There will be at least two new faces and eight returning faces to the 19-member Chautauqua County Legislature next year, with slightly adjusted districts.

In July, 2022, the legislature approved readjusted districts, after rejecting a proposal by the Democrats to reduce the districts to 17.

Of the 19 current districts, 15 are represented by a Republican, while four are represented by a Democrat. For November, 11 of the districts have competitive races. Of those 11 races, six incumbent Republicans are being challenged, three Democrats are being challenged, and two incumbents are not running again. No district has more than two people on the ballot.

Of the eight uncontested districts, seven are represented by a Republican and one is represented by a Democrat.

Bob Bankoski

The Post-Journal/OBSERVER invited all 30 candidates who are running to answer two questions:

1) What do you believe that the Chautauqua County government has accomplished in the last two years?

2) What are your goals to improve the county?

Of the 30 candidates running, 20 responded. Below are the candidates and responses to those running for Districts 1 and 2.

DISTRICT 1

Dennis Welka

County Legislative District 1 includes part of the city of Dunkirk. Incumbent Kevin Muldowney is running on the Republican and Dunkirk First lines. He is being challenged by Marcus Buchanan, who is running on the Democratic, Conservative and Working Families lines.

Muldowney’s response to the two questions is as follows:

1) “I think the most important thing we accomplished as a legislative body was to lower property taxes. We have done this and been able to keep our financial reserves in place without cutting services. This encourages private sector confidence in investing in Chautauqua County. The Chautauqua County Legislature works hard discussing, debating and working toward consensus on difficult issues so when we come together at our monthly meeting we are not fighting over partisan issues.

2) I would like us to continue to improve on our natural beauties such as our harbors and waterways not only for tourists but for the people of Chautauqua County. We were able to assist the city of Dunkirk this year in a demolition of some old steel docks that will help in future development off of Memorial Park. The legislature also assisted the town of Westfield in dredging their harbor so it could be used this season.”

Buchanan’s response to the two questions is as follows:

Kevin Muldowney

1) “In the last two years the Democrats in the legislature are working hard for the residents of the city and town of Dunkirk. The four Democrat legislators have been working hard for two years to lower taxes in the county, and to help the city of Dunkirk get some fair consideration by the county. The Democrats just recommended that the additional tax break be given from the over-full fund balance of $37.1 million. As a whole I am pleased to hear the County Legislature denounce racism, something our country struggled with for decades.”

2) “Improve budgeting. Budgeting is one of the most important things local government does. Our government annual operating budget has its vision, strategies and priorities for the future. We need to achieve a reasonable fund balance instead of the current $37 million (slush fund) by returning a portion of the fund balance to the taxpayers. We should focus on prioritizing county employees’ hiring requests. I will prompt the county to collaborate with all the communities, not just a chosen few.

I encourage cities to work together on economic development, since development in one town is good for the whole county. It’s very important to me, if all the legislators and the County 2) I would like us to continue to improve on our natural beauties such as our harbors and waterways not only for tourists but for the people of Chautauqua County. We were able to assist the city of Dunkirk this year in a demolition of some old steel docks that will help in future development off of Memorial Park. The legislature also assisted the town of Westfield in dredging their harbor so it could be used this season.”

Buchanan’s response to the two questions is as follows:

1) “In the last two years the Democrats in the legislature are working hard for the residents of the city and town of Dunkirk. The four Democrat legislators have been working hard for two years to lower taxes in the county, and to help the city of Dunkirk get some fair consideration by the county. The Democrats just recommended that the additional tax break be given from the over-full fund balance of $37.1 million. As a whole I am pleased to hear the County Legislature denounce racism, something our country struggled with for decades.”

2) “Improve budgeting. Budgeting is one of the most important things local government does. Our government annual operating budget has its vision, strategies and priorities for the future. We need to achieve a reasonable fund balance instead of the current $37 million (slush fund) by returning a portion of the fund balance to the taxpayers. We should focus on prioritizing county employees’ hiring requests. I will prompt the county to collaborate with all the communities, not just a chosen few. I encourage cities to work together on economic development, since development in one town is good for the whole county. It’s very important to me, if all the legislators and the County Executive can work together for the betterment of our home, Chautauqua County. It’s the people we represent, not the position.”

DISTRICT 2

County Legislative District 2 includes part of the city of Dunkirk. Incumbent Robert Bankoski is running on the Democratic and Working Families lines. He is being challenged by Dennis Welka, who is running on the Republican and Conservative lines.

Bankoski’s response to the two questions is as follows:

1) “We accomplished the following:

A. The county established a gas tax holiday in 2021 to mirror the same tax break that the state gave to our overtaxed residents.

B. We voted down the occupancy tax increase from the proposed 8% to keep it at the 5% that has been established in prior years.

C. I lobbied for funds for the city of Dunkirk and received $12,000 for the fence replacement at the Historical Lighthouse; $20,000 toward the purchase of the weed harvester for the Dunkirk Harbor and $12,000 for the removal of the old/damaged boat slips/docks behind the old Steffan Marina.

D. I co-sponsored an ARPA project to get the water supply tower at Progressive Park refurbished to supply adequate fire protection to our Business Park.

2. “My goals are the following:

A. We must encourage and do a better job of overseeing the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency to focus on job creation.

B. We must encourage JCC to strengthen its efforts to train our students who do not want to pursue a college degree with skills that make them marketable to existing businesses and industries and to also attract new businesses to locate in Chautauqua County because of the skilled workforce that we would have.

C. Continue to encourage and fight for a smaller government. We did not need a landfill commission who had increased rates two years in a row; we did not need a $100,000 per year Media Relations Officer and we did not need $37 million in our fund balance. We need that reduced to provide our residents real tax relief.”

Welka’s response on the two questions is as follows:

1) “When it comes to what I believe that the Chautauqua County government has accomplished in the last two years is that year after year they have continued to work together to keep the county budget on time, and to reduce county taxes, while still providing great services to our residents. Those services being our county Sheriff’s Department, our Public Works Department who take care of the roads we drive on, and our other government services. Everyone running for office, myself included, is in favor of creating more jobs and economic opportunity in our county and county government has continued to work diligently regarding this including through our Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency.”

2) “I am running to represent the City of Dunkirk in the county legislature on a full-time basis. We currently have a legislator who spends a significant part of the year outside of the district, in fact outside of the State of New York. My goal to improve the county is to improve the representation of the city of Dunkirk at the county and to be on hand and available to the constituents of District 2.

We need a legislator who is here and can represent the citizens of both parties and who can work on improving our business climate so that our children and grandchildren do not have to move to find economic opportunities. We need continuing efforts to improve tourism with Lake Erie at our doorstep. It offers considerable potential to which I will give my attention, and all of our county wide natural resources, commercial, and industrial assets.

I believe I am that candidate.”

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