By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – WBFO presents another report in its series on this year's election. One of the most hotly contested races is for legislator of Erie County's 10th district. The legislative seat is one of three targeted by the County Executive for a possible Republican takeover.
Click the audio player above to hear Joyce Kryszak's full story now or use your podcasting software to download it to your computer or iPod.
Anyone who loves a good political back story has plenty to dig into with this race. Michele Iannello and Kevin Hardwick are not political rookies. The two-term incumbent, a former Kenmore trustee, is married to Erie County Democratic Elections Commissioner Dennis Ward. Her brother-in-law, Daniel Ward, is up for re-election to the Amherst Town Board. Iannello said she doesn't mix family and legislative business.
The 10th district challenger has his own kind of political relationships to explain. Hardwick ran for this seat twice before. He lost both times. The second time was after forcing a Republican primary with Charles Swanick, which Hardwick did win. But the short-term victory didn't make him very popular with his party. Still, all politics being temporary...Hardwick said this time he has the full blessing of the new County Executive. Hardwick said Chris Collins asked him to run
Largely with that support from Collins, Hardwick has made this a tight race. Winning the Independence party line gave him an extra edge. And, now a new controversy is costing Ianello's support from the Working Families party. The Buffalo teachers union leader called for pulling its support after allegations that Ianello wanted two black party campaign volunteers removed. She denied the charges, saying her objections had nthing to do with the volunteers' race. Ianello said she is proud of the support she has gotten from the Working Families party and unions.
Ianello said Collins wants Hardwick elected because he would be a rubber stamp for the county executive in the legislature. Hardwick said he will back Collins - if he agrees with him. Here's where the politics gets really interesting again. In his interview with WBFO, the political science professor talked a lot more about Collins' predecessor. And Hardwick said he is still a big fan of Giambra's regionalism agenda.
He said municipal cooperation will be crucial when the stimulus money runs out in 2011 and the county has to deal with a more than one hundred million dollar deficit.
Both Hardwick and Ianello called the prospect scary, horrific and terrifying. Both said tough choices would have to be made. But neither gave many specifics. Iannello said voters should pass her taxpayer protection referendum. The law would give lawmakers more power over contracts. Iannello pushed for the law after a $90,000 contract for a Collins owned company almost slipped through.
But Hardwick said the law would create a Tammany Hall. He said contractors would be making campaign contributions to guarantee approval of their contracts, or hiking prices to offset the risk of having contracts cancelled.
The two candidates also disagree over taxes. Iannello would roll back last year's tax increase. Hardwick said not while there is a looming deficit. Iannello said Hardwick likes to raise taxes. She said he did it about fifteen times while he was a City of Tonawanda alderman. Hardwick said they have both voted for tax increases. He admits it. He said she doesn't.
Hardwick said he would work to lower legislators' salaries, and give $7,500 of his pay to charities in the meantime. Iannello said he can afford to because he has another full-time job as a professor at Canisius. Iannello said she is dedicated to serving constituents full time - and wants the chance to keep doing that.
But Hardwick said he is no stranger to public service. He said that is why he made the tough decision to give up his political radio talk show and being a political analyst, so that he could run.
Friday we continue our series with a report on the legislative race between Democrat Robert Reynolds and Republican candidate, Lynne Dixon.