OBSERVER file photo The Jamestown City Council is pictured during a summer voting session.

Some familiar faces and new names make up the 251 candidates vying for 207 local positions across Chautauqua County who — for some reason — want to be responsible for decisions that impact taxpayers in the coming years. While no major federal, state or county positions are up for grabs, there are plenty of important races coming in November.

In the Chautauqua County Legislature, 11 of 19 seats are contested. Two of those unopposed are Legislators Susan Parker of Fredonia in District 4 and Terry Niebel in District 5, both of whom are often active and outspoken.

In the two cities of Dunkirk and Jamestown, all positions — with the exception of one for Jamestown council incumbent Anthony Dolce — are facing challenges. Though the races in the population centers could get interesting, there are no stars running for mayor.

In the county’s largest municipality, Kim Ecklund, who currently serves as a council at-large member, is battling incumbent Eddie Sundquist for the top spot. After decades of decline, Jamestown is not even running in place. That, by some accounts, would be a positive result.

Over the last 15 years, the city has seen a rebirth in portions of the Second, Third and Fourth streets area. With an ice arena and the National Comedy Center, there’s an energy to build around that includes a theater district and upbeat Third Street.

Those improvements, it must be noted, were not driven by those elected and in City Hall. It was driven by funding from foundations and New York state.

Currently, city office holders have yet to find the right tools in making a plan for the future that could take downtown to the next level. That’s not just on the mayor, but also the council, which has consistently shown it believes a safer path is the status quo, which has been destructive while discouraging private and outside investment.

Whoever is the top vote getter needs to do more than be a face who shows up at events and fundraisers. They need to take charge.

That same quality is needed in Dunkirk, where outgoing Mayor Wilfred Rosas has been in a constant battle with Common Council during his second term. As he prepares to leave office, he can look back on some accomplishments. Some of these include upgrades at the water treatment plant, which has been the emphasis for the North County Water District, as well as improvements to the Dunkirk Pier, Wright and other city parks.

But just like Jamestown, the downtown is suffering. Central Avenue — from Lake Shore Drive to Sixth Street — is a shell of what it once was in the 1970s and ’80s. Manufacturing, however, has shown a bit of a comeback with Refresco, Wells Ice Cream and Nestle Purina and Americold, which are in the town but closely border the city.

Vying to fill Rosas’ shoes are newcomer Kate Wdowiasz, who is the city paralegal, and David Damico, councilman at-large. Neither appear to have the charisma — or visibility — the current mayor brings to the position. That being said, no matter who is victorious, they need to bring some urgency that Rosas has displayed through most of his tenure.

Here are some other interesting notes before the campaign season begins:

¯ THE REMATCHES — Political party hopper Don Williams Jr. is aiming to win his First Ward seat back in Dunkirk in challenging incumbent Natalie Luczkowiak, who won in 2021. Two years ago, Williams left the city and county Democratic party while stabbing those who supported his past campaigns in the back. Williams, on actions alone, is a candidate who would rather look out for himself than constituents. In 2021, he was the ringleader to use $300,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to give himself — and other city employees — a one-time bonus of more than $2,000.

In Dunkirk’s County Legislature District One, incumbent Kevin Muldowney again faces Marcus Buchanan, who has more signs displayed throughout the city than prominent law firms have in Buffalo. Muldowney, a Republican, has a history of going with the flow. Buchanan may be one who can shake up a stagnant Legislature.

¯ LIFESAVER vs. WINEMAKER — Recently, Democratic candidate Braiden McElhaney was able to save a life using CPR techniques as an off-duty security officer at Chautauqua Institution. His opponent for District 19 county legislator Fred Johnson is an excellent businessman who co-owns Johnson Estate Winery. At the moment, McElhaney’s campaign is much more vocal than Johnson. In the end, Westfield will have new representation in this post.

¯ LITTLE RESISTANCE — Michael Ferguson, who ran for county executive against George Borrello in 2017, is in line to be the next village of Fredonia mayor. In a commentary piece in June, the candidate noted that those elected locally need to quit taking sides. “The best governments are those that know they are on the same side, working for their constituents. Let the Big Dogs of government argue whose party is right and whose wrong,” he wrote. “At this level of government, we’ve got work to do. And I hope we can carry the ball across the line for our constituents this November, ‘all of them!’ ”

Chautauqua County is struggling as population continues its downward path. Leadership, from the top office, is sorely lacking unless we’re rebranding the moneypit of public transportation.

Maybe someone in this group of 251 will stand up and take note of a continued decline. Showing up to meetings after being elected is just not cutting it.

John D’Agostino is the editor of The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 716-487-1111, ext. 253.