Chautauqua County Legislator Paul “PJ” Wendel is seeking re-election in District 10, which represents the village of Lakewood, portions of Busti and the southwest corner of Jamestown.

“I enjoy and look forward to representing all of my constituents with the same dedication and passion that I have in the previous years. We have changed the culture in Mayville with a bipartisan approach to local government and I wish to continue this work for not only my constituents but for all the residents of Chautauqua County,” Wendel said.

Wendel is the chairman of the Chautauqua County Legislature, a positon he has held for the past two years.

“We have worked with one another throughout my tenure at the Legislature to do some amazing things, but our work is not done yet. We will look at all options, think outside the box, and find creative ways to increase our efficiency, while maintaining the highest level or service residents of the county have come to expect.”

Wendel was first elected to the legislature in 2011. He was appointed as a member of the Public Safety Committee, chairing the committee for four years. During his time on Public Safety, Wendel was strong proponent the county’s new “Fly Car” system to increase EMS service and coverage throughout Chautauqua County. Wendel has served as the assistant legislative majority leader from 2014 through 2016 and legislative majority leader from 2016 through 2018. Wendel is also a member of the Fire Advisory Board, EMS Council and is former co-chair of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

“I was a big supporter of the Chautauqua Lake MOA sponsored by County Executive to bring a consolidated front toward treating Chautauqua Lake, but that is ongoing and we need to find alternatives to provide funding sources for the lake,” Wendel said. “The lake is one of the largest economic engines in Chautauqua County and we need make sure that it is clean and healthy for years to come.”

In addition to his work in the Legislature, Wendel was a trustee for the village of Lakewood for five years, serving as deputy mayor for two years. Wendel has been a 30-year member of the Lakewood Volunteer Fire Company, during which time he served as an assistant chief, lieutenant, president and vice-president of the fire company and has been a state EMT for 25 years. Wendel has coached wrestling at the collegiate, high school level and youth levels, and was selected Post-Journal “Coach of the Year” in 2012. Wendel is also a delegate to the Federation International Lutte Celtic and a three time silver medalist in the European Championships of Celtic Wrestling. Wendel was recently inducted into the Brockport State College Sports Hall of Fame. Wendel is currently a Eucharistic Minister at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lakewood.

A resident of Lakewood since 1989, Wendel and his wife Jennifer are parents of two children, Sydney, a current Rotary International Youth exchange student in Prague, Czechia, and Bohdan, an eighth-grader at Southwestern Middle School.