Trending
Kevin O'Connell has announced his candidacy for District 6 Chautauqua County Legislator representing the Town of Hanover. He has accepted the endorsement of the Chautauqua County Democratic Committee.
He previously served as a Hanover Councilman and County Legislator. In addition to his on the job expertise, O'Connell's qualifications include a degree in Political Science from Gannon University and years spent as a schoolteacher working in both alternative and special education.
A former small business owner, he has a history of community involvement with service organizations, church groups, and teacher's associations while serving in leadership roles throughout. He is currently on the Board of Directors of Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. where he serves as its chairperson.
O'Connell believes our community faces many difficult challenges. Among them are the dire need for property tax relief and the rising cost of infrastructure repair and maintenance. "We also need to improve our business climate, encourage appropriate development and reverse the trend of population loss to one of growth," he said. "We have seen job loss, higher taxes and many businesses leave Chautauqua County. We need to be positive about our ability to reverse these trends. We need to protect our lakes and waterways and focus on increasing the tourist draw they are. Our county legislature owes relief to its residents by streamlining government and bringing the size and scope of government more inline to our decreasing and aging population."
O'Connell believes "we need to be accountable to the people we serve and work hard to develop a close-working relationship between county government and the towns, villages and cities it comprises."
O'Connell currently lives with his wife Mary Fran in Hanford Bay and enjoys his time working at Holiday Valley in the winter and Tri-County Country Club in the summer.