MAYVILLE – The 2013 Election has turned out to be a huge victory for Republican in the Chautauqua County Legislature. Despite the fact that the legislature is downsizing to 19 members, the GOP will still control 13 seats on the panel, giving it a two-thirds – or ‘super’ – majority.
Among the key victories for the GOP on Election night was in District 11 in Jamestown, where Republican Challenger David Wilfong defeated incumbent and current minority leader Bob Whitney. The unofficial total from election night was 533 to 444.
Another key loss for democrats was in District 16, which covers the towns of Kiantone, Carroll and Poland. In that race, Republican and former legislator Ron Lemon defeated democratic incumbent Tom Erlandson by a wide margin of 1,077 to 641.
Two other democratic incumbents also loss their bid for re-election and in both cases, they lost to republican incumbents. The match-up of incumbents was the result of downsizing the legislature. In District 7, which covers the towns of Portland and Stockton, Republican John Runkle defeated Democrat Tom DeJoe. Meanwhile, in District 3, which covers the towns of Pomfret and half the village of Fredonia, Republican Bob Scudder knocked off Democrat William Coughlin.
In the other Contested races:
- District 4: Janet Keefe (D,WF,I-Fredonia) def. Michael Sullivan (R, C-Fredonia)
- District 5: Terry Niebel (R,C,I-Dunkirk) def. Susan Baldwin (D-South Dayton)
- District 10: P.J. Wendel (R,C-Lakewood) def. Sharon Lisciandro (D,I-Lakewood)
- District 12: Fred Larson (D,I-Jamestown)def. William Prieto (R,C-Jamestown);
- District 15: Lisa Vanstrom (R,I-West Ellicott) def. Sam Ognibene (D,C-Falconer)
- District 18: David Himelein (R,C,I-Findley Lake) def. Ed Carutis (D,WF-Sherman)
Legislators running unopposed were:
- District 1: Keith Ahlstrom (D,WF-Dunkirk)
- District 2: Shaun Heenan (D-Dunkirk)
- District 6: George Borello (R,C,I-Irving)
- District 8: Pierre Chagnon (R,C-Bemus Point)
- District 9: Chuck Nazarro (D,I-Jamestown)
- District 13: Paula DeJoy (D,I) Jamestown
- District 14: Mark Tarbrake (R,C,I-Jamestown)
- District 17: Jay Gould (R,C-Ashville)
- District 19: John Hemmer (R,C,I-Westfield)
MAYVILLE – Election Day is one week away, and there are several contested races scheduled taking place in Chautauqua County besides the race for County Executive. For the county clerk’s race, businessman and county legislator Larry Barmore (R-Gerry) is facing county legislator and small business consultant Lori Cornell (D-Jamestown).
There will also be elections for the downsized county legislature, which will have just 19 seats starting in January 2014, compared to the current 25 seats. In all, there will be 10 contested races for the legislature:
- District 3: Bob Scudder (R,C-Fredonia); Billy Coughlin (D,WF,I-Fredonia)
- District 4: Janet Keefe (D,WF,I-Fredonia); Michael Sullivan (R, C-Fredonia)
- District 5: Susan Baldwin (D-South Dayton); Terry Niebel (R,C,I-Dunkirk)
- District 7: John Runkle (R,C,I-Stockton); Tom DeJoe (D,WF-Brocton)
- District 10: P.J. Wendell (R,C-Lakewood); Sharon Lisciandro (D,I-Lakewood)
- District 11: Dave Wilfong (R,C-Jamestown); Bob Whitney (D,WF,I-Jamestown)
- District 12: William Prieto (R,C-Jamestown); Fred Larson (D,I-Jamestown)
- District 15: Lisa Vanstrom (R,I-West Ellicott); Sam Ognibene (D,C-Falconer)
- District 16: Ron Lemon (R,C-Frewburg); Tom Erlandson (D,I-Frewsburg)
- District 18: David Himelein (R,C,I-Findley Lake); Ed Carutis (D,WF-Sherman)
There are also three Jamestown city council seats that will contested:
- Ward I: Tara Hall (D); Brent Sheldon (R,C)
- Ward III: Regina Brackman (D); Tamara Dickey (R,C)
- Ward IV: Marie Carrubba (D,WF,I); Richard Elardo (R,C)
For more details on this year’s race, including audio from candidate, visit www.WRFALP.com/election-2013. Information regarding all races for 2013 can also be found at www.VoteChautauqua.com.
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A map of the legislative districts for Chautauqua County, approved and finalized for the 2013 elections.
MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County’s Democratic Committee has approved its list of preliminary endorsements for the 2013 local elections.
Last weekend the party’s nominating committee met, and endorsed Ron Johnson of Pomfret as the candidate for County Executive and Lori Cornell of Jamestown as the candidate for Chautauqua County Clerk. The party also cross-endorsed current District Attorney David Foley, a Republican from Fredonia, in his bid for reelection.
For the county legislature, the party so far is endorsing candidates for 14 of the 19 legislative districts.
A total of 8 incumbent democrats were endorsed by the party. They are: Dunkirk’s Shaun Heenan and Keith Ahlstrom in Districts 1 and 2 respectively; Billy Coughlin of Fredonia for District 3; Tom DeJoe of Brocton for District 7; Chuck Nazarro of Jamestown for District 9; Robert Whitney of Jamestown for District 11; Paula DeJoy of Jamestown for District 13; and Tom Erlandson of Frewsburg for District 16.
Democratic newcomers this year include Fred Larson of Jamestown, who is running for the District 12 seat and Sam Ognibene of Falconer who is running for the District 15 seat. Other democrats running for the first time include Fredonia’s Janet Keefe in District 4; Amy Dillenburg Farnham in District 5; and Sherman’s Ed Carutis in District 18.
The Democrats are also cross-endorsing Mark Tarbrake of Jamestown in district 14. That district covers the area of Ellicott north of I-86, plus the towns of Gerry, Charlotte and Ellington.
County Democratic Commissioner Norman Green says they are still looking for candidates for District 6 which covers the town of Hanover; District 8 which covers Ellery and North Harmony; District 10 which covers Lakewood and parts of Busti and the city of Jamestown; District 17 which covers the towns of French Creek, Clymer, Harmony and parts of Busti, and District 19, which covers Westfield.
For a complete rundown of all candidates, plus exclusive audio interviews, visit our 2013 Election page.
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