Terry Niebel

Legislator Terry Niebel has announced his intention to run for re-election in Legislative District 5. This district is comprised of the towns of Sheridan, Arkwright, Villenova, Cherry Creek, and a portion of the town Pomfret. Legislator Niebel has accepted the nominations of the Republican, Conservative, Independence and Liberatian parties.

In accepting the nominations, Niebel expressed his appreciation for the support and noted that he “will continue his efforts to streamline county government by working towards reductions in spending, eliminating waste and striving for efficiency.”

According to Niebel, a leading proponent of property tax cuts the last five years, “tax stabilization should be an important part of the County’s overall fiscal policy — a fiscal policy meant to encourage our local businesses to grow, outside businesses to re-locate to Chautauqua County, and our people to stay and live here in the county.”

Since his election to the Legislature, Niebel has served on the sub-committees for Public Safety, Audit & Control, and Planning & Economic development. He serves on the Conewango Watershed Commission and is a member of the North County Water District. Previously he served on the County Airport Commission.

In legislative matters, Niebel led a successful effort to stop mandatory inspection of all homeowner’s septic systems, proposed the 5% reduction in property taxes adopted in the 2016 county budget, and wrote and introduced the resolution for the county’s Government Reduction Initiative (GRI), a county policy providing financial assistance to municipalities that combine, consolidate or dissolve.

In this past legislative session, Niebel helped obtain funding for the Sheridan Historical Society. He also sponsored legislation opposing regular driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants because of the possibility of voter fraud, and sponsored the resolution creating the Animal Cruelty Registrar, both measures unanimously passed by the Legislature.

The three-term legislator graduated from SUNY Fredonia where he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics. He then attended St. Bonaventure University where he received his master’s in business administration. Niebel served as the Chautauqua County Republican Election Commissioner for 28 years until his retirement in 2008. He was the longest serving Election Commissioner in the history of Chautauqua County.

Niebel is active in the community with his membership in the Sheridan United Methodist Church, where he serves as chairman of the administrative board. Currently, he is a member of the National Association of Realtors, the New York State Association of Realtors and a former director with the Chautauqua/Cattaraugus Board of Realtors. In 2013, Niebel was honored as Realtor of the Year, by the local board.

Past memberships also include the Sheridan Fire Department, the department’s marching unit, and the Moose Club.

Niebel and his wife JoAnn, are the owners of Niebel Realty, which was founded in 2002 and continues to be a small locally owned real estate company. They reside in the town of Sheridan on the family grape farm. They have three children, Stacy Weber, Justin Niebel and Lesley Niebel, and also two grandchildren.