How often is City Council elected?

The position of City Council is typically elected every 2 years.

What does it mean for an election to be partisan?

Partisan elections require candidates to declare a party affiliation, like Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or Independent.

What are the filing requirements to get on the ballot in New York?

No filing fee. Petition signature requirement: For candidates running for party nomination: 5% of enrolled voters of the party in the ward or 500, whichever is less; for independent candidates: 5% of the total number of votes cast for ward at the last gubernatorial election in the town or 1500, whichever is less

Where do I submit my candidate paperwork?

Submit paperwork to the County Board of Elections' office.

Where is the filing office?

207 Rock City Street, Suite 100, Little Valley, NY 14755

How can I get in touch with the filing office?

You can contact the filing office by calling 716-938-2400.

How do I get started running for City Council?

You can start running for City Council by checking to ensure you meet all filing deadlines and requirements. Next, you can prepare to file for office and start planning your campaign strategy. Get in touch with our team of campaign experts for help with any step of the campaign process!

Is there a primary or runoff election for this office?

The next election for City Council does not include a primary or runoff election.

City Council in Olean, Cattaraugus County, New York

Candidates for City Council

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Who's currently in office

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What this symbol means

Candidates and elected officials with this symbol took the GoodParty.org Pledge, promising to serve people first, independent of both major parties and big-money interests.

Are you ready for Olean's next election?

Get registered and ready to vote, whether in person or by mail.

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About City Council

About this position

Each Common Council Member functions to regulate and protect the interests of residents within their Ward, and is authorized to introduce, adopt, amend or repeal local laws, ordinances, resolutions and regulations pertaining to property and government affairs within the City. Ward boundaries are established by the Common Council to best represent the demographics within the City, and are delineated primarily on Census information.

Office level: City
Election frequency: Every 2 years
Typical salary: $6821 / year
Commitment level: Part Time
Affiliation: Partisan
Positions: 1 open seat

Election type

Partisan election (party labels appear on ballots)
Run-off election

How to run for City Council

Step 1
Meet eligibility requirements
Must be a qualified elector of the city and a resident of the ward candidate seeks to represent.
Step 2
File for office
Filing requirements
No filing fee. Petition signature requirement: For candidates running for party nomination: 5% of enrolled voters of the party in the ward or 500, whichever is less; for independent candidates: 5% of the total number of votes cast for ward at the last gubernatorial election in the town or 1500, whichever is less
Filing period
May 19, 2026 - May 26, 2026
Paperwork instructions
Submit paperwork to the County Board of Elections' office.
Where to file
207 Rock City Street, Suite 100, Little Valley, NY 14755
Filing phone
716-938-2400
Step 3
Launch your campaign
A real campaign starts with a real plan. Get a custom campaign plan from GoodParty.org, personalized for your race and district.
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Need help? You don't have to run alone. Join the GoodParty.org Community to get advice from real independents who have run and won.

City Council in Olean, NY

On the ballot

Candidates for City Council

What this symbol means

Who's currently in office

What this symbol means

Are you ready for Olean's next election?

Check your voter registration

Find your polling location

Request a mail-in ballot

About City Council

About this position

Election type

How to run for City Council

Meet eligibility requirements

File for office

Launch your campaign

How to Run for City Council: Requirements, Duties, and Steps

2026 Political Campaign Playbook

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About this guide

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