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Editor’s note: This is the last of a series of articles on the upcoming Chautauqua County Legislature races.
The question of who will be elected to the Chautauqua County Legislature will soon be answered.
The Post-Journal/OBSERVER invited all candidates who are running for the legislature to answer two questions:
1) What do you believe that Chautauqua County government has accomplished in the last two years?
2) What are your goals to improve the county?
Below are the candidates running and responses received for those running for Districts 16-19, as well as what boundaries the new districts include.
DISTRICT 16
District 16 includes the towns of Kiantone, Carroll, and part of the town of Poland. Dalton Anthony is running on the Republican and Conservative lines. Amy Thompson is running on the Democratic and Common Sense lines. Current Legislator John Davis is not running for re-election.
Anthony’s response to the two questions is as follows:
1) "I believe that Chautauqua County government has done a good job maintaining the tax rate and creating decreases over the last two years as a Republican majority legislature. They have also made a point to invest in our area by expanding the lake’s sewer district which will benefit all taxpayers in the long run."
2) "My goal to improve the county is to bring new young energy to the floor and to help continue the tax decrease while still maintaining business. I also plan to support the county in future investments that will bring revenue in and help make Chautauqua County a better place to live and to raise families."
Thompson’s response to the two questions is as follows:
1) "The past two years have been disappointing for the taxpayers of Chautauqua County. We have seen our tax bills continue to go up, while we have seen no significant improvement in government services to reflect that increased revenue. Our county government has consistently failed at creating job growth and has fallen far short of any significant long-term economic development potential.
More positively, the legislature was successful in committing to the long-term health of Chautauqua Lake with its support for funding the Jefferson Project study. This study will hopefully go a long way to ensure that the county will approach the management of the lake in a consistent, scientifically and environmentally responsible manner. We will all enjoy recreational and economic benefits from the improvement of this vital county resource."
2) "As a legislator, I will work to improve the county in the ways most important to my constituents. Over and over, I have heard the concerns about lack of economic development and increasing taxes. The county needs to use the resources already available to more effectively support our existing industries and to attract new businesses to the region. Economic development must be a priority in order to create sustainable job growth and the retention of skilled and professional workers. People need good jobs and we must ensure that they and their children will have opportunities available here, rather than have them add to the population decline by joining the exodus to better job markets. I will also support the goal of my Democratic colleagues to return a portion of the excessively large county fund balance to the taxpayers. This could be done with a reduction in taxes or by directly investing in programs that will benefit all taxpayers."
DISTRICT 17
District 17 includes the towns of Clymer and Harmony, as well as the villages of Clymer and Panama, as well as part of the town of Busti. Incumbent Travis Helser is running unopposed. He is running on the Republican and Conservative lines.
Helser did not respond to the two questions.
DISTRICT 18
District 18 includes part of the town of Chautauqua, including the village of Mayville, the towns of French Creek, Mina, and village and town of Sherman. Martin Proctor is running unopposed. He is running on the Republican and Conservative lines.
Proctor did not respond to the two questions.
DISTRICT 19
District 19 includes the towns of Ripley and Westfield, including the village of Westfield. Fred Johnson is running on the Republican and Conservative lines, while Braiden McElhaney is running on the Democratic line. Incumbent John Hemmer is not seeking re-election.
Johnson’s response to the two questions is as follows:
1) "A couple of things strike me under this heading: a) The progress made on funding and getting a more organized approach to dealing with the algae and invasive weed problem in Lake Chautauqua. Starting it seems with George Borrello and continuing to this day the County Executive and the legislature have been prime movers, honorable conveners and constructive agents of progress on moving this issue forward through a thicket of well intentioned but often competing groups each pushing their favorite solutions. B) Closer to home here in Westfield (and specifically Barcelona) county government has worked diplomatically and skillfully with or as the case may be, various branches and departments of state and federal government. Specifically, getting the US Army Corp of Engineers and the NY DEC to quit being such bureaucrats and finally get the harbor freed from literally thousands of tons of lake shore gravel that the winter storms had thrown over the break wall was a testament to the county’s diplomacy and perseverance. Most gratifying to me is the way that the legislature and the Executive generally work in a collegial and bipartisan way on real issues and opportunities. No Loony Lefties or Rabid Righties here unlike our current Congress in Washington."
2) "First, I would like to use my over 30 years of senior international business experience to help county government accelerate the enhancement and marketing of this beautiful county. By enhancement I mean continuing to make our lakes and streams, our farms and forests cleaner, more prosperous and welcoming. Because we are located at the far western end of New York state, the majority of our visitors come to us not only from out of county but out of state as well. So as we become more and more attractive to tourists, second home buyers and new workers moving in (or moving back), so too will we prosper. New resources are arriving; we’re not just dividing an existing economic pie of local consumers and investors.
Chautauqua County has the dubious honor of being the poorest (or close to the poorest) county in the state. But we are one of the richest in natural and human resources. By developing those resources further we can surely move briskly up from the bottom of the economic ranks."
McElhaney's response to the two questions is as follows:
1) "The present legislature has managed to over-tax and under-supply for the residents of this county. They continue to have a slush fund of $37 million that goes unused year after year while our taxes continue to increase. We also have an executive branch that uses its power of declaring a 'State of Emergency' to make a political statement, rather than addressing the issues of our county which include high taxes, declining population, and diminishing opportunities for those who remain. We need to do better! That’s why I’m running and the problems I aim to tackle as soon as I get elected."
2) "My goals are simple: lower spending, provide resources, and incorporate transparency in the legislature. I would call for a $1 million reduction of the 2024 budget tax levy. This would be done, in part, by eliminating unnecessary jobs starting with the Media Information Officer, saving on average, $100,000 per year. I would also help facilitate public/private partnerships to help combat the housing crisis, create job opportunities, and revitalize the community. Once elected to the legislature, as an Eagle Scout and educator, I will bring my passion, dedication, service, leadership, and integrity to the job."