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)
Leave a Reply