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WELLSVILLE -- Voters in Wellsville are being asked to select from two candidates for mayor in the Nov. 7 General Election.
The 1,792 registered voters have the option of incumbent Robert Boley (D), 69, 1235 Main St., or John J. Cataldo, 903 Riverside Ave.
Robert Boley
Boley, who currently serves as the mayor, is a 1971 graduate of Wellsville High School.
Boley started working at Mason's IGA in 1971. In 1981 he became the store manager, which is the position he held until the store closed in 1984. He went on to become a branch and district sales manager from 1984 to 2003. From 2003 until he retired in 2018, he served as the district sales manager at Tasty Kake/Wonder Bread.
He and his wife Debbie have three children and seven grandchildren.
Prior to becoming mayor, Boley served on the Wellsville Village Council for nine years from 1988 to 1997.
Boley has never lost a public office and has not been appointed to a public body.
Boley said he feels his qualifications for the position are leadership and decision-making skills.
He said he is seeking a second term in office to finish what he started.
He listed his three biggest accomplishments during his first term as the demolition of dilapidated buildings in the village, road paving and working toward the reopening of the marina.
Boley, who has never been convicted of a felony, said he feels voters should elect him because he makes decisions for what is best for the village.
John (Jack) Cataldo
Cataldo graduated from Wellsville High School in 1963 and then attended Youngstown State University for two and a half years, where he majored in history.
He worked at Crucible Steel and retired from Laborer's Union 809, Steubenville.
Cataldo is active in the community as a member of the American Legion and The Eagle's. He currently serves as the president of the Wellsville Revitalization Community, which has donated to the Wellsville Police Department and Garfield Elementary's Outdoor Learning Center and is responsible for the murals in town and the Imagination Park.
Cataldo, who has lived with his significant other Shelly for 41 years, is a father of three and he and Shelly are currently raising their great-niece.
He has served on the Wellsville Village Council for 16 years.
Cataldo has previously run as a candidate for the Wellsville mayor position and lost.
He was appointed to the zoning board.
Cataldo listed his qualifications for the mayor position as his previous council experience and knowledge of how the village should be run. He said he believes that having served on multiple committees makes him the most qualified candidate.
Cataldo said he is running for mayor to try to unite the people of Wellsville in the fight against drugs and vandalism. He said he believes the community needs to work together with the police department to accomplish this.
Cataldo said that, while not an incumbent for mayor, he is currently on council, a part of which he secured the grant establishing the marina, applied for and received the first DARE grant and continued that for 10 years and got legislation passed that allowed residents to get flood insurance.
Cataldo, who has never been convicted of a felony, said he believes he should be elected based on his past experience and his ability to listen and talk to other people.