County

Chautauqua County Legislator

District 6

Vote for: 1
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The 19-member County Legislature adopts the county budget and local laws and oversees county government.

Candidates Compare by issue

Kevin O'Connell

Democratic, Working Families

Former Hanover councilman and county legislator; former teacher · Hanford Bay (Town of Hanover)

The gist

Supports property tax relief
Supports improving business climate to reverse population loss
Pledges to protect lakes and waterways as tourist draws
Proposes streamlining county government for a smaller population

More about Kevin

View sources (1)

Supports property tax relief
O'Connell running for county legislator
News coverage · OBSERVER (Dunkirk) · observertoday.com
“Among them are the dire need for property tax relief and the rising cost of infrastructure repair and maintenance.”
Supports improving business climate to reverse population loss
O'Connell running for county legislator
News coverage · OBSERVER (Dunkirk) · observertoday.com
“We also need to improve our business climate, encourage appropriate development and reverse the trend of population loss to one of growth”
Pledges to protect lakes and waterways as tourist draws
O'Connell running for county legislator
News coverage · OBSERVER (Dunkirk) · observertoday.com
“We need to protect our lakes and waterways and focus on increasing the tourist draw they are.”
Proposes streamlining county government for a smaller population
O'Connell running for county legislator
News coverage · OBSERVER (Dunkirk) · observertoday.com
“Our county legislature owes relief to its residents by streamlining government”

Thomas Harmon

Republican, ConservativeIncumbent

Chautauqua County Legislator, District 6 · Silver Creek

The gist

Pledges to put local county needs over national politics
Supports responsible budgeting and economic development
Voted against sending public-comment limits back to committee

More about Thomas

View sources (2)

Pledges to put local county needs over national politics
Legislator Harmon seeks re-election
News coverage · OBSERVER (Dunkirk) · observertoday.com
“My primary goal as an elected official is to prioritize local county needs over national political polarization”
Supports responsible budgeting and economic development
Legislator Harmon seeks re-election
News coverage · OBSERVER (Dunkirk) · observertoday.com
“I have consistently worked across the aisle to support responsible budgeting, economic development, and essential public services.”
Voted against sending public-comment limits back to committee
County May Limit Public Comment At Legislature Meetings
News coverage · The Post-Journal · post-journal.com
“Tom Harmon, R-Silver Creek; Travis Heiser, R-Clymer; John Penhollow, R-Stockton;”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 4 issues covered in this race.