With Less Diversity, Conservatives on the Right Track

From left: Chautauqua County Executive P.J. Wendel, Anna Wilcox, chairwoman of the county’s Conservative Party; state Sen. George Borrello, Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, Lisa Goodell, Rick Slagle of the Conservative Party and Andrew Molitor, candidate for state Assembly. Goodell was honored for his service to the county during the event.

CELORON — Nearly a decade ago, the annual Chautauqua County Conservative Party dinner was the one political gathering that knew no boundaries. The 2015 event at the White Inn in Fredonia featured a slew of candidates seeking support from a different stripe.

Many were on the right, but there was also a Democratic line. In the end, the gathering looked almost as comprehensive as the November election.

But last Tuesday night, the current divide that is so evident in our country was just as evident in the location of the ballroom. Scanning the crowd of more than 130 people at the Harbor Hotel, one could see many prominent area and state Republicans — and almost none who were a shade of blue.

It addressed several issues. First, our county is no longer evenly divided between the major factions. The red tide is leading nearly every municipality, reflecting much of rural America.

Second, reforms in New York state’s registration process have affected the timeline, which is dramatically different now than it was before 2019. Early voting has led to changes to primaries, which are now held in June instead of September. Even candidates must declare their intentions more than nine months before the official November election day.

Although the calendar has changed, the Conservative Party still has a strong influence in the region. Anna Wilcox, the county’s leader, oversees the high-energy event.

Earlier this week, the party looked to the future, paying tribute to its past and present. Outgoing state Assemblyman Andrew Goodell drew most attention for his seven terms as a county representative in Albany. He also served two four-year terms as county executive.

His speech received a standing ovation.

Goodell then discussed the major differences he has observed in the state capital over the course of 14 years. “I want to assure you that when you cut through all the babble and all the rhetoric, you will find that there are often more similarities than you might expect,” he said. “So let me give you some examples of where the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party agree.”

Goodell paused briefly.

“I think,” followed by a hearty laugh. “So often we agree on what the problem is, we just disagree on the solution.”

He outlined current issues that include the housing crisis and the environment. In both cases, he noted, state government too often becomes heavy-handed toward the private sector in trying to deal with these important issues. Ultimately, this leads to higher costs that are passed on to residents and taxpayers.

In the context of greenhouse gases, Goodell spoke of the frustration school districts face at the prospect of having to buy electric vehicles. Because the state currently imports most of its energy — about 80% comes from fossil fuels, natural gas and nuclear — that becomes a double whammy for property owners in terms of rates.

“If you triple the cost of school buses and reduce their range to just one trip without paying, and then charge them with coal energy imported from Pennsylvania, you’re not going to solve the global warming problem,” he said. “But you’re going to raise school taxes and throw out families who are struggling to make ends meet.”

Goodell also shared with state Sen. George Borrello credit for getting New York back on its feet after the COVID-19 shutdown in March 2020. It was a project created by two Chautauqua County officials that was primarily used by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo.

“(When) he announced his reopening strategy … he used the same slides and photos that Senator Borrello and I had in our letter,” Goodell recalled. “So there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes than you might think.”

At the end of the evening, Goodell was honored by the event with the Founders Memorial Award, another reason for the crowd to cheer his work — and his representation of the region.

While there were celebrations of success, there was an overwhelming sense of uphill battle in the race for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Kirsten Gillibrand. Candidate Mike Sapraicone, a former New York City Police Department detective, appears to be a casualty of the state’s ineffective Republican Party, which is once again languishing under the leadership of second-in-command Ed Cox.

“It would be great if we could beat Gillbrand,” Wilcox said.

That statement alone confirms the blue hue that powers New York State. Even in Republican-dominated Chautauqua County, there is an understanding of Sapraicone’s long odds.

John D’Agostino is an editor for The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to [email protected] or call 716-487-1111, ext. 253.

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