CATTARAUGUS COUNTY
Legislature caucuses vote early on leadership
LITTLE VALLEY — The Republican and Democratic caucuses of the Cattaraugus County Legislature filled their 2009 leadership slates a few weeks early, voting during separate closed-door meetings Wednesday.
Leaders of the majority Republican caucus will not change. Returned their posts for another year are Legislature Chairwoman Crystal J. Abers, R-South Dayton; Vice Chairman Michael T. O’Brien, R-Portville; Majority Leader James J. Snyder, R-Olean; Assistant Majority Leader Jerry E. Burrell, R-Franklinville; and Majority Whip E. James Ellis, R-Cattaraugus.
Democrats elected a new Minority Leader, Vergilio “Dick” L. Giardini, D-Allegany, who has twice filled the spot in previous years. He replaces Minority Leader Linda L. Witte, D-Olean, who said she agreed to step aside to give Giardini one more year as minority leader before his term ends at the end of 2009.
Assistant Minority Leader William E. Sprague, D-Yorkshire, and Minority Whip Kenneth “Bucky” W. McClune, D-Salamanca, were re-elected by the Democrats, who occupy eight seats of the 21-member Legislature.
Witte said all the legislators agreed to choose caucus leaders before the Jan. 5 re-organizational meeting, after County Administrator Jack Searles suggested there will be a busy time in January, when lawmakers expect to be faced with some tough decisions due to the possibility of state budget cuts.
Abers said she will discuss her 2009 goals and announce her committee assignments at the Jan. 5 session, balancing the service preferences of each legislator with work schedules, geographic representation and other factors. She described 2008 as a very good year, noting that almost half the legislators were newly elected.
“I think they’ve fit in very well, and we have a very good working relationship with each other, and I look forward for that to continue next year,” she said.
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