Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel was sworn into office during a private ceremony Friday.

A former legislator and legislature chairman, Wendel, R-Lakewood, carried 72% of the vote in the Nov. 3 special election to fill the final year of George Borrello’s term as county executive.

The ceremony, typically held publicly the first of the year after an election, was private this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.