Chuck Nazzaro has announced his candidacy for re-election to a seventh term on the Chautauqua County Legislature representing District 9, which covers the southside of Jamestown. He has been endorsed by the Democratic, Working Families and Independence parties.

Nazzaro currently serves as minority leader of the legislature and is vice chair of the Audit and Control Committee, the panel leading the county budget process. He is also ranking member of the legislature’s Public Facilities Committee and is a member of the Health Insurance Review Committee. Nazzaro, at the request of the county executive, has worked closely with the administration at JCC to develop a new county funding model that will help put the college back on solid financial footing. He also has taken on additional responsibilities in overseeing the County’s internal audit program. Previously Nazzaro served on the Jamestown City Council for three terms, including one term as chair of the Finance Committee.

Nazzaro recently retired from UPMC Chautauqua where he served as the chief financial officer. He was employed by WCA for 34 years and also held the positions of director of finance/controller, director of reimbursement and senior accountant. He is an enrolled agent qualified to practice before the Internal Revenue Service and has passed the Certified Public Accountant examination.

He is a 40-year member of the Kiwanis Club of Jamestown, past president and currently is on the board. He also served as treasurer of the Jamestown Boys and Girls Club for several years. He is a past member of the Jamestown Zoning Board of Appeals, BPU Board of Directors, Jamestown Local Development Corporation and Jamestown Parks and Recreation Commission.

“The County Legislature should only approve structurally sound budgets that maintain adequate fund balance reserves which will provide financial stability for future budgets,” he said. “We must control spending and not approve budgets that show an operating deficit. We need to reduce health insurance costs, minimize the local subsidy of the county airports and control the cost to run the county jail. At the same time, we need to divest of services that can be provided by the private sector. We should look at ways to improve the profit from out-of-county waste accepted at the county landfill and explore alternate revenue sources for electricity generated at the landfill.”

Commenting on the future of the county, Nazzaro said, “The County needs to do more on the economic development front. The Industrial Development Agency (IDA) must identify new and expanding businesses that can take advantage of the “Start-Up NY” program. The County must create an environment to attract and maintain good paying jobs. We must continue to offer financial incentives to businesses that have a desire to either expand or relocate to Chautauqua County. The County must also have “shovel-ready” sites available for new development, which will not only create jobs but also expand our tax base.”

Nazzaro is lifelong resident of Jamestown and is a communicant of St. James Catholic Church. He and his wife Sharon have two children and reside at 236 Springdale Ave.