From left are Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel, Anna Wilcox, county Conservative Party chairwoman; 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 at the event.

CELORON — Almost a decade ago, the Chautauqua County Conservative Party annual dinner was the one political gathering that knew no boundaries. Entering the 2015 event at the White Inn in Fredonia included a plethora of candidates who were seeking an endorsement from an additional line.

Many represented the right, but there also was a line of Democrats. In the end, the gathering looked almost as comprehensive as the November ballot.

This past Tuesday evening, however, the current division that is so prominent in our nation was just as evident in the ballroom location. Scanning the crowd of more than 130 in attendance at the Harbor Hotel, there were numerous prominent area and state Republicans — and barely any who go by the shade of blue.

It spoke to a couple of themes. First, our county is no longer split evenly amongst the major factions. A red wave is leading just about every municipality, which is reflective of most of rural America.

Second, reforms in New York state regarding how candidates register have affected a timeline that is dramatically different today than it was before 2019. Early voting has led to changes in the primary, which now takes place in June instead of September. Even the candidates have to declare their intent more than nine months before the official election day in November.

Though the calendar has been revised, the Conservative Party still carries a lot of clout in the region. Anna Wilcox, county chairwoman, oversees the event that is filled with energy.

Earlier this week, the party looked forward while saluting its past and present. Retiring state Assemblyman Andrew Goodell received the most attention for his seven terms representing the region in Albany. He also served a pair of four-year terms as county executive.

His introduction brought a standing ovation.

Goodell then discussed the major differences he has observed in the state capital during his 14 years. “I want to reassure you, that when you cut through all the verbage and all the rhetoric, you’ll find that often there’s more similarity than you might expect,” he said. “So let me give you some examples where the Conservative Party and the Liberals agree.”

Goodell then offered a short pause.

“I’m thinking,” as hearty laughter ensued. “So often we agree on what the issue is, we just disagree on the solution.”

He outlined ongoing topics that include a housing crisis and the environment. In both cases, he noted, state government too often gets tough on the private sector in trying to deal with these important issues. It ultimately leads to higher costs that will get passed on to the residents and taxpayers.

In terms of the greenhouse gasses, Goodell spoke of the frustration school districts are facing with the prospect of having to purchase electric vehicles. With the state currently importing a majority of its power — about 80% being from fossil fuels, natural gas and nuclear — it becomes a double whammy for property owners in terms of rates.

“If you triple the cost of school buses and cut their range so they can barely make one trip without a charge and have them charged by coal power imported from Pennsylvania, you’re not going to solve global warming,” he said. “But you will drive up school taxes and you will drive out families who are struggling to make ends meet.”

Goodell also shared credit with state Sen. George Borrello on getting New York back on its feet after shutting down due to the COVID-19 crisis in March 2020. It was a blueprint created by the two Chautauqua County officials that was primarily used by then state Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

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

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

Though successes were celebrated, there was an overwhelming sense of an uphill battle in the race for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Kirsten Gillibrand. Challenger Mike Sapraicone, a former New York Police Department detective, appears to be a victim of an ineffective state Republican party that is once again languishing under second-time Chairman Ed Cox.

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

That statement alone acknowledges the blue hue that drives New York state. Even in Republican-dominated Chautauqua County, there’s an understanding of Sapraicone’s long odds.

John D’Agostino is editor of The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 716-487-1111, ext. 253.