Published: October 28, 2009 12:20 am      

OUR VIEW: City of Tonawanda council endorsements

Rarely is there a lack of issues to discuss in the City of Tonawanda and the 2009 election cycle is no different. We questioned all candidates on a number of them to see how answers stacked up. We asked about assessments, the future of the Little League Drive property and Spaulding Fibre’s potential future uses, among other issues that are more ward specific.

In most cases we found candidates to be well-versed on these citywide topics.

Here is our ward-by-ward analysis:

First Ward

Charles Gilbert (R) and

Colleen Perkins (D)

Perkins and Gilbert make for an interesting race. Perkins has shown herself to be a studious public servant. She asks questions and has been an authentic and credible taxpayer advocate over her two terms on the council.

Gilbert brings a strong private sector background and an impressive amount of civic involvement, particularly in the school system.

On the issues, Gilbert was highly engaged and informed, something we’ve come to expect more from an incumbent. On the important issues surrounding land use and the school district, Gilbert rightly calls for a more deliberate process. He is skeptical — as are we — that this is the right time to be building luxury homes on the Little League Drive property given current economic conditions. On this issue, Councilwoman Perkins was noncommittal.

On assessments, we found agreement: both candidates support the city’s efforts to defend itself against a lawsuit by River Edge homeowners and both believe the assessment process was fair.

Perkins offered credible skepticism of the money that would be needed to build a hockey arena on the Spaulding Fibre site. Gilbert liked the idea, pending a traffic analysis.

On balance, both are strong candidates. We offer the nod to Charles Gilbert. This council could use members with a new perspective.

Second Ward

Blake Boyle (R) and

Gary Waterhouse (D)

Both men are known quantities in the City of Tonawanda. Waterhouse, a longtime school board member, challenged Boyle two years ago and defeated the incumbent. This time around, Boyle looks to turn the tables.

When asked about his accomplishments on a council where his presence seems often overshadowed by larger personalities, Waterhouse points to two initiatives: A raising of the veterans property tax exemption and approval of a “Buy American” resolution when spending stimulus money from the federal government. Both are fine accomplishments, though we must admit neither was the stuff legislative dreams are made of. Those two issues aside, we found it difficult to distinguish Waterhouse’s efforts from the council as a whole.

When we learned Blake Boyle would be seeking his old council seat back we were intrigued. His previous time on the council had garnered him a reputation as a combative hot-head. Before we even asked him about it, Boyle addressed the issue head-on. He admitted the faults in his prior conduct and pledged to be a more thoughtful critic if given a second chance.

Boyle was the most vocal of candidates in any ward in favor of fighting the River Edge assessment lawsuit, saying the city should “stick by its guns.” We agree and moreover, we think Boyle has turned a corner and will be a less rigid representative this time around.

We take him at his word that he’ll tone it down. With that, it became an easy choice to endorse Boyle’s bid to return to the council.

Third Ward

James Kossow (I, C, WF),

Dale Peter (R) Richard Slisz (D)

This is the only ward race in the Twin Cities to feature three candidates after Slisz defeated Councilman James Kossow, a registered Democrat, in the party’s primary.

It is also one of the most contentious ward races given the hullabaloo over the city’s 2008 reassessments, which hit residents of this ward particularly hard.

Slisz is a sizable figure in this debate. He owns a home in River Edge and is a leading figure in the residents’ legal battle with the city. He believes strongly that the assessments in that neighborhood are far too high. Slisz has turned the issue into a political windfall, riding the River Edge vote to a tight primary victory over Kossow, who stands behind the process and had the courage to tell residents of his ward he thought they were wrong.

We commend Kossow for making what was clearly a tough political decision. It may well cost him the election, but it shouldn’t.

Dale Peter is the Republican in the race. He’s had an impressive background in the local business community and has been an active member of several important civic organizations. Unfortunately, though, we found his engagement of the issues to be lacking.

If there was an obvious choice in any of these wards, this was it. James Kossow deserves another term and we strongly urge voters to find his name on a minor party line. Kossow was right at last week’s debate when he questioned whether Slisz would be running had his home’s assessment not increased. We have little doubt that Slisz is a single-issue candidate seeking this council seat at least in part for personal gain. We hope voters recognize that and make the right decision.

Fourth Ward

William Poole (D) and

Steve Sommers (R)

With Councilman Rick Davis seeking the mayor’s office, this is the lone ward in the city where residents are guaranteed a new face. It will be either Bill Poole or Steve Sommers.

When evaluating them it became quickly apparent that we were dealing with two political novices.

When we asked Poole during his endorsement interview about Little League Drive, he had no opinion, saying he “hadn’t studied the issue yet.” As a candidate for alderman, it begs the question: when might it be a good idea to give the issue some thought?

On that topic, Sommers said he believed the school board needs to decide the district’s needs before the city can make its decision about Little League Drive.

On the topic of Spaulding, again, Poole was noncommittal. Sommers matched that lack of specificity. Both expressed support for the Clean Air Coalition’s fight against Tonawanda Coke, though neither man’s support appears as though it would have much of an impact on the overall debate.

After spending time with both men, we came to the eventual conclusion that Steve Sommers was more engaged with the issues facing the fourth ward — though he’s still got a long way to go. With that in mind, we endorse Sommers for the seat.

NOTE ON THE PROCESS: Candidates for elective office were invited to 30 minute individual interviews with the paper’s editorial board. These interviews in addition to the context gleaned from coverage of campaigns and ongoing issues relevant to voters were considered in making these endorsements. A particular party affiliation is not a qualification for the paper’s endorsement.