This is my reply to questions that all candidates had to answer, posted on the front page of the Tonawanda News..
I picked up alot of votes last night and am told I am clearly the winner in that debate. I got the nod from the Executive Director of the Chamber, the chief of police and many in the audience..... : )
Your continued Prayers are carrying us through all this.. I Thank you all.
Thompson banks on business experience
Stacey Shepard
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Rus Thompson is not one to give up.
The Grand Island contractor hasn’t let the fact that he was passed up twice by the Republican Party’s endorsement ruffle his feathers. In fact, he plans to use it to his advantage.
“When Bill Naab dropped out of the race, they were scrambling to find someone to run against me,” Thompson said, of the party’s first choice candidate who declined to run.
The GOP then opted for Bruce Kaiser.
Thompson said he has a record of working equally with members of all parties, and that is something Republicans are uncomfortable with.
“Party politics: It is what’s destroying the county and destroying the 10th District,” Thompson said.
The following are Thompson’s responses to the Tonawanda News’ questions on Erie County.
Q: What qualifies you to be an Erie County legislator?
A: I am not a career politician, lawyer or political science major. I am a small business owner that knows first-hand how the high taxes affect the citizens of Erie County. I know how to manage a budget, cut costs, lower overhead and work with other people to accomplish and set goals, one thing that lacks with our current slate of legislators. I have been endorsed by former Erie County Comptroller Alfreda Slominski and she sees in me the ability to get things done and the wherewithal to do it. She is a valuable adviser to me in the midst of the current fiscal disaster we face in this county.
Q: Will you vote to raise property taxes or sales tax if elected? If yes, how would you justify another tax increase? If no, provide specific ways to tackle the projected multi-million dollar deficit in 2006.
A: Absolutely not. We are the highest taxed area in the country with a combined tax burden 42 percent above the national average. It is time to start cutting taxes including the extra (temporary) sales tax penny that has been voted on for some 17 years. We have been paying for the politicians’ mistakes and mismanagement for too many years. Now is the time to restructure county government, start the process of bringing the government back down to the local level closer to the people where the control should be. Tax increases are not inevitable as some have suggested. There is no reason to have layer after layer of government.
Q: Clearly, taxpayers are fed up with patronage in Erie County government. Are any patronage positions justified in your opinion?
A: No.
Q: Give three examples of the most pressing problems facing Erie County and your plan to fix them.
A: The inability of the current leadership to work together to solve the problems facing Erie County. Their inaction has driven us further into debt, and have done nothing to address the $130 million deficit facing us for 2006.
Erie County has the highest taxes in the entire country, yet we’re in a perpetual state of economic depression. Chicago has a population of 8 million with a government workforce of 7,000. Erie County on the other hand, has a population of 936,000, and a workforce of 9.000. Clearly, government here is too large.
Albany controls too much of the economy. When I am elected, I will call for two volunteer citizens’ review panels: one that will review every job in the county, and if and why they are mandated by Albany; the other to review the pay rates of all county employees, including elected officals. In order to get this county back on track, we have to lower taxes, cut costs, overhead and fine-tune the bloated bureaucracy. We must work together and speak with one voice to reign in the dysfunctional Legislature in Albany. Medicaid costs have become an increasing burden on us all, and we need reform and restructuring of the Medicaid system. It is Albany’s duty to represent all the people in this state, not just downstate.
Then this is about the debate, Tom Troy is running a primary against Iannello, (both democrats) and he had a couple of melt downs and started attacking her, holding up this picture. HAHAHA!!I did everything I could to contain myself. He went overboard but he tied her to the corrupt administration that is in power. He did me a favor..
Prods and props: Big primary field makes for interesting debate
Stacey Shepard
Thursday, September 08, 2005
A quick tongue and sharp wit are the hallmark of most political debates. But props?
That’s what Democratic Erie County Legislature hopeful Tom Troy pulled out during a primary debate between candidates for the 10th District seat Wednesday night. Four candidates for the county seat — two Democrats and two Republicans — and five City of Tonawanda mayor candidates — three Republicans and two Democrats — pitched their ideas on running government during the contest hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas.
While referring to his opponent, Democrat Michele Iannello, as a candidate entrenched in the political machine, Troy pulled out a blown-up photo of Iannello hugging Erie County Democratic Committee Chair Len Lenihan. He then pointed out they were both wearing shirts that said “Giambra,” referring to Erie County Executive Joel Giambra.
“Michele is painting herself as a fresh face, but she’s also tied into the Giambra administration. And I’ll give you some proof of this,” Troy said. “This is the person who has put her up. This is Len Lenihan. Zero in on this and notice that Giambra shirt.”
Iannello — who has been involved with the Erie County Democratic Committee for more than a decade, including when Giambra was still a Democrat — responded by saying: “ I’d just like to clarify that I am an independent candidate. And that my interests are in the best interest of the voters. I have been working independently.”
The episode was one a few colorful moments of the evening, which was one of the most well-attended debates the chamber has hosted, according to the chamber’s Executive Director Kurt Alverson.