Nate Shinagawa

JAMESTOWN – One of the democratic candidates for congress has picked up another local endorsement. Jamestown city councilman and city Democratic Committee Chair Vince DeJoy has come out in support of Nate Shinagawa (D-Ithaca). Shinagawa is one of three candidates vying for the party’s nomination on June 26 during the Democratic primary. The other two candidates or Leslie Danks Burke (D-Ithaca) and Melissa Dobson (D-Corning). The winner of the primary will go on to face Tom Reed (R-Corning) in November’s general election.

In a prepared statement, DeJoy said he’s endorsing Shinagawa because he brings both real world experience and the elected legislative experience that will work to bring progress and not more partisanship and gridlock in Congress. Shinagawa is an administrator in healthcare for the Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pa. – just on the other side of the state line near Waverly, N.Y. He is also a member of the Tompkins County Legislature.

Shinagawa has also been locally endorsed by the Chautauqua County Democratic Committee, the Dunkirk Democratic Committee, Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi, Dunkirk Mayor A.J. Dolce and Fredonia Mayor Steve Keefe. He has also received the endorsement of the Working Families Party.

Shinagawa was also in Chautauqua County over the weekend meeting with party representatives and going door-to-door to talk with voters. Both Danks Burke and Dobson were in Jamestown Friday night to attend a Meet the Candidates forum at the James Prendergast Library, which Shinagawa was unable to attend.

WRFA is working to coordinate another public forum in the Jamestown area, with all three candidates in attendance and which would allow local registered Democrats an opportunity to meet and ask various questions of all three candidates. Last week, WRFA extended the request to Shinagawa’s campaign, but they have yet to respond with any potential dates for such an event to take place.