In the Legislative District 16 Republican primary, which includes the towns of Carroll, Poland and Kiantone, Ron Lemon of Frewsburg received a total of 108 votes. His opponent, Tami Downey of Kiantone had 106 votes.

The winner for the democratic ticket in Legislature District 5 was Susan Baldwin of South Dayton. She finished with a total of 76 votes. Her opponent, Amy Farnham of Forestville, had 72 votes.

The winner of the third legislative primary race, between Republicans David Himelein and Fred Croscut, was determined Sept. 10 with Himelein getting the victory.

Highlighting today’s primary are three legislative races. They include a Democratic primary in legislative district 5, where Susan Baldwin of South Dayton will face Amy Farnham of Forestville.

There will also be two key republican primaries scheduled to take place. In Legislative District 16 former legislator Tami Downey of Kiantone will face former legislator and former county legislature clerk Ron Lemon of Frewsburg. In Legislative District 18, David Himelein of Clymer will face Fred Croscut of Sherman. Both men currently sit on the legislature but because of redistricting and downsizing the legislature, they now share the same district.

In addition to the legislative district primaries, several towns will have contested party races.  In the south county, half-a-dozen towns will be hosting a republican primary for various offices. They include the towns of Carroll, Gerry, Kiantone, Poland and Sherman. Also the town of Chautauqua is having a republican primary in all districts except district 4.  Also in the town of Chautauqua, there will be a Working Families primary in District 4.

In order to determine current major party affiliation and registration, visit www.votechautauqua.com and click on “voter lookup.” Residents can also contact the Board of Elections.

Ballots for viewing and election night unofficial results are available at: www.votechautauqua.com.

As WRFA previously reported in June, the legislature’s District 16 race, which covers the towns of Carroll, Poland and Kiantone, will feature Tami Downey (Kiantone) squaring off against Ron Lemon (Frewsburg) in a Republican primary. Incumbent Tom Earlandson is running again for the Democrats.

The District 18 race will also feature a Republican party primary as Fred Crosscut (Sherman) faces David Himelein (Findley Lake). Both men currently sit on the legislature but because of redistricting and downsizing the legislature, they now share the same district, which includes the towns of Chautauqua, Sherman and Mina.  Democrat Ed Carutis of Sherman is also running for that seat.

And two woman will be vying for the Democratic line on the ballot for the legislature’s District 5 seat, which covers four towns in the northeastern part of they county. They are Amy Farnham (Forestville) and Susan Baldwin (South Dayton). Republican Terry Niebel, a former county board of elections commissioner, is also running for that seat.

Primary day in Chautauqua County is September 10. For a complete listing of all residents who are running for office this year, visit votechautauqua.com and click the link for petitions filed for 2013 offices. You can also find more information on this year’s elections on this website.

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.

MAYVILLE – Today is Election Day in Chautauqua County, and while there are many uncontested local races in the area, there is an important proposition on the ballot this year that every voter in the county will have an opportunity to vote on.

Proposition No. 1 will let voters decide whether the County Legislature has no more than 19 members. Currently, there are 25 members on the panel, a number that’s been in place for over 30 years.  The proposition will be available on the backside of all paper ballots used in this year’s election.

Polling offices will be open from now until 9 p.m. this evening. For information on specific voting locations or ballots, contact the Chautauqua County Board of Elections or go online to www.votechautauqua.com.

ONLY ONE CONTESTED RACE IN JAMESTOWN

JAMESTOWN – As far as local elections go, it will be a quiet year in Jamestown, with only one contested race on the ballot. That race is for the Ward 4 seat in the Jamestown City Council, where incumbent democrat Vince DeJoy will be squaring off against challenger Dan Johnson – who’s been endorsed by the Republican, Conservative and Independence parties.

Jamestown Republican Party Chairman Brent Sheldon says he’s excited about Johnson running as a candidate.

The rest of the council, as well as Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi, are running unopposed. Sheldon said the GOP tried to find a challenger but was unable to do so. Teresi is seeking a fourth term in the mayor’s office. He was first elected to that position in 1999.

