Submitted Photo The Chautauqua County Legislature has adopted the above 19 legislative district plan. It will go into effect Jan. 1, 2024.

MAYVILLE — Chautauqua County lawmakers feel 19 legislative districts is the proper number, and they’re not interested in having the public vote on their decision.

During the July county Legislature meeting, lawmakers voted 14-3 establishing a 19 district legislature, the same size as it has been for the past 10 years. All the Republican legislators voted in favor, while all the Democrats voted against it. Legislators John Penhollow, R-Stockton, and Paul Whitford, D-Jamestown, were absent.

After the 19 district plan was adopted, a resolution to have it go to the public as a referendum vote failed with the three Democrats voting in favor and the 14 Republicans voting against it.

A Reapportionment Commission was formed earlier this year to create the new district maps. The Republican commission members created a 19-member district, while the Democratic members created a 17-district map. The two plans were forwarded to the full legislature for review and final approval. Due to changes in the census, the legislature is required to adjust the districts. Ten years ago, the legislature went from 25 to 19 members.

Before the votes, various residents and politicians spoke touting the plan they backed and why.

Democratic Commission member Sandra Lewis said the county Legislature should reduce its size since the population has dropped. “We had a reduction in Chautauqua County. I think it was around 7,200, so we thought it would be good if we could reportion Chautauqua County into 17 districts,” she said.

Republican Commission member Larry Wilcox argued that the 19 member district plan is better because it cuts fewer towns, doesn’t force unnecessary primaries, and for the first time in in the county will create a “minority/majority district” in Dunkirk where less than 50% of the residents are white.

“An argument could be made that you’re attempting to dilute minority representation (in the 17 member plan),” he said.

Mary Croxton with the Chautauqua County League of Women Voters echoed similar statements made by Lewis, regarding population loss. “We need to be more efficient and cost effective as a county government. Maintaining the same number of legislative districts with all of the technical and economic challenges that we have taken place and are expected to take place over the coming decade is not efficient or cost effective. Chautauqua County residents and taxpayers cannot afford the status quo,” she said.

Legislator David Wilfong, R-Jamestown, said he believes the 17 member plan would be more advantageous for him personally but feels that it divides certain neighborhoods in the city, so he opposes it. “The new district boundaries did not take into account the racial fairness of the black communities District 3-1 and District 3-2 in the city of Jamestown. The 17 legislature plan has people living on Jefferson Street and Lafayette Street in the city of Jamestown being horseshoed up into a predominantly white area like Celoron and Ross Mills, where white residents have a numerical advantage at the polls,” he said.

According to the adopted local law, the revised 19 districts will go into effect Jan. 1, 2024. Those running in November 2023 will be for the revised districts. Detailed maps of the new districts are available at chqgov.com/legislature/legislature.