ELECTIONS: Local contests fill the ballot
Tuesday is Election Day.
While there are hundreds of county residents who have taken part in either early voting or cast an absentee ballot, Tuesday is the day when the majority of local residents will go to the polls to cast their ballot for town, city and county offices.
Precisely because no federal or state offices are on the ballot this year, today’s election affects you more directly in your day to day existence than any other. These are the levels of government that provide the services that affect you every single day in one way or another through things like police and fire department staffing in the city, handling of neighborhood issues, animal control, road maintenance — including plowing snow in the winter. Perhaps most importantly, the ballots you cast Tuesday influences the level of government that imposes property taxes and that will take your home if you don’t pay them.
To those who have voted at one of the county’s early voting sites or who cast an absentee ballot, thank you for doing your civic duty and participating in the electoral process. The races on the 2025 November election ballot are about local government, local services and local taxation.
Don’t just talk about politics. Don’t just listen to complaints about government and taxes. Do something about it by casting your ballot.
Just as a reminder, here’s a list of our local endorsements as you head to the polls.
— STATEWIDE PROPOSITION AMENDING THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO PERMIT NEW SKI AND BIATHLON TRAILS IN NORTH COUNTRY — Yes.
— CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY EXECUTIVE — PJ Wendel.
— CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY CLERK — Greg Carlson
— DUNKIRK PROPOSITION TO ELIMINATE CITY TREASURER — Yes.
— CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY LEGISLATURE DISTRICT 3 — Robert Dando.
— CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY LEGISLATURE DISTRICT 6 — Tom Harmon
— FREDONIA VILLAGE BOARD — David Bird and LeeAnn Lazarony.
— DUNKIRK COMMON COUNCIL WARD 2 — Frank Torain.
— DUNKIRK COMMON COUNCIL WARD 4 — Mike Civiletto.
