Jamestown residents Tuesday had a chance to meet their GOP candidates for the 2019 election.

The Jamestown Republican Party held a meet-and-greet reception at Sauce restaurant, located at 306 N. Main St., with several candidates in attendance. The Republican candidates included David Wilfong, Jamestown Republican Party endorsed candidate for mayor and Chautauqua County Legislator; Jamestown City Council Ward 1 Brent Sheldon, an incumbent candidate; Ward 2 Anthony Dolce, an incumbent candidate; Ward 4 Brittnay Spry; Ward 5 Grant Olson; At-Large Kimberly Ecklund, incumbent candidate; At-Large Gregory Lindquist; and At-Large Jeffrey Russell; Chautauqua County District 12 Legislator Elisabeth Rankin, an incumbent candidate; and County Executive George Borrello, who is running for the vacated 57th State Senate District seat.

Wilfong said he is honored to accept the city’s Republican Party nomination for mayor. He said the 2019 election is about change, with the chance to have a new Republican mayor at “City Hall” for the first time in 20 years. He said it’s also the first time in more than a decade to have a change in the majority of the City Council, which hasn’t had a Republican majority since 2007. He added that about five years ago there was a change in leadership with the Chautauqua County Legislature when the “red wave” took majority control of the elected group.

“Now I see a wave of red is coming to Jamestown,” Wilfong said.

Sheldon, Jamestown Republican Party Committee chairman, said it would be great to have a Republican mayor for the first time in 20 years. The last time the city had a Republican mayor was Richard Kimball Jr., who was elected in 1993 and later lost to current Jamestown mayor Sam Teresi in 1999.

Sheldon said there will most likely be a primary election in June in the Republican Party for mayor, with Andrew Liuzzo, At-Large councilman, also running. He added that Dolce is also being challenged in Ward 2 by Raven Mason-Thompson, who has also announced she is circulating petitions for the position. Petitions are due to the Chautauqua County Board of Elections Thursday, April 4.

Dolce, who is the longest-tenured member of the council with more than 20 years experience, said this election year is different with the new election schedule having the state’s primary election in June instead of September.

“This year is unique, so to speak,” he said.

If multiple candidates in the same position race have qualified petitions, the primary election will be held Tuesday, June 25.