown); Paul Whitford, D-District 13 (Jamestown); Daniel Pavlock, R-District 14 (Ellicott north of I-86, Gerry, Ellington, Charlotte/Sinclairville); Lisa Vanstrom, R-District 15 (Ellicott/Falconer, West Ellicott/Celoron); John Davis, R-District 16 (Carroll, Kiantone, Poland); and Frank Gould, R-District 17 (Busti, Harmony/Panama, Clymer, French Creek).

REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES SCHEDULED FOR DISTRICT 1 and DISTRICT 18

Other races of note include District 18 (Chautauqua/Mayville, Mina, Sherman), which is now an open seat after the untimely passing of Republican David Himelein. The two candidates running for that seat are Richard Syper and Bill Ward, both of Mayville. Both Ward and Syper and seeking the Republican party endorsement, meaning they will square off in the June 25 primary. Syper has also been endorsed by the conservative party, while Ward is the lone candidate for the Democratic, Independence, and Working families parties.

Another Republican Primary will take place in District 1 (Dunkirk), where current incumbent Kevin Muldowney (R) is being challenged for the party line by Ronald Hall. Muldowney has also been endorsed by the Independence party, while Hall has been endorsed by the Conservative party. Meanwhile, a third candidate – Phillip Collier – is the lone candidate for the Democratic and Working Families parties. That means regardless of how the Republican primary shakes out in that district, there will still likely be a three-way race come November.

Other contested races for the legislature will take place in District 3 (Pomfret/Fredonia) with incumbent Robert Scudder (R, C) facing challenger Christopher Schaeffer (D, I), in District 4 (Fredonia) with incumbent Christine Starks (D, I, WF) facing Melanie Mann (R, C), in District 5 (Arkwright, Cherry Creek, Sheridan, Villanova) with incumbent Terry Neibel (R, C, I) facing Jeffry Sayers (D, WF), and in District 6 (Hanover/Silver Creek/Forestville) with incumbent Kevin O’Connell (D, I, WF) facing Thomas Harmon (R, C).

The other four legislature incumbents running unopposed include Robert Bankowski, D-District 2 (Dunkirk); Mark O’Dell, R-District 7 (Chautauqua, Portland/Brockton, Stockton); Pierre Chagnon, R-District 8 (Ellery/Bemus Point, North Harmony), and John Hemmer, R-District 19 (Ripley, Westfield).

While the petition deadline has passed for candidate to get their name on the ballot for a specific party, it’s still not to late for the party to place a candidate on the ballot. Any party that currently doesn’t have a candidate listed for any office up for election can still file for an Opportunity to Ballot, or could circulate an Independent petition accompanied by mail, pointing out that the candidate is endorsed by the party.

David Himelein

FINDLEY LAKE – A member of the Chautauqua County Legislature and former Chairman has passed away.

Findley Lake resident David Himelein (R-District 18) died on Friday due to health issues.

Himelein joined the legislature via appointment to the District 21 seat in 2010 and was first elected in 2011. He also held onto a seat in the legislature following the redistricting of 2013, which combined his district with another to create District 18, which covers the towns of Mina, Sherman and Chautauqua Lake. During that year’s election he had to run in a primary against fellow legislator and Republican Fred Croscut, who he defeated via a primary.   In 2016 and 2017 he served as chairman of the Legislature.

In addition to the legislature, he was also a life member and past Chief of the Findley Lake Fire Department, a member and previous chairman of the Chautauqua County Fire Chiefs Association, a member and previous chairman of the Chautauqua County Fire Advisory Board, a member of the NYS Fire Chiefs Association, a member of the Olive Lodge #575 Masons of Sherman, the Eastern Stars of Sherman, and served on the Mina-Findley Lake Historical Society.

With Himelein’s passing, the legislature will be down to 18 members. It’s not known if the seat will be filled before the November election, but that is an option for the legislature’s vacancy committee.

Himelein was part of a crowded field of candidates running in District 18 this year. Not only did he file a petition for reelection, but there were two others who also filed as Republican. The other two are Richard Syper and William Ward – who’ve both submitted petitions to run for that party. Ward is also the lone Democratic Candidate.

Meanwhile, the funeral for Himelein will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at the Findley Lake United Methodist Church, 2862 N. Rd, Findley Lake, NY 14736. The Rev. David Cooke will officiate. Burial will be in the Mina Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9th at the Freay Funeral Home in Mayville, 139 S. Erie St., where an Eastern Stars service will be held at 7:30 p.m. To leave a remembrance or to post condolences to the family, please visit freayfuneralhome.com.

County Election Commissioners Norman Green and Brian Abram announce there is a total of 75,930 active registered voters in Chautauqua County who are eligible to cast ballots in the Nov. 6, 2018 General Election. There are 24,944 registered Democrats and 25,590 Republicans.

