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Handful of local races in Chautauqua County

While most voters heading to the polls are focusing on federal, state or even countywide races, there are a handful of local elections for select communities.

There are two county legislator posts on the ballot — one in Dunkirk and one in Jamestown.

Zachary B. Agett and Kenneth J. Lawton are both running for the District 10 seat, which was vacated when PJ Wendel was appointed interim county executive. Lawton has been in the position and is running on the Republican and Conservative lines. Agett is running on the Democratic line.

In Dunkirk, Kevin Muldowney and Phillip A. Collier are both running for District 1. Muldowney has been the county legislative representative for the last five years, however he resigned on Feb. 28 and was reappointed to the seat on March 25. He resigned in February because he was retiring from his position with the state senate, where he worked for 32 years. He also had stepped down at the Pomfret assessor. “In order to retire, I also had to have a break in service from the legislature and from my town job,” Muldowney said in late March.

Currently Republicans hold a supermajority on the county legislature, with a 14-5 ratio. If both Democratic candidates were to win, the Republicans would still hold the majority, but lose its supermajority status. Occasionally legislation requires two-thirds of the legislature in order to pass, particularly to override the county executive.

There are two other contested races in the county. In Fredonia, EvaDawn Bashaw and John Sedota are both running for village trustee. Bashaw is running on the Democratic and Working Families lines, while Sedota is running on the Republican line. Michael Cerrie is running unopposed for village justice. In Brocton, there are three candidates — Carol A. Horlacher, Craig Miller and Mark Belcher — running for two trustee seats. Horlacher is backed by the Democratic Party, Belcher is backed by the Republican Party and Miller is backed by both parties. The two highest vote-getters would win the election.

There are 20 other uncontested races in Chautauqua County. In Arkwright, Jane Lindquist is running for town clerk. In Busti, Douglas Brown is running for town council. In Carroll, Tamera Gustafson is running for town justice. In Mayville, Benjamin Webb and Richard Syper are both running for two trustee seats. In Cherry Creek, Kristin Sercu is running for town justice. In Clymer, Leonard Neckers Jr. is running for town council. In the town of Dunkirk, Robert Hubbard is running for town justice. In Ellery John Ferrara is running for town justice. In Bemus Point, David Lipsey and Theodore Farnham are both running for two trustee seats. In Celoron William Burley is running for village trustee vacancy, while Norman Mattison and Kate Burnett are running for two trustee seats. In Falconer, Kipp Reynolds is running for village trustee. In French Creek, Dennis Cooper is running for town justice of Mina and French Creek. Also in Mina, Martin Proctor is running for town council. In Kiantone, Richard Landman Jr is running for town council. In Silver Creek, Marvin Cummings and William Barnes are both running for two trustee seats. In Panama, William Schneider is running for mayor, while Todd Eddy is running for trustee. In North Harmony, Howard Peacock is running for town justice. In Ripley, David Hustead Jr. is running for town justice. In Sherman, Benjamin Nickerson is running for town council. In Villenova, Daniel Distasio is running for town council.

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