The Chautauqua County Republican Committee says the recent departure of Vince DeJoy from his seat on the County Legislature raises "serious questions" about transparency, accountability, and the future of representation of District 9, which includes part of the City of Jamestown. DeJoy's name is still on the Democratic line for the district in the upcoming election following his resignation earlier this month to take a new job in North Carolina. County Democrats recently announced that they have asked retired legislator Charles Nazzaro to commit to serving District 9 should DeJoy win his race. The Republican Committee issued a statement, which reads in part:
With DeJoy remaining on the ballot due to the timing of his resignation, county Democrats are asking voters to accept a "Vote for DeJoy is a Vote for Nazzaro" arrangement to install Charles Nazzaro for the remainder of 2026. But what happens after January 1? There is no guarantee that Nazzaro will remain in the seat, leaving voters at the mercy of party insiders and backroom political decisions. The same party insiders who celebrated when Nazzaro retired from the legislature and his role as minority leader in 2023 and was replaced instead by new "loyal opposition." Even more troubling, DeJoy's move to North Carolina was an open secret for months. In August 2026, DeJoy was seen campaigning for local candidates at Hickory Nut Gap Farm in North Carolina and was subsequently quoted by North Carolina-based newsroom Cardinal & Pine as a resident of Henderson County, North Carolina. Why were the voters of District 9 kept in the dark? And why did DeJoy wait until after concerned city residents brought this information into public view to officially resign?
The endorsed Republican candidate for District 9 is John Vogan. The GOP Committee says if Vogan is elected, he will "focus on attracting new businesses, creating more job opportunities for city residents, improving the management of homelessness, limiting the tax burden on residents, and making the cost of living more affordable throughout District 9 and Chautauqua County."