Hours to Vote? Polls are open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The busiest times to avoid will be 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., Noon to 1 p.m. and in the evening during the dinner hour.  All county poll sites will be open.   Voters who have not moved will vote at the same site as last year.

Eligibility to Vote: Any Chautauqua County citizen at least age 18 the date of the General Election who has previously registered with the Board of Elections and has not moved is eligible to vote and will be included in the poll books.

Is it too late to register to vote?  The last day to register to vote was Friday Oct. 12th.  However, voters should check their voter status by visiting www.votechautauqua.com  and click on “Personal Voter Lookup” to access their current voting record or they should call the Board of Elections at 716-753-4580.

What if the “Personal Voter Lookup” info says you are an “inactive” voter?   Any voter who has previously registered to vote and is now “Inactive” due to the Board of Elections sent mail having been returned by the U.S. Post Office, should plan to vote by “Provisional Affidavit Ballot” on Election Day at the poll site assigned to service the voter’s current Election Day residence.

Moved? A registered voter who has moved within the county and who has failed to notify the Board of Elections must go to their new polling place and fill out a provisional affidavit ballot that will be counted along with the absentees, once the voter is proven to be eligible.

Will any voter be turned away from the polls on Election Day? No voter with a residence in Chautauqua County will be turned away from a poll site assigned to service that voter.  All voters within any county election district will be either provided an opportunity to sign in the poll book of registered voters where the election inspector finds the voters name, or the voter will be provided a “Provisional Affidavit Ballot”.  The provisional ballot will be researched after the election and if the voter is found to be eligible, the voter’s provisional ballot will be opened, votes counted and votes will be added to the Election Day totals.  Following the election, the “Provisional Affidavit Ballot” voter will be notified if their ballot was counted and will also be notified that the Board of Elections has update their voter registration and/or registered the voter for future elections.

How to see a sample of the ballot? Visit www.votechautauqua.com  and click on “Sample Ballots” to view the Election Day ballot.

Who is on the Ballot? Candidates on the 2018 ballot have been nominated by ten different statewide political parties including Democratic (DEM), Republican (REP), Conservative (CON), Green (GRE), Working Families (WOR), Independence (IND), Women’s Equality (WEP), Reform (REF), Serve America Movement (SAM) and Libertarian (LBT).

ELECTIONS THAT HAVE MORE THAN ONE CANDIDATE FOR EACH OFFICE

2018 Candidates for Governor: (Clockwise from upper left) Andrew Cuomo, Howie Hawkins, Stephanie Miner, Larry Sharpe, Cynthia Nixon (was working families candidate but withdrew from race following loss of Democratic primary), and Marc Molinaro.

NYS Governor and Lieutenant Governor:

• Andrew M Cuomo and Kathy C Hochul (DEM-WOR-IND-WEP)
• Marc Molinaro and Julie Killian (REP-CON-REF)
• Howie Hawkins and Jia Lee (GRE)
• Stephanie A Miner and Michael J Volpe (SAM)
• Larry Sharpe and Andrew C Hollister (LBT)

NYS Comptroller:

• Thomas P DiNapoli (DEM-WOR-IND-WEP-REF)
• Jonathan Trichter (REP-CON)
• Mark Dunlea (GRE)
• Cruger E Gallaudet (LBT)

NYS Attorney General:

• Letitia A James (DEM-WOR-IND)
• Keith Wofford (REP-CON);
• Michael Sussman (GRE)
• Christopher B Garvey (LBT)
• Nancy Sliwa (REF)

United States Senator:

• Kirsten E Gillibrand (DEM-WOR-IND-WEP)
• Chele Chiavacci Farley (REP-CON-REF);

Tracy Mitrano and Tom Reed

NYS 8^th Judicial District State Supreme Court Justice:

(Vote for any Two)     

• Paula L Feroleto (DEM-REP-CON);
• John M Curran (DEM-REP-CON)

Representative in Congress 23rd District:   

• Tracy Mitrano (DEM-WOR-WEP)
• Thomas W Reed II (REP-CON-IND)

Member of NYS Assembly 150th District:

• Judith S Einach (DEM-WOR-WEP)
• Andrew Goodell (REP-CON-IND)

Judith Einach and Andrew Goodell

County Sheriff:

• Joseph A Gerace (DEM-WOR-IND)
• James B Quattrone (REP-CON)

Portland Town Justice:

(Vote for any Two)

• Thomas S DeJoe (DEM-GRE-WOR-IND
• Michelle L Patterson (DEM-GRE-WOR)
• Daniel R Thompson (REP-CON-IND)

Ripley Town Justice: 

• John Hamels (DEM-GRE-WOR-IND)
• Lawrence M Freligh (REP-CON)

Chautauqua County Sheriff’s candidates Joseph Gerace (incument, left) and James Quattrone pause for a friendly photo with one another following their Meet the Candidates forum on Tuesday night at JCC.

