GUILDERLAND — Republicans and Democrats are having a debate — about whether the candidates for town board will publicly debate each other.

Ed Glenning, one of two Republican candidates for town board, wrote a letter to the Enterprise editor this week, inviting his Democratic opponents to a debate on Oct. 12.
He wrote that Guilderland’s Democratic Party chairman, David Bosworth, had earlier said that the Democrats would not debate. Bosworth is also a town board member, although he is not up for re-election this year. Some members of the Republican Party refer to him as "Boss Bosworth" and say that he controls the other board members.
"The voters must ask themselves the question, if Mr. Bosworth micro-manages his candidates this much during the campaign, how much micro-management will be done if they elect a Democratic candidate"" Glenning wrote.

He went on to say that the Republicans have reserved a room, for next Wednesday, at the Guilderland Public Library.
"We invite the Democratic candidates to be present and debate us in the spirit of open and equitable election practices," Glenning wrote.

Glenning and the other Republican candidate for town board, Michael Donegan, wrote a letter to the Enterprise editor in August, asking for a debate, but with no specific time and place. Democratic Supervisor Kenneth Runion, who is unopposed, said then that he couldn’t see why the Democratic candidates wouldn’t debate.

Tuesday, Bosworth responded through The Enterprise that, next Thursday, Oct. 13, the McKownville Improvement Association is holding a "Meet the Candidates" night, as it has the past several elections.

While this isn’t an official debate, Bosworth said, residents are given an opportunity to ask questions of all candidates who attend.

The Democrats aren’t opposed to a debate, he said, but, if invited to one, would need time to get organized and set rules both parties can agree on. He added that he doesn’t control any Democrats.

Bosworth went on that, at sundown on Oct. 12, Yom Kippur begins, which he called the holiest day in the Jewish year. It’s not appropriate to hold a debate then, he said.

Glenning responded that the Republicans have been trying to get the Democrats to debate for a while. Oct. 12 is the only day a room is available at the library, he said.

If Bosworth feels strongly about Yom Kippur, Glenning said, the Republicans will be happy to agree to a televised debate at Town Hall on a different day.
But, he said, "This is just another stall tactic." The Democrats know they’d lose a debate to the Republicans, so they are afraid, Glenning said.
"We’re out of time," Glenning said. "The election is Nov. 8. The residents deserve to hear from the candidates in a structured debate."

Earlier conflict

In the 2003 town election, a debate disagreement arose between Supervisor 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.