Petitions Filed In Legislature Elections

Posted by Nicholas L. Dean
Petitions have been filed for this fall's County Legislature elections.

The unofficial list was released Wednesday by the county Board of Elections.

Some names on the list are somewhat of a surprise to see while others are conspicuously absent.

Though the deadline to turn in petitions to be on the ballot this fall has passed, it's still possible to get a name on the ballot this November.

Candidates can still be nominated by way of caucuses, nominating certificates and independent nominations under various deadlines between now and Oct. 4, according to Norman P. Green, county Democratic Election Commissioner.

THE NAMES:
As it stands, 18 legislators look to be running unopposed. Of those, a total of 15 are incumbents.

The county's former public defender will square off against the village of Fredonia's former mayor for the District 25 seat.

Billy Coughlin filled petitions on the Democratic and Independence Party lines for this fall's election, while Michael Sullivan submitted a petition for the Republican line. The District 25 seat, which covers a portion of the village of Fredonia, is being vacated by Democrat John Gullo.

Minority Leader Rudy Mueller, D-Lakewood, looks not to have submitted a petition for his District 18 seat. The only petition to have been submitted for District 18, which covers the village of Lakewood as well as a portion of the town of Busti, appears to have been submitted by Paul Wendel Jr. on the Republican line.

Today's edition of The Post-Journal featured an article about Scot Stutzman, I-Jamestown, choosing not to run for re-election. Only one candidate appears to have submitted petitions for his District 14 seat, Michael Haddad on the Republican and Conservative lines.

Former Ellicott Town Supervisor Pat Tyler submitted a petition for the Dist. 10 seat formerly held by Wally Huckno. Tyler ran against Mark Tarbrake for the seat two years ago and appears to be running against him again this fall, though now Tarbrake is the incumbent Republican candidate. Tarbrake submitted only a petition on the Republican line while Tyler submitted for the Democrat, Conservative, Working Families and Independence Party lines.

Petitions Filed By District:
Dist. 1 — Keith Ahlstrom (D)
Dist. 2 — Shaun Heenan (D, I)
Dist. 3 — Bob Duff (R, D, C, I)
Dist. 4 — George Borrello (R, C)
Dist. 5 — Jerry Park (R) and Rod Rogers (D, C, I)
Dist. 6 — John Runkle (R, C, I)
Dist. 7 — Bob Stewart (R, C) and Tamara Miles (D, I)
Dist. 8 — Tami Downey (R) and Thomas Erlandson (D, I, C)
Dist. 9 — Larry Barmore (R, C)
Dist. 10 — Mark Tarbrake (R) and Pat Tyler (D, C, W, I)
Dist. 11 — Vickeye James (D, I)
Dist. 12 — Lori Cornell (D, I)
Dist. 13 — Paula DeJoy (D, I)
Dist. 14 — Michael Haddad (R, C)
Dist. 15 — Bob Whitney (D, C, I) and David Wilfong (R)
Dist. 16 — Chuck Nazzaro (D, W, I)
Dist. 17 — Vince Horrigan (R, C)
Dist. 18 — Paul Wendel Jr. (R)
Dist. 19 —Jay Gould (R)
Dist. 20 — Fred Croscut (R, C)
Dist. 21 — David Himelein (R, C)
Dist. 22 — John Hemmer (R, C, I) and Frederick Bertrando (D)
Dist. 23 — Tom DeJoe (D, W, I)
Dist. 24 — Bob Scudder (R, C)
Dist. 25 — Billy Coughlin (D, I) and Michael Sullivan (R)

PRIMARIES:
If more than one petition is filed for a political party and the candidate is authorized or a party member, the Board of Elections will set a primary election for Sept. 13.

According to Green, it appears there are currently 13 primary elections to be held. The only primary so far for the County Legislature is District 8 on the Independence Party line. The last day to force a primary by way of an "Opportunity to Ballot" is July 28.

FURTHER READING:
~Most legislators intend to run again this fall.
~Babbage Will Not Seek Re-Election
~Richmond's RepublicanReplacement Candidate.
~Whitney To RunIn District 15.
~Outgoing legislators honored in 2009.