On Thursday, the Jamestown City Democratic Committee announced the candidates for the council and the four city districts of the Chautauqua County Legislature.

The council candidates include incumbents Vickye James, Ward 3 councilwoman; Marie Carrubba, Ward 4 councilwoman; and Thomas Nelson Ward 6 councilman. The challengers will be Douglas Lawson for Ward 5 and At-Large candidates will include Christina Cardinale, Ellen Ditonto and Alyssa Porter.

Cardinale, a small business owner, is running for the first-time for the council, but ran for the state Assembly last year, losing to Andy Goodell, R-Jamestown. She wants to take the same principals of being a lawmaker she learned as a candidate and apply them to being a part of the nine-member city legislative body.

“I take that responsibility very seriously,” she said.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist host an online event announcing the Democratic Party candidates for the Jamestown City Council and the four city districts of the Chautauqua County Legislature. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

Ditonto said she maybe new to running for office, but she has been active in politics in the county for many years.

“I may be a newcomer on the ballot, but I’ve been involved in politics for a longtime in Chautauqua County,” she said.

Ditonto, a business administrator at Jamestown Community College, said the more than $28 million Jamestown will be receiving in federal stimulus relief because of the COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity for city officials to make needed improvements.

“It gives us an opportunity to think outside of the box,” she said.

Porter, who works at the Chautauqua Institution, said she is originally from Ohio, but selected Jamestown as the place for her family to live because of a promising future in Jamestown.

“Choosing Jamestown was easy,” she said.

Porter said she wants to be a member of the council to play an active role of retaining the city’s youth and attracting new people to move and live in Jamestown.

“I believe in our community,” she said. “I believe in Jamestown.”

Lawson said he is a IT professional who has worked for the last 11 years after graduating from Jamestown Community College. He welcomes the opportunity to hear from his fellow city residents about the issues that concern them.

Carrubba said, who was first appointed to the council in 2013 and has successfully been re-elected since, she is running for the council again because there are still improvements that need to be made in the city, like highways.

“It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve on the council,” she said. “We’re all looking to provide better services to community members and a better quality of life.”

Nelson said he has served on the council the past six years and is the Public Works Committee chairman.

“My goal is to continue serving the people of Ward 6 and the entire city,” he said.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist said James was unable to attend the online event for personal reasons.

During the online event, it was announced that Tamu Graham-Reinhardt, At-Large councilwoman, would not be seeking re-election. She enjoyed her time on the council representing the city and said it was time for someone else to enjoy the experience.

Norm Green, Chautauqua County Democratic Election commissioner, said the city candidates for the county legislature will be Billy Torres for District 9, incumbent Robert Whitney for District 11, Heather Fagan for District 12 and incumbent Paul Whitford for District 13.

Green announced that longtime District 9 representative Chuck Nazzaro will not be seeking re-election.

“I’m thrilled to look at the slate for the city and the county,” said Jim Walton, Jamestown City Democratic Committee chairman. “It has the makings of a very good year.”

Sundquist said the candidates have already made plans to “knock on doors” and raise money for the upcoming election.

“I’m thrilled beyond belief for the candidates we have running for the council and the county legislature,” he said.