UB Law School alumnus and Democratic candidate for county executive Dan Ward met Republican incumbent Joel Giambra for a heated debate Tuesday night in O'Brian Hall.
Hosted by the Progressive Law Society and the Law School Republicans, the debate focused on Giambra's regionalism plan, his record in his first term as county executive and both candidates' ideas for economic development in Erie County. Nearly 200 people, mostly UB law students, attended.
Though he has held the county executive's office for almost four years, Giambra said his campaign presents an agenda of change.
"(The election) is about who has the vision, who is courageous enough or bold enough to entertain new ideas," Giambra said. "I believe I am the candidate who understands the need for change."
Giambra focused on regionalism during much of the debate, which is the coordination and consolidating of local government delivery systems in efforts to save money. According to Giambra, regionalism will stimulate the economy by saving the money needed to reduce property taxes.
Giambra pointed to his administration's success in consolidating Lancaster's village and town police departments, which he said reduced resident's taxes by 11 percent this year.
Ward, the challenger, works as a local attorney and serves on the Amherst Town Board. He attacked Giambra's claims that regionalism has saved money.
"I would say all these claims of change and success are overstated and, in fact, are minimal in number," Ward said. "This has not been a savings. This has been a fiasco."
Ward compared Giambra's tax policies with those of President George W. Bush, and said that Giambra pursued regionalism because, like Bush, he was beholden to the special interests.
"Mr. Giambra has been at the job for four years and what has this 31 percent real property reduction produced?" Ward said, comparing Giambra's policies to those of Bush, giving tax breaks to the rich. "Look at the state of the national economy, ladies and gentlemen. It's a bankrupt philosophy and it's not going to work."
Ward threw down the gauntlet early. In his opening remarks, he accused Giambra of involvement in criminal misconduct within the Erie County Highway Department.
Ward called on Giambra to confess to his role in the scandal and lamented that the results of the investigation would not be available before next Tuesday's election.
Giambra said the FBI found no misconduct in the department.
The candidates faced two questions each from five UB students -- two from the Progressive Law Society, and one each from the Law School Republicans, the College Republicans and the College Democrats. One Canisius student also served on the panel.
Steve Boyd, formerly a news anchor at WKBW-TV Channel 7 and currently a practicing attorney in Amherst, moderated the debate.
Third-year law student Kevin Kelly, president of the Progressive Law Society, invited Ward to the debate and introduced him to the audience.
"I would say we're glad to have him back at his alma mater," Kelly said.
The debate was significant because Giambra agreed to only one other major debate, according to Jeff Bono, Ward's campaign manager. Bono was optimistic about Ward's performance.
"If the election goes as well as this debate, we're looking at a new county executive," Bono said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
