Chautauqua County will have a new sheriff for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century come next January 1st...
In a major upset on Election Day, Republican challenger Jim Quattrone defeated Democratic incumbant Joe Gerace by just under 3,000 votes-- 22,14 to 19,126. During his victory speech at GOP Election Night headquarters in Celoron, Quattrone thanked everyone who helped him and, says he looks forward to working with the men and women in the department.
Quattrone worked with of those employees through 2017, when he retired as a Lieutenant from the department after 30 years. He later talked being able to run a "clean" campaign with Gerace that was based on the issues and, was very much "door to door." Quattrone was endorsed by employee groups, and the county Police Chief Association. He says he'll take a little time off before starting the transition into office.
Incumbant Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace was very disappointed with his loss Tuesday after winning six consecutive elections as the county's top-cop...
However, Gerace was also gracious in defeat, noting that he has worked hard as sheriff for the people of the county for 24 years.
Gerace praised his family for their support down through the years in running for office and, performing his duties as Sheriff. He says they have "sacrificed tremendously" during his entire career. Gerace says he has always run clean, issues oriented campaigns, and never would have done otherwise. He was surrounded by family members at Brazil Restaurant and Lounge when he gave his concession speech.
While there was a "blue wave" across much of New York state on Election Day, there was a lot of "red" that was victorious in Chautauqua County Tuesday...
150th District Assemblyman Andy Goodell cruised to victory in his race against Democrat Judith Einach. Unofficially, the Jamestown area Republican received 28,133 votes to Einach's 12,621. Local Congressman Tom Reed won over Tracy Mitrano and, State Senator Cathy Young ran unopposed.
Reed defeated Mitrano in Chautauqua County, 59-to-40 percent and, carried the entire 23rd Congressional District, with just over 53-percent of the vote to Mitrano's 44.5-percent. Mitrano's only win was in left-leaning Tompkins County. While winning state-wide, Governor Andrew Cuomo lost Chautauqua County to Marc Molinaro, 60 to 35-percent.
There were some contested races locally in the county on Tuesday...
In Mayville, Democrat Ken Shearer, Junior is the new Mayor... defeating Republican Rick Syper, 297-to-259. The results are unofficial. Four candidates ran for two seats on the village board. One was won by Democrat Tim Jacobson with 297 votes,while Republican Eagle Harrington got the other with 251 votes.
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In the town of Portland, three people ran for two town justice seats. One was won by Daniel Thompson with 825 votes, while Tom DeJoe won the other with 653 tallies. Michelle Patterson was third with 552.
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There was a tie in a run-off for a vacancy on the Villenova Town Council Tuesday. Democrat John Robinson, senior and Republican Yvonne Park both tallied 190 votes. That race will be determined by absentee ballots.
Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, of New York, has defeated Republican challenger Chele Farley to win re-election to the U.S. Senate...
Gillibrand was heavily-favored in Tuesday's election and has been talked about as a potential presidential candidate in 2020. At a recent debate, Gillibrand pledged to serve her entire six-year Senate term. Gillibrand was appointed in 2009 to the Senate seat vacated when Hillary Clinton was nominated secretary of state. She rose to prominence in the MeToo movement last year when she was the first Democratic senator to publicly call for fellow Democratic U.S. Sen. Al Franken to resign amid sexual misconduct allegations.
The High Wind Warning for Chautauqua and Erie Counties expired earlier this morning, but, there will still be some windy weather through the day today....
That from the National Weather Service... which says the areas closest to the Lake Erie shoreline would see the most wind. Meteorologist Jim Mitchell at the Buffalo office says the warning was issued due to safety concerns.
Mitchell says a storm system passing to the northwest of the area is causing the strong winds. Sustained winds today will be 20 to 30 MPH, with gusts up to 40 through the afternoon.
A Cattaraugus County teen faces child endangerment charges for allegedly letting a 15 year-old drive his car in Little Valley Monday afternoon...
Sheriff's Officers say 18 year-old Dalton Wilson -- of Salamanca -- was arrested following a traffic stop on Fair Oak Street. A 14 year-old and 16 year-old were reportedly in vehicle at the time. Wilson was given an appearance ticket for Town of Little Valley Court at a later date.
A 31-year-old man has been charged in a weekend shooting at a northern New York nightclub where five people were wounded, four of them soldiers from Fort Drum...
Police in the city of Watertown say the shooting occurred around 1:20 a.m. Saturday in the fenced-in outdoor area at Club Rio. Officials say four people hit by gunfire were taken to a local hospital where they were treated and released. A fifth person was taken to a Syracuse hospital for treatment and then released. Police say they're still trying to determine what led to the shooting. Julio Landron-Sanchez was arraigned Saturday with assault and is being held on $50-thousand dollars bail. Prosecutors didn't know if he has a lawyer yet. Officials say four of the injured are assigned to nearby Fort Drum, home of the Army's 10th Mountain Division.
