SALAMANCA—Carmen Vecchiarella, a Cattaraugus County legislator at the limit of his term, threw his hat in the mayoral ring Monday, saying he will look to the people to choose a mayoral candidate in a Democratic primary race.

Vecchiarella, 60, spent four years in the mayor’s office and is ending a decade as a Democratic legislator from District 9. He will challenge Mayor Jeffrey Pond, who seeks a fourth term and has been endorsed by the Democratic, Republican, Independence and Conservative parties in the past.

“Salamanca started as a railroad town, and I am running on an R&Rcampaign platform. Rebuild Salamanca and Reduce Taxes. If elected, I pledge to rebuild our roads and bridges and to manage the city like a business to reduce taxes,” Vecchiarella said.

He recalled the period of 1998 to 2001 when the tax rate did not change and there was a $3.3 million surplus in the year he left office, and listed a number of economic development and community betterment projects under his belt. Later as a legislator, he added, he helped steer funding, grants and casino funds to the district.