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JAMESTOWN – A former candidate for the New York State Assembly will be running for a Jamestown City Council At-Large seat in November.
Jamestown native Christina Cardinale, who unsuccessfully ran against Republican Andy Goodell (Assembly District 50) last fall, announced her intentions during a City Democrat meeting Thursday night.
Cardinale, Jamestown City Zoning Board Of Appeals Chair Ellen Ditonto and Chautauqua Institution Director of Youth and Family Programs Alyssa Porter are the three Democrat candidates for At-Large seats.
WNY News Now asked Cardinale about what she can take away from her campaign for the Assembly as she attempts to serve at the City level. She says that she knew that she wanted to make a difference for her hometown.
“When I was running during the State Assembly campaign, I was thrilled to be there, and I was so invigorated, and I was so excited,” Cardinale said. “But there was always this little voice in the back of my head that said, ‘What are you doing for the City of Jamestown? This is your home, this is where you’re from, this is where you spent your entire life.'”
“Now I get to answer that little voice that I’ve always had.”
Cardinale explains that the issues that Chautauqua County faces are very similar to the issues that the City of Jamestown, itself, faces. The Democrat specifically noted that infrastructure, public transportation and revitalization are three top concerns of residents that she’s talked to over the last year.
Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist, meanwhile, announced that Ward III and Ward IV Councilwomen Vickeye James and Marie Carrubba will be running again for their seats.
Doug Lawson, a computer specialist, will be running for the Ward V seat currently held by Republican Grant Olson. The City Republicans have yet to announce their candidates for City Council, so it is unclear whether or not Olson will run again.
Ward VI Councilman Tom Nelson (D) will also try to retain his seat this fall.
Current Democrat City Councilwoman At-Large Tamu Graham-Reinhart will not be running again for her seat.
Chautauqua County Democratic Elections Commissioner Norm Green announced during the meeting that District 9 Legislator Chuck Nazarro will not be running for an eighth term, with resident Billy Torres scheduled to run as a Democrat to replace him.
In addition, Green says that Hopes Windows Director of Marketing Heather Fagan will run for District 12 of the Chautauqua County Legislature. Republican Elizabeth Rankin currently holds the seat but, like in Jamestown, Chautauqua County Republicans have yet to announce their list of candidates for this fall.
Incumbents Bob Whitney (District 11) and Paul Whitford (District 13) will be running to hold their seats, according to Green.
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