Article Photos

James Caflisch has announced his candidacy for re-election to a ninth term on the Chautauqua County Legislature representing District 21, which includes the Towns of Clymer, French Creek, Mina and Ripley. He is a member of the Republican Party and is also the endorsed candidate of the Conservative Party. Caflisch is currently the ranking member on the Administrative Services Committee which oversees the finance department, real property tax department, Board of Elections, County Clerk, County Attorney, information technologies, and human resources.

Caflisch has a strong record of fiscal conservatism and traditional principles for bringing transparency and accountability to County government.

"As I campaign in my district, more and more people say big government programs and spending is not the solution to our problems. I have supported over $20 million in spending cuts in the last 3 years at the County level. People should expect their government and its officials to be open and accessible," Caflisch said.

Caflisch has been the leading voice for many years to influence changes in New York's Real Property Tax Law toward a market value assessing approach which will offer fairer assessments and lower tax rates to property owners. One of Caflisch's accomplishments this year was to bring to light the tax collection agreements with the cities and the County to bring about a fair resolution for how the towns and cities are treated under the agreement.

"We need to make sure all parties are accountable for the actions they take with regard to fair assessments in each municipality," Caflisch said.

The rural areas need to be protected from the cost increases which could result from poorly planned consolidations.

"The mandates New York has put in place make consolidations more expensive than sharing services. Promoting shared services to reduce the duplication of services has had dramatic effects to maximize efficiency within the County's municipal workforces such as highways and fire services. We need to build on these successes," Caflisch said.

Sustaining our agriculture and small business owners is our number one priority. "Our farms and related small business are the backbone of our economy. We need to work together and fight the bureaucracies threatening to wreak havoc with excessive rules, regulations, fees and taxes," Caflisch said.

Recent actions at the State level to put further restrictions on farm operations will have a devastating effect if it isn't stopped.

Tourism is also making an important contribution to our local economy.

"Our area generates a substantial part of the bed taxes which need to come back to this area. Winter and summer recreation activities make a substantial contribution to this area and the County as a whole. I am working hard to actively promote all these activities and keep our visitors supporting area businesses," Caflisch said.

Caflisch has previously served on the Legislature's Public Facilities, Audit & Control, and Planning & Economic Development Committees. He has also served as the Minority Leader, Majority Leader, and Assistant Majority Leader. In addition, he has served on the IDA Board, Farmland Protection Board and Shared Services Committee.

Caflisch has served on the Findley Lake Watershed Conservancy Task Force and is also serving on the French Creek Board of Assessment Review and he serves on the Board of the Clymer Community Foundation. He is a member of Olive Lodge 575 F&AM, Jamestown Consistory, Ismailia Shrine, NRA, and the Corry Memorial Hospital Board of Incorporators.

Caflisch is a lifelong resident of the area and has been engaged in various small businesses. He lives on Marvin Road in French Creek with his wife, Kathy. He has two adult children and two grandchildren.