On January 3, 2020, County Executive Paul “PJ” Wendel Jr. was the first Chautauqua County Executive to be appointed by the County Legislature, when he was selected to fill part of the remaining term of the former county executive. He was then successfully elected into the position during the November 2020 election and re-elected again in November 2021.
Prior to being elected as the County Executive, Mr. Wendel served as District 18 County Legislator for 8 years. In 2000, he was hired at Falconer Central School District as the Boys’ Physical Education Teacher and then appointed as Assistant Principal at Temple Elementary School.
County Executive Wendel serves on the Board of Directors of the County Executives of America (CEA). County Executive Wendel was re-elected to a 6-year term on the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC), where he serves on the Mental Health/Public Health Committee. He was also appointed to the New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal (NYMIR) Board of Governors, where he serves on the Planning and Development Committee.
In 2023, PJ earned certification from NACo’s Professional Development Academy’s National Leadership Board, completing their High Performance Leadership Academy originally taught by General Colin Powell.
For 33 years, he's volunteered as a firefighter with the Lakewood Volunteer Fire Department. PJ lives in Lakewood with his wife, Jennifer, and their two children, Sydney and Bohdan.
During his State of the County address on Wednesday night, Chautauqua County Executive Paul M. Wendel Jr. celebrated the remarkable 50-year legacy of executive governance while outlining an inspiring vision to GrowCHQ that aims to enhance community well-being across Chautauqua County.
Wendel began his address with a heartfelt acknowledgment of the progress made over the decades. "It is truly an honor to be one of only ten individuals to hold this position in Chautauqua County," said Wendel, asserting, “To coin a phrase from 1975: Chautauqua County is alive in 2025!”
In his address, Wendel highlighted essential achievements from the past year, showcasing strategic investments aimed at economic growth, infrastructure, and community well-being. [read more]
