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Robert "Bob" Bankoski announces his candidacy for re-election for his seventh term as the District 2, Chautauqua County legislator. He has received the endorsement of the Democratic Party, the Working Families Party, the Dunkirk Labor Council and the NYSCOPBA Union.
He has been a resident of Dunkirk for over 62 years and it's where he and his wife have raised their three children. His wife, Tammy retired from the School of Music at the State University of New York at Fredonia, their oldest daughter Taylor, graduated from JCC and SUNY Fredonia, their son Gunnar, graduated from JCC and their daughter Quinn, graduated from JCC and SUNY Fredonia.
In addition to owning and operating his own businesses for more than 30 years, he was employed by NYS Department of Corrections retiring after 26 years. He also retired from the U.S. Army Reserves, was the past DPW Director for the city of Dunkirk, past Highway Superintendent for the village of Silver Creek and worked as a CARTS driver. He is also a certified high school baseball, basketball, and softball official.
As a volunteer, Bankoski is dedicated to the city of Dunkirk as well as the youth in the community. He is currently the president of the Chautauqua County Men's Senior Baseball League, has been a director of the Dunkirk Little League for 20 years, was on the City of Dunkirk’s Zoning Board of Appeals for 20 years, is a 30-year member of Dunkirk Hose Co. 1 and sat on the Dunkirk school board for six years.
As well as being a member of many social and veteran clubs in the area, he has held, and currently holds various offices such as president, vice president, treasurer and financial secretary within those organizations. He coached Little League baseball and softball for many years and was a baseball, softball and basketball coach at Northern Chautauqua Catholic School as well as a basketball and assistant softball coach at Dunkirk High School.
He is currently a member of the Lake Erie Management Committee, Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. board of directors, and the North County Water District. He also sits on the Chautauqua County Public Safety Committee.
"We are facing a critical time for the North County in 2027 and we need a legislator who is willing to make the necessary and difficult decisions. I want to see economic growth and development in Dunkirk, and I understand that in order to do that we must hold the line on our spending and reduce the property taxes," he said. "We must make our area desirable for business and industry to locate here. I will work with my fellow legislators and county officials to make Chautauqua County a place to Live, Work and Play!