LITTLE VALLEY - Will Republicans be able to maintain their longstanding control of the Cattaraugus County Legislature in the Nov. 6 election?

With two-thirds of the 21 county legislators seeking re-election in the Nov. 6 election, there is a chance Democrats will repeat their 1992 to 1993 control of the Legislature - the only time in history Republicans did not control county government.

Republicans control 12 of the 21 Legislature seats. There are also seven Democrats and two Conservatives. Six Republican lawmakers, all seven Democrat legislators and one Conservative legislator are seeking re-election.

Five legislators are prohibited by a term limit law from running again. Barred by term limits are three Republicans, Majority Leader Jon Baker of Olean, Elliott Ellis Jr., of Cattaraugus and Gary Felton of Machias, Democrat David Anastasia of Olean and Conservative Howard "Bud" Zollinger of Randolph. Two other Republicans - Dr. Paul Schafer of Olean and Thomas Moser of Portville - did not seek re-election.

Republicans have fielded candidates in all but one seat - in District 7, where Democrats Dick Giardini and James Boser are both seeking re-election. Michael Stayer is the only Republican candidate in the district, which includes the town of Allegany except Knapp Creek. In District 1, Legislature Chairman Crystal Abers, Republican of South Dayton, is unopposed for re-election to a third four-year term.

County Republican Party Chairman Jerry E. Burrell of Franklinville, who is also a county legislator from District 5, stops short of predicting a Republican win, but points to recent successes in the Republican-controlled Legislature and the quality of candidates as evidence of the party's intent.

"It's up to the voters to decide," Mr. Burrell said. Republican candidates, he said, are working hard. Republicans hold a significant enrollment edge over Democrats.

His Democratic counterpart, Daniel McCandless, also of Franklinville, puts his party's chances of taking 11 seats, a majority, at better than 50-50.

"We 're going to run hard," he said. "My prediction is that it will be 11 to 10 either way. It's a coin flip."

Mr. McCandless said it would be difficult for Democrats regain control of the Legislature without four legislators from Olean.

"I'm confidant we'll get three in Olean; we may get four," he said.

The only incumbents running in District 10 are Democrats Linda Witte, minority leader, and Michael McLaughlin. Alderman John Padlo, Guy Bennett and Frederick Scicchitano round out the Democratic legislative ticket in District 10 which includes the city and town of Olean and the Knapp Creek area of the town of Allegany.

Republican candidates in District 10 are James J. Snyder, a former Legislature chairman; Steven Teachman, Mary Kehoe Fay, George Pancio and William J. Aiello.

Democrats, he said, are looking to pick up seats in traditionally Republican Districts where there is a seat without an incumbent seeking re-election.

"I think we've got a shot in the district with Portville and a shot in District 5, where Republicans didn't field a candidate from Ellicottville," he said.

"There's only one incumbent running in District 3, and one of our candidates is the Randolph fire chief," Mr. McCandless said. There's a five-way race for two seats in that district, where former legislator John Zimbardi of Little Valley is waging a fight on the Conservative line.

Mr. McCandless is also looking at the District 2 seat being vacated by Republican Elliott Ellis Jr. of Cattaraugus, who until recent years was a Democrat.

Mr. McCandless also thinks Democrat Mark Ward of Great Valley, a longtime Great Valley fire chief and currently the Olean City Schools superintendent, will win in the four-way race for the seat in District 8, where incumbent Charles Krause is running as a Conservative. Jeffrey Zariczny of Great Valley is the Republican candidate and Richard Chase of Kill Buck is on the Independence Party line.

Mr. Burrell said there don't appear to be any countywide issues, but a series of local issues candidates are hearing about.

Mr. Burrell said he is concerned over the loss of experienced legislators under the term limits provision that limits legislators to three four-year terms."We've governed as I think the public expected us to," he said. "We've made good decisions and we've stuck by those positions."

He noted the Legislature has been somewhat harmonious over much of the past four years. Most budgets have passed with bipartisan support.

"The bottom line is that people expect us to make good decisions," Mr. Burrell said. "I'm not sure they are looking for entertainment. They're looking for accountability and responsibility from the people they send to Little Valley."

Following are the candidates for Cattaraugus County Legislator. Key: D = Democrat, R = Republican, I = Independence, C = Conservative, and x = incumbent.

District 1 �“ Vote for one (towns of Dayton & Perrysburg)

(x)Crystal J. Abers, South Dayton, R,I,C.

District 2 �“ Vote for two (towns of East Otto, Leon, Mansfield, New Albion, Otto and Persia)

Mark A. Schindler, Gowanda, D,C.

Hobart M. Rhinehart, Cattaraugus, D.

(x)James Ellis, Cattaraugus, R,I,C.

Patrick J. Murphy, R,I.

District 3 �“ Vote for two (towns of Coldspring, Conewango, Little Valley, Napoli, Randolph and South Valley)

John W. Hale, Randolph, D.

Phylis J. Williams, Randolph, D.

(x)Norman L. Marsh, Little Valley, R,I,C.

Robert E. Neal, Sr., Randolph, R,C.

D. John Zimbardi, Little Valley, I.

District 4 �“ Vote for one (town of Yorkshire)

(x)William E. Sprague, Yorkshire, D,C.

Gina M. Gasper, Delevan, R,I.

District 5 �“ Vote for three (towns of Ashford, Ellicottville, Farmersville, Franklinville, Freedom and Machias)

Charles F. Hebdon, West Valley, D, Working Families.

Dale E. Scurr, Franklinville, D,C.

Carol A. Fisher, Ellicottville, D.

(x)Jerry E. Burrell, Franklinville, R,I,C.

(x)Charles W. Couture, West Valley, R,I.

Donna M. Vickman, Farmersville, R,I,C.

District 6 �“ Vote for two (towns of Hinsdale, Humphrey, Ischua, Lyndon and Portville)

Eva M. Taggerty, Portville, D,I.

Betty J. D'Arcy, Olean, D.

(x)Michael T. O'Brien, Portville, R,C.

Joseph C. McLarney, Portville, R,I,C.

District 7 �“ Vote for two (town of Allegany districts 1,2,3,5,6,7)

(x)James L. Boser, Allegany, D,I,C.

(x)Vergilio "Dick" L. Giardini, Jr., Allegany, D,I, Working Families.

Michael D. Stayer, Allegany, R,C.

District 8 �“ Vote for one (towns of Carrollton and Great Valley)

Mark J. Ward, Great Valley, D, Community First Party.

Jeffery P. Zariczny, Great Valley, R.

Richard W. Chase, Kill Buck, I.

(x)Charles G. Krause, Great Valley, C.

District 9 �“ Vote for two (City and Town of Salamanca and Red House)

(x)Carmen A. Vecchiarella, Salamanca, D,I, Working Families.

(x)Kenneth W. McClune, Salamanca, D,I, Working Families.

Howard M. Peterson, Salamanca, R,C.

Julie L. Hamacher, Salamanca, R,C.

District 10 �“ Vote for any Five (city and town of Olean and town of Allegany District 4)

Guy A. Bennett, Olean, D, Working Families.

(x)Michael F. McLaughlin, Olean, D,I,C.

John J. Padlo, Olean, D,I, Working Families.

Fredrick M. Scicchitano, Olean, D, Working Families.

(x)Linda L. Witte, Olean, D,I, Working Families.

James J. Snyder, Olean, R,I,C.

Steven H. Teachman, Olean, R, Lincoln Party.

Mary Kehoe Fay, Olean, R,C.

George Pancio, Olean, R,I,C.

William J. Aiello, Olean, R,C.

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