By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — Mayor Bill Aiello will seek a fourth term in 2025.
The mayor said after delivering his State of the City Address on Thursday that he intends to announce his re-election plans soon.
“I didn’t think this (State of the City Address) was the right place to make the announcement, but yes, I’m running and I plan to announce it officially soon,” Aiello, 72, told the Olean Star following Thursday’s reorganization meeting.
The State of the City Address is a list of accomplishments made by city government and what challenges remain to
Aiello was a retired Olean Police Department Juvenile Officer when he served two terms on the Cattaraugus County Legislature from 2005-2013. Her served on the Olean Police Department for 32 years.
In November 2013, Aiello, a Republican, defeated incumbent Mayor Linda Witte 1,564 to 1,303. Four years later, Aiello turned back a challenge by Witte, a Democrat, by a wider margin, 1,854 to 1,284. In 2021, Aielo defeated challenger Dr. Gary W. Harvey Jr., who ran on the Working Families and United People parties, by a nearly three-to-one margin.
The state’s 2025 Political Calendar shows nominating petitions circulating from Feb. 25 to April 3, which is the last day to file petitions.
As in 2021, no Democrat has yet announced plans to challenge Aiello as he seeks re-election to a fourth four-year term.
If re-elected and Aiello serves out his full term, he will tie the late William O. Smith for the longest-serving mayor in the city’s history with 16 years of service. Smith served eight two-year terms from 1970 to 1985.
