JAMESTOWN – Residents in Jamestown will have to wait until next week to learn who the city Republican Committee will endorse for mayor in the 2019 election.
The committee was set to meet Feb. 13 to discuss possible candidates for the 2019 election, which features an open seat for Jamestown mayor with the announcement earlier this month by current Mayor Sam Teresi (D) that he won’t be seeking reelection.
So far the only Republican to come forward and announce his intention to run is current councilman Andrew Liuzzo (R-At Large).
GOP Committee chair Brent Sheldon tells WRFA the group will now meet on Feb. 19 and bring forward an endorsement.
Meanwhile, city Democratic Officials will likely select their candidates on Feb. 21. So far no mayoral candidates have come forward from that party.
Because of changes in state election law, candidates must begin circulating petitions to get their name on the November Ballot at the end of this month, with a deadline to hand in the required number of signatures by April 1. An endorsement by either committee helps to make that process easier because committee members will also help circulate petitions among registered party members. If more than one candidate from the same party is seeking a nomination for the same political office, a primary will take place in June.
“Meanwhile, city Democrat Officials will likely select their candidates on Feb. 21” <– it's "Democratic officials", not "Democrat officials". The only ones who use "Democrat" as an adjective are Fox News republicans. Democrats themselves consider it a slur. Appreciate you correcting this going forward.