Published: October 23, 2009 01:39 am      

ELECTION 2009: Candidates vie for Legislature seats

Orleans County Legislature hopefuls voiced their stance on several important issues in a candidate forum Thursday.

In a forum held by the League of Women Voters, the seven candidates for three open seats were asked questions about taxes, consolidation and other financial issues.

Candidates include Republican incumbent David Callard, Democrat William Jurinich and Working Party Harold Suhr for the Legislator at-large West seat. Callard is seeking his ninth term as legislator. He was opposed for the first time in 2007 by challenger Harold Suhr, who is again vying for the seat. Jurinich, a Lyndonville School Board member, is running for the first time.

Democrat incumbent Gary Kent and Republican Donald Allport are also again fighting for the legislator at-large Central seat. In 2007, Kent — who was a legislator in 2004 and 2005 — beat then-incumbent Allport by a 2 percent margin.

Also battling once more for the same seat are Republican incumbent Henry Smith Jr. and Democrat Thom Jennings for District 3 legislator. The district covers the towns of Albion and Gaines. Smith is seeking his fourth term.

With the election fast approaching on Nov. 3, many residents looked for answers on what should be done in the county. Each candidate was given a chance to respond to several questions from the audience.

On consolidation, each of the candidates showed their support for the issue.

“I’m all for consolidation,” Jurinich said. “I think it’s a must. It’s a large savings. In this township alone, we have four highways departments. That’s not really needed. I think in county government, there is consolidation yet to be done in the departments.”

Although each agreed that consolidation is a way to lower taxes, some stressed the difficulty of this process.

“It’s a slow process and it begins on the lowest levels of government,” Callard said. “We have made efforts on the county level and we’ve seen it on the assessment department, where Albion and Gaines assessment functions have been consolidated and we’re able to verify a savings. So it does work. In the meantime, we’re encouraging as much inter-municipal cooperation as possible.”

Candidates were also asked how they plan to keep taxes low in the county, aside from doing it through consolidation.

“I think close examination of the budgets,” Kent said. “I think when you ask people to sacrifice, you have to start at the top. That’s one of the reasons I was proposing a 22 percent pay cut for legislators. I think that sets a tone. It indicated the kind of position we’re really in, which is a grave situation, fiscally.”

Suhr referenced his 30 years of owning a business and the tough times he has faced over the years.

“If you don’t have the money, you don’t do it,” Suhr said. “If you don’t have the money to buy a new car you don’t buy it. But these clowns don’t think that ... Make out a list, you go down and cross out what you don’t need and what you can’t afford. We all do it at home, they can do it.”

Although several big issues were tackled, some small ones were questioned, as well. The candidates were asked why Legislature members should be reimbursed for the mileage involved in driving to a meeting, when an average citizen doesn’t get paid to drive to work. They were also asked about their support of non-profit agencies such as Arc of Orleans. Each of the seven candidates also explained why they feel they should be elected.

“I would ask your support to continue on working on some of the programs we’re working on in the county,” Smith said. “I work with some very talented legislators that bring a special skill set to the Legislature. I would like to have the opportunity to continue working with them. I think we’re trying and we are making it better for Orleans County residents to live, work and raise your family here. I believe if we can continue this, you will be happy at the end of the day.”

Jennings spoke about a man he had a conversation with while handing out pamphlets to voters.

“He looked at me and said, ‘Oh, It’s that time of year again,’ ” Jennings said. “I said, ‘What time of year?’ He said, ‘The only time of year I see you guys.’ I don’t want to be that guy that you only see come election time. I want to be the kind of guy that is wandering around the community and showing up at some events. Not because it’s a politically good thing to do, but because it is the good thing to do. You really have to be a public servant in this job, and I’m prepared to do that.”

Although many of the candidates were heated when they spoke about where the county needs to go, all agreed that change has to come and problems must be solved.

“When I was in the Legislature, I put my heart and soul into that job,” Allport said. “I took it very seriously. I firmly believe in the Constitution, the rule of law and capitalism. I believe in our system of democracy. What we need in New York is employment. We have the Great Lakes, we have green power from Niagara Falls and we have people here that are educated and willing to work.”

Republican incumbents George Bower, William Eick, Lynne Johnson and Kenneth Rush are also up for re-election, but are running unopposed and were not a part of the forum.

Contact reporter Rikki Cason at 798-1400, ext. 8227.