The Chautauqua County Legislature will soon have a vacancy.

Legislator Mark Odell, a Republican who represents District 7, announced during the legislature’s Planning and Economic Development Committee meeting that is he resigning from his position, effective Aug. 17.

“My professional life is taking me out of district for a considerable amount of time — probably 80% and 20% back here,” he said.

District 7 includes the towns of Stockton, Portland and a portion of the town of Chautauqua. Odell has served as the legislator since he was elected in 2015.

“I enjoy this. It’s been a great run for the past six years but I do not feel I can be as effective as a legislator if I’m distracted ‘off the bag’ in another capacity,” he said.

His fellow committee members thanked Odell for his service.

“Your leadership skills have been exemplary and I really want to tell you how much I appreciate that,” said Legislator Bill Ward, R-Mayville.

Legislator Christine Starks, D-Mayville, agreed. “I think we can all agree that you leave large shoes to fill,” she said.

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RESIGNS

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Odell is the chairman of the Planning and Economic Development Committee, while Starks is the vice chair. “I guess you all take trust in me to take over as chair, so I’m honored and thrilled and will do all I can to serve this committee and the county,” she said.

According to Brian Abram, Republican election commissioner, Odell’s name is already on the ballot for November and he is the only person listed. According to election law, it’s too late to for either party to add names the ballot this fall. Write-in candidates are accepted.

For the time being, the Republican district committees of Stockton, Portland and District 4 of the town of Chautauqua, will need to get together and nominate an individual to become the next legislator of the district. That individual will need the approval of the full county legislature.

In November, Odell’s name will remain on the ballot. After the election, should Odell win re-election, he will need to decline to take the oath of office and the individual that is appointed before can continue until November of 2022, when that person will need to run for office for a one-year term.

Odell grew up in the Cassadaga/Stockton area, graduating from Cassadaga Valley Central School and later attending SUNY Fredonia, followed by post graduate work at the University of Buffalo. He is the vice president of Econoburn Boilers in Brocton and has worked in the energy business for more than 25 years.

When he was a teenager, Odell was a member of Boy Scout Troop 219. Scouts are taught when they go camping to make it “better than when they got there.” In a phone interview, Odell said that motto continues with him this day and he believes he has done that with his time in the legislature and wishes his fellow legislators continued success.