John J. Gilmour
Democrat · IncumbentErie County Legislator, District 9, and Majority Leader
John J. Gilmour represents District 9 (South Buffalo, Lackawanna, Hamburg and Blasdell), has served since January 1, 2020 and is Majority Leader of the Legislature235. A South Buffalo native with a 2003 law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, he was an assistant district attorney and assistant corporation counsel before private practice, and is general counsel to the Buffalo police and firefighter unions and the Hamburg and Tonawanda police unions4. He faces Republican David M. Denz in 2026 and appears on the Democratic and Conservative lines1.
Where they stand 1 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Policing and crimeNo single answer fitslow
Official action · low confidence- A release on his official page says he cosponsored four resolutions affirming the Legislature's support for local, county and state police forces at a June session (release posted by February 2022). (2022-02) source
- Cast the only no vote (9 to 1) on March 13, 2025 against creating a committee of the whole to investigate an April 2024 incident in which a Sheriff's Office employee driving a county vehicle collided with several private vehicles, the settlements paid, and the handling by county and Buffalo police offices. (2025-03-13) source
No public position found on: Immigration, Election rules, Judges, Redistricting, Death penalty.
Record
- Majority Leader of the Erie County Legislature3; took office as District 9 legislator January 1, 20205.
- General counsel to the Buffalo Professional Firefighters' union, the Buffalo Police union, the Hamburg Town Police union and the Tonawanda Police union, and regional counsel to the New York State Police Investigators Association4.
- Voted no, in a 9 to 1 roll call on March 13, 2025, on Resolution No. 48 establishing a committee of the whole to investigate the April 2024 county vehicle incident involving a Sheriff's Office employee6.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.
Sources (7)
Every claim on this page links to one of these
- 2026 General Candidates List for Web (candidates by party line and district)Erie County Board of Elections
- Legislators (district offices and members)Erie County Legislature
- Leadership (Chair, Majority Leader, Minority Leader)Erie County Legislature
- Legislator John Gilmour (official district page and biography)Erie County Legislature
- John GilmourBallotpedia
- Session Minutes, Meeting No. 5, March 13, 2025 (Resolution No. 48 roll call)Erie County Legislature
- Session Agendas and Minutes, 2025 and 2026 (all meetings reviewed through Meeting No. 10 of 2026, May 28, 2026)Erie County Legislature