Villenova Town Council – Vacancy:

• John Dudley Robinson Sr (DEM)
• Yvonne M Park (REP)

Mayville Village Mayor:

• Ken Shearer Jr (DEM)
• Richard Syper (REP)

Mayville Village Trustee:

(Vote for any Two)

• Tim Jacobson (DEM)
• Diane Seaton (DEM)
• Eagle Harrington (REP)
• Martin Murphy (REP)
• Bill Ward (Write In)

ELECTIONS THAT HAVE ONLY ONE CANDIDATE FOR EACH OFFICE: 

NY State Senate 57th District:

• Catharine M Young (REP-CON-IND-REF)

Busti Town Justice:

• Lyle T Hajdu (REP)

Clymer Town Clerk – Vacancy:         

• Stephanie M Bailey (REP)

North Harmony Town Supervisor – Vacancy:

• Robert E Yates (REP)

North Harmony Town Council – Vacancy:

• Steven W Senske (DEM)

Pomfret Town Highway Superintendent – Vacancy:

• Jude A Gardner (DEM-REP-CON-WOR)

Pomfret Town Justice:

• Anthony J Pulci (REP-CON-IND)

Sherman Town Justice:

• Douglas A Neal (REP)

Villenova Town Justice:

• Ronald Lucas (DEM-REP)

Bemus Point Village Trustee:

(Vote for any Two)

• Theodore W Farnham (REP)
• David I Lipsey (REP)

Celoron Village Trustee:

(Vote for any Two)

• Kate Burnett (DEM)
• Norm Mattison (DEM)

Panama Village Mayor:

• William F Schneider (PAN)

Panama Village Trustee:

Jonathan G Weston (PAN)

Silver Creek Village Trustee:

(Vote for any Two)

• Marv Cummings (DEM-REP-CON)
• John Burt (DEM-REP-CON)

Where to see election results?   www.votechautauqua.com election night results starting at about 9:15 p.m.

The Chautauqua Belle (courtesy of www.facebook.com/ChautauquaBelle)

MAYVILLE – The Jamestown Post-Journal is reporting Monday that a final deal has been reached between the Mayville Village Board and U.S. Steam Lines Ltd., which operates the Chautauqua Belle, that will keep the vessel’s home in Mayville for the foreseeable future.

The new contract is a five-year lease with two additional five-year renewals with the first lease expiring in October 2019. The Chautauqua Belle will pay $3,000 for the first year of the license. The fee will increase by 2 percent each year of the license with a late fee of 5 percent added to any past due payments.

The final vote was 3-1, with Trustee Richard Syper voting against the measure and who voiced his disappointment with how the process has been handled by the boat’s owners.

The new contract has already been signed by the village mayor Marty Bova and will reportedly be signed by the owner of the Belle early next week.

In January the Mayville village board voted not to renew the previous license with the Belle, which had expired in October 2014. The village also sent an eviction letter to the owners of the Chautauqua Belle, requesting the boat be moved in the spring.

The Chautauqua Belle then turned to Facebook and social media to rally support for keeping the boat in Mayville, and following a large public outcry, the village opted to renegotiate with the Belle’s owners.

One of the four operating paddle-wheel boats left in the United States, the boat has approximately 7,000 to 8,000 guests each year.

On Tuesday, voters in both Mayville and Forestville approved a referendum to move the village elections in November to coincide with the general election. According to today’s Post-Journal, the vote in Mayville was 135 to 25 and the vote in Forestville was 58 to 27.

In addition to the two referendums, some of the villages in the county also had contested races. Winners of those races include:

• Brocton: Bryan Woleben – village trustee;
• Cherry Creek: Michael Seivert and Betty Milspaw – village trustee;
• Mayville: Richard Syper and Tim Jacobson – village trustee;
• Westfield:  David Brooker and Michael Catalano – village trustee.

All other races were unopposed.

This year, the Villages of Cassadaga, Falconer, Fredonia and Lakewood do not have any expiring offices and will not be holding elections. The Villages of Celoron and Silver Creek elections will be held in November.

LAKEWOOD
John Jablonski III defeated Susan Lane 196 to 170, after absentee ballots were counted, in the one contested village trustee race. Jablonski will finish the three years remaining on an unexpired term. Lane was appointed by the Village Board in January to the position of trustee after P.J. Wendel resigned from the board to take a seat with the county legislature. Jablonski a native of Batavia, has served as the executive director of the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy since 1993.

CHERRY CREEK
Bruce Fish defeated incumbent Dean Mount 50 to 14, to win the mayor’s seat. Barbara Hodges and Geraldine Reynolds were elected village trustees.

MAYVILLE
Sharon Smead and Tye Flurie voted village trustees. Ms. Smead received 151 votes and Flurie received 177. Incumbents Richard Syper and James Roach lost the election with 101 votes and 89 votes, respectively.