Published: October 19, 2007 11:08 pm      

ELECTION 2007: Erie County Legislature candidates tackle tolls

Republican Rus Thompson, running for the Erie County Legislature’s 10th District seat, said it’s time the Legislature reduced its size and implemented term limits.

“We need to cut down the size of the Legislature to nine seats,” Thompson said. “We don’t need 15 members of the Legislature when the population of the county is now under a million.”

Democrat Michele Iannello, who has held the seat for two years, said that cutting down the size of the Legislature would lessen the strength of the voters, and that her taxpayer protection legislation will save more money.

“My idea is to go after the professional service contracts that allow department heads to make contracts with no oversight,” Iannello said. “We’ve found proof of wrong-doing and patronage, and we should have the authority to do something. Right now, we don’t.”

In addition to sponsoring a law to allow the Legislature to cancel service contracts, Iannello sponsored legislation that would extend legislator’s terms to four years and limit both legislators and the county executive to three terms, but neither law came up for a vote in time to make it onto the ballot this year.

“You need eight votes to get anything done,” Iannello said. “But I have gained support in regards to term limits and I feel I’ll be able to get that passed by next year.”

Thompson, who has worked as a private contractor for more than 30 years, said he’d like to see the Legislature close all district offices, move them to a central location in Buffalo and reduce staff levels to cut costs. Iannello said she’s currently the only legislator without a district office for just that reason, and that since she has been a member, the Legislature’s staff has been cut in half.

After a recent Freedom of Information Law request, Thompson said he was left wondering where the $400 million the state earmarked for improvements to roads and bridges in Western New York went when the county received only $18 million. With all of that money, Thompson said it’s ridiculous to have residents paying tolls.

“The Democrats in the Legislature won’t question their Democratic assemblymen or senators on these issues because they work as a clique,” Thompson said. “They have an agreement that says ‘I won’t question you if you don’t question me,’ and that’s got to stop.”

Iannello said she doesn’t know exactly what documents Thompson is looking at, but that she also thinks forcing residents to pay both gas taxes and tolls is unfair.

“It’s an insult to the people of Western New York to have to wait to go across the bridge, wasting time and gas,” Iannello said. “It’s not about 9 cents or 75 cents for the toll. This is about double taxation. There should be enough money from the gas tax for the state to absorb the costs of the repairs to bridges and roads.”

Contact reporter Daniel Pyeat 693-1000, ext. 158.