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)
PJ Wendel (Left) and Sharon Lisciandro, 2013 candidates for District 10 of the Chautauqua County Legislature.
LAKEWOOD – The 2013 elections are less than a week away and among those offices that are contested is the seat for the newly drawn District 10 of the Chautauqua County Legislature, which covers the north section of the Town of Busti including the village of Lakewood along with a small southwestern section of the city of Jamestown.
Incumbent PJ Wendel (R, C – Lakewood), who is a school teacher at Falconer, is running for reelection. He is being challenged by Sharon Lisciandro (D, I – Lakewood), who works as a real estate broker.
- VISIT WRFA 2013 ELECTION PAGE
During the recent League of Women Voters’ Meet the Candidates form, Wendel said that both the county home and economic development are pressing issues for the county. But he said perhaps the most important issue facing the county is the health of Chautauqua Lake, which he believes needs the county’s full attention.
“What I would like to do is create a comprehensive plan [for Chautauqua Lake],” Wendel explained. “$8.2 billion was just passed by the federal government, of which Chautauqua Lake will be entitled to some of that money to help solve some of the larger problems, such as dredging… Chautauqua Lake is an economic engine for our county. we need to get it back on track and keep it clean and vibrant and healthy.”
Lisciandro, meanwhile, says that her experience as a real estate broker has shown her that the single biggest problem the county is facing is property taxes. If elected, she said she would work toward finding a way to help reduce the tax burden that faces county property owners.
“The number one question that I’m always asked [when showing homes to prospective buyers], ‘Why are your property taxes so high?’ And that’s a real tough question for me to answer,” Lisciandro said. “Our population is shrinking and our tax base is declining, so if I am elected I would like to investigate and work very hard to get property taxes reduced and to encourage growth.”
The race for District 10 is one of the 10 different contested races this year for the Chuatauqua county legislature. A complete look at all races for all voting districts in Chautauqua County can be found online at votechautauqua.com.
WRFA will also continue election coverage this week when we feature both candidates for county executive Thursday night during our Community Matters program, which airs at 6 p.m. on WRFA.
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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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Chautauqua County Executive Candidates Ron Johnson (Left) and Vince Horrigan are two of the candidates who will be in attendance Thursday night, Oct. 24, during the Meet the Candidates session at the James Prendergast Library.
JAMESTOWN – The American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the Chautauqua County League of Women Voters will sponsor Meet the Candidates for local, countywide positions, and the Chautauqua County Legislature on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the James Prendergast Library’s Fireplace Room.
The audience will be able to question candidates for County Executive, County Clerk, and candidates for the Legislature from the new districts 10,11, 12, 15, and 16. The candidates for County Executive are Vince Horrigan (R-Bemus Point) and Ron Johnson (D-Fredonia). Candidates for County Clerk are Larry Barmore (R-Gerry) and Lori Cornell (D-Jamestown).
Among the candidates for the Legislature are incumbents and new faces: Sharon Lisciandro and Paul Wendel Jr. in District 10, Robert Whitney and David Wilfong in District 11, Fred Larson and William Prieto in District 12, Samuel Ognibene and Lisa Vanstrom in District 15, and Thomas Erlandson and Ronald Lemon in District 16.
The League and AAUW time-keepers are strict about keeping the candidates’ statements brief so that many members of the audience can ask questions. Candidates are also encouraged to question one another in true debate form. The event is free and open to the public.
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