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Ron Vahl, Town of Mina resident and former Town Council member, has announced his candidacy for District 21 County Legislator to represent the people of the towns of Clymer, French Creek, Mina and Ripley.

Vahl, a registered member of the Independence Party said, "I have been encouraged to run by Independents, Democrats, Republicans and Conservatives who say it is time for change in District 21 representation and putting an end to the do nothing gridlock in Mayville.

"Chautauqua County needs jobs - paying family supporting wages. Jobs must be the legislature's number one priority; we must reverse the job loss of the last 50 years, to turn around our population losses, stop the brain drain of our youth, and develop a larger tax base," he said.

"I have a plan for securing needed jobs: Operation Jobs - Chautauqua County, a community-based, private and public sector commission to brainstorm the future direction for Chautauqua County's job force. I will work for its adoption."

He went on to say he will be an advocate for residents, farmers and business owners of Clymer, French Creek, Mina and Ripley and all of Chautauqua County - not a party. "When elected your actions affect all county residents," he said.

Vahl served for eight years as the mayor of the Village of Sinclairville and was a Mina Town Councilman. He worked for a decade for the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development, as the coordinator of the Chautauqua County Small Business Assistance Service and the Southern Tier West Small Business Assistance Service, which served Cattaraugus and Allegany counties. He has been a resident of the Town of Mina over 25 years. He currently serves on the Mina Board of Assessment Review.

Vahl says he will work for fair and equitable property assessment. He will request appointment to the Planning and Economic Development Committee, and will ask the County Executive to make appointments to the vacant Chautauqua County Small Business Advisory Commission.

In addition to fair property assessments, Vahl said he wants to see state property tax laws changed to make them similar to California and Florida, states that grew in population, while New York experienced dramatic loss.

Many long-time property owners are at risk of losing their homes, due to the effect of "deep-pocket purchases" and "comparables" on assessments, Vahl said.

"We have no choice but to lower the cost of government. We must be vigilant that in seeking to reduce the size of the legislature, task consolidations and job force reductions, we don't reduce necessary services and access to our representatives, while not reducing taxes. The legislature must work more closely with our state senator and assembly members in monitoring state laws/mandates that impact our residents, farms and businesses, local governments, fire departments and school districts who are all getting hit with state mandates and resultant tax burdens."

Vahl is a past president of the Jamestown Jaycees. He was a 25-year member of the Chautauqua Region Chapter of the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. SCORE provided free counseling to the Southern Tier West Regions Small Business Owners.

He was appointed to the SBA's Region II Advisory Council, attended Three White House Conferences on Small Business, and several annual SBA Advocacy Division National "Conferences on Small Business Concerns for State Officials."

Vahl is a member of Ingjald Lodge, Independent Order of Viking, a 50-year member of Mt. Moriah Lodge F&AM, and is a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow. He was an active member of the Sinclairville Volunteer Fire Department for many years. He served on the Greater Chautauqua Federal Credit Unions Supervisory Board for 10 years and was president of the Chautauqua County Mayors Conference, and the Western NY Association of Villages.

Vahl resides in the Town of Mina with his wife, Muchell. They have four adult children and six grandchildren.

Vahl, a registered Independent, has also been endorsed by the Democratic Party, the Working Families Party and will be on their lines for the Nov. 3 election.