What To Look For In Next Week’s Primary

Image by AD Simko/WNYNewsNow.

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY – There is one week until the June 25 primary election. WNYNewsNow’s political team is breaking down some of the top races from across the region.

One of the biggest races of the night will be between Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello (Irving) and Allegany County Board of Legislators Chairman Curtis Crandall (Belfast) for  New York State’s 57th Senate seat Republican nomination.





The two are scheduled to face off in the first live-streamed debate this week. The debate, moderated by WNYNewsNow News Director Justin Gould, will be streamed LIVE on WNYNewsNow’s 24/7 streaming network, mobile app, and Facebook page Thursday, June 20 at 7 p.m.

New York’s 57th State Senate District consists of Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany Counties and seven towns in Livingston County. The two are part of a special election to fill the seat vacated by former New York State Senate Cathy Young, who took at job in the private sector earlier this year.

The second biggest race to keep an eye on is between Jamestown City Councilman At-Large Andrew Liuzzo and Chautauqua County Legislator Dave Wilfong, who are vying for the City of Jamestown Mayoral Republican nomination.





















Pictured left to right: Jamestown City Councilman Andrew Liuzzo and Chautauqua County Legislator Dave Wilfong. File images by Justin Gould/WNYNewsNow.

Liuzzo, a one-term City Councilman At-Large, announced he would seek the mayoral office in February. The Jamestown native is pushing for less government, more community interaction and transparency.

Wilfong, also born and raised in the city, is currently a three-term Chautauqua County Legislator for District 11 in Jamestown, the chairman of the Chautauqua County Republican Party and a Chautauqua County State Republican committeeman. He seeks to bring manufacturing jobs back to Jamestown and plans to balance the city’s operating budget.

Another big City of Jamestown race to watch is between longtime City Ward II Councilman Tony Dolce and challenger Raven Mason-Thompson.

Dolce, a teacher at Jamestown High School, is the Finance Chair for City Council. Dolce also sits on the Strategic Planning and Partnerships Commission, along with the Jamestown Local Development Corporation.









Mason-Thompson, an educator herself, is looking to “bring fresh blood” to government, running on a platform that seeks transparency and more community interaction.

The final big race to watch is between current Town of Carroll Supervisor Laura Smith and challenger Russell Payne. Both are eyeing the Republican Party’s nomination for Town Supervisor.

Smith, who works at Frewsburg Central School, has been the town supervisor for the past two years.

Payne, a former educator and detective with the Jamestown Police Department, is not new to politics as he ran for Chautauqua County Sheriff in 2014.

Polls across Chautauqua County will be open from noon to 9 p.m. next Tuesday.

New York State has a closed primary system, meaning only registered party members can vote only in their own party’s primary.

For example, registered Democrats can vote in Democrat primary elections and registered Republicans can only vote in Republican primary elections.

Those registered as independent can not vote in New York State Primary Elections.

WNYNewsNow will host LIVE election results starting at 9 p.m. next Tuesday, June 25 on WNYNewsNow’s 24/7 streaming network, mobile app, and Facebook page .

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