and Melissa Hale-Spencer

GUILDERLAND — The two Republican candidates for town board have challenged the Democratic candidates to debate.

In a letter to the Enterprise editor this week, Ed Glenning and Mike Donegan, the challengers, write that they would like three debates — one in McKownville, one at Town Hall, and one in Altamont.
"The debates will shed light on the qualifications and policies of those running and give voters meaningful opportunities to judge who will best meet their needs and aspirations," the candidates write.

They are challenging an incumbent on an all-Democrat town board. The incumbent supervisor, Kenneth Runion, also a Democrat, is running unopposed.
"I think, in the history of the town, there’s always been debates," Runion said Wednesday. "I think it’s a positive thing for the public and the voters."
He favors debate, he said, "as long as the rules are fair to both sides and there’s impartial party monitoring and sponsoring of the debates."
Of the Democratic town board candidates, incumbent Patricia Slavick and planning board attorney Paul Pastore, Runion said, "I could see no reason why they wouldn’t want a debate."
He added, "If I had an opponent, I’d encourage a debate."

"The American way"

Donegan told The Enterprise this week, "We felt there should be a way to get the issues out to the voters. It’s the American way....It opens the process. Several of us are newcomers to the political arena and not well known."
The Republicans suggested the three venues in different areas of town, Donegan said, because, "We wanted to spread it around so people would come out to hear."
He said the GOP would be open to the League of Women Voters or any other "neutral party" running the debates. He envisions the debates talking place in September or October. As far as details on scheduling and running the debates, Donegan said, "We’ll hash that out with our opponents."
He concluded, "The debates will be good for Guilderland. People will see where we stand."

Currently, the town supervisor, all four council members, the receiver of taxes, and the clerk are Democrats. This is the fifth year that the town has been dominated by Democrats. For nearly 200 years, it was Republicans who controlled town government.

About a third of Guilderland voters are enrolled as Democrats, about a third as Republicans, and about a third are enrolled in small parties or not in any party.

For town justice, long-time Republican incumbent Steven J. Simon is being challenged by assistant town attorney Denise Randall, a Democrat.

The Republicans have no candidates for town supervisor, clerk, and receiver of taxes. Democratic incumbents Runion, Clerk Rosemary Centi, and Tax Collector Jean Cataldo are running unopposed.

Debate disagreement

In the 2003 town election, a debate disagreement arose between Runion and his opponent, Republican Anthony Esposito. A week before the election, Esposito sent a letter to The Enterprise, Runion, and 450 Guilderland residents demanding a debate.

Runion responded that there was a debate in McKownville the week before, but Esposito didn’t show up. Tony Cortes, the Republican party chair, was there, along with every town Republican candidate, Runion said at the time, except for Esposito.

Esposito countered that this was not a formal debate; it was simply a meet-the-candidates event organized by the McKownville Improvement Association.

Esposito said at the time that he knew it was too late in the race for a debate, but he sent the letter just to inform the public that he wanted one.

Debates were held in 2001, when Esposito also ran and lost against Runion for supervisor.