LEGISLATURE HAS EIGHT CONTESTED RACES

MAYVILLE – There are also several uncontested races in the county legislature. In fact, a total of 17 seats only have one candidate, with seven incumbent Democrats and ten Republicans (Eight incumbents) going unchallenged.

Of the uncontested races, two new candidates are going unopposed – Vince Horrigan in Bemus Point and PJ Wendel in Lakewood. Both are running for the Republican party. Horrigan will be replacing longtime Republican legislator Dick Babbage while Wendel will be taking the seat currently held by Democratic Minority Leader Rudy Mueller.

There will be eight contested races for the legislature, leaves a total of eight actual races for the Chautauqua County Legislature.

In the city of Jamestown, the Legislative District 14 race features Timothy Hoyer on the Democratic line. He faces Republican candidate Michael Haddad for the district currently represented by Scott Stutzman, I-Jamestown.

In District 15, Maria Kindberg, D-Jamestown, is vacating her seat – making the race a first-time election for both Bob Whitney and David Wilfong. Whitney holds the Democratic, Conservative and Independence lines. Wilfong will appear on the Republican line on November’s ballot.

In District 10 – which covers part of Busti and West Ellicott, incumbent Republican incumbent Mark Tarbrake is being challenged by Pat Tyler, who holds the Democratic, Conservative, Working Families and Independence Party lines.

Other Local races of note include District 7, which covers the towns of Cherry Creek, Ellington and Poland. There, incumbent Republican candidate Bob Stewart is being challenged by Democrat Tamara Miles.

In District 8 – which covers the towns of Carroll and Kiantone, incumbent Republican candidate Tami Downey is being challenged by Thomas Erlandson, who holds the Democratic, Conservative and Independence Party lines.

The Democrats in the legislature who are running unopposed are Keith Ahlstrom, Dunkirk; Shaun Heenan, Dunkirk; Vickeye James, Jamestown; Lori Cornell, Jamestown; Paula DeJoy, Jamestown; Chuck Nazzaro, Jamestown; and Tom DeJoe, Brocton.

The Republicans who stand to return unopposed are Bob Duff, Sheridan; George Borrello, Irving; John Runkle, Stockton; Larry Barmore, Gerry; Jay Gould, Ashville; Fred Croscut, Sherman; David Himelein, Findley Lake; and Bob Scudder, Fredonia.

EDWARDS WILL NOT VETO ITEMS IN BUDGET

MAYVILLE – In other news, County Executive Greg Edwards announced Monday that he will not veto any part of the legislature’s 2012 budget. County lawmakers passed the spending plan in a 20 to 5 vote last month. Edwards then had 10 calendar days to review the changes made and issue any vetoes. Edwards used his Monday Morning Memo yesterday to announcing his decision, in which he called the final budget passed by the legislature “a mockery of our fiscal management policy.” Edwards explained that he would not be implementing any line item vetoes because the budget was passed overwhelmingly by the legislature and therefore the 20 who supported it last month could override any vetoes.

Next year’s budget will take the county’s property tax rate from $8.90 to 9.22 per thousand dollars of assessed value, an increase of 32 cents. As proposed by the county executive, the 2012 budget initially started with a $1.13 per thousand tax increase, which would have taken the property tax rate to $10.03 per thousand.

POLICE SEEK ROBBERY SUSPECT

FINDLEY LAKE – The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an armed robbery that occurred in Findley Lake early Monday morning. According to police, at 5:22 a.m. a white male subject entered the Holiday Inn Express, 3025 Route 426, in Findley Lake, and demanded money from the front desk. Police say he used a semi-automatic pistol to threaten the desk clerk.

The suspect fled in an unknown direction in a vehicle with an undisclosed amount of money.

The suspect is described as a white male, age 20 to 30, 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall, medium build, weighing about 180 to 190 pounds, with grayish-blue eyes and light freckles over the bridge of his nose.

He was wearing a blue winter jacket, knit hat and a scarf over his face to conceal his identity. The hat and scarf were either red or gray in color.

The Sheriff’s office is encouraging anyone with information on this incident to call the We Tip number at 1-800-78-CRIME (800-782-7463) or the Sheriff’s Office at 753-4925. Callers are eligible for a $1,000 reward if the information leads to the arrest and conviction of the person involved. All calls will remain anonymous.