There’s a new political party in Chautauqua County.

The newly created independent faction is the Cornerstone Party, which was created by Martin Proctor. Proctor is the District 18 Chautauqua County Legislature representative, who was appointed to the position after the death of David Himelein in April.

Proctor told The Post-Journal he created the party because he wasn’t appointed to the Chautauqua County Legislature until April 24, after Himelein’s death on April 5.

Because of early voting this year in the state, the candidate petitions for designated parties, like the Democratic or Republican, were due April 4.

“Because of the timing of Dave Himelein’s passing and the petitions being due, I didn’t get in on the primary,” he said. “Bill Ward and Rick Syper ran in the primary, but there is another way to run, which is an independent party petition.”

According to Brian Abram, Chautauqua County Board of Elections Republican commissioner, a candidate for an independent party had a later deadline than someone who was running for a designated party. According to the 2019 political calendar posted on the county Board of Elections website, the last date for an independent party candidate to file a petition was May 28.

Proctor, who is a registered Republican, said he had to produce a party name and a symbol in order to create an independent political party.

“I came up with the Cornerstone Party and a symbol, which is a stone. I believe Chautauqua County is the cornerstone of New York and District 18 is the cornerstone of the county. That was my philosophy behind that,” he said. “Of course, I’m on the bottom of the ballot, but, hey, I’m on the ballot.”

Proctor, who is the town of Mina Republican Committee chairman, said he has never ran for political office before, but wants to continue as a legislator after being a part of the governing group for the past six months.

“I’ve been involved in politics. I’ve been a political chairman for 15 years in the town of Mina,” he said.

Abram said it’s not often that a candidate creates their own independent party to be on the ballot. He said write-in campaigns are used a little more often by candidates.

“Both tools are used on occasion,” he said. “(They’re) not the most used ways to serve.”

District 18 covers the town of Mina, Sherman and most of Chautauqua, including the village of Mayville.

Ward, who has been endorsed by the Democratic, Republican, Independence, Libertarian and Working Families parties, and Syper, who has been endorsed by the Conservative Party, are also on the ballot in District 18.