POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: On-air candidates

By Mark Scheer<br><a href="mailto:scheerm@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Mark</a>

October 18, 2008 11:45 pm

— Time Warner Cable subscribers in Niagara County who are unable to attend the upcoming candidates forum sponsored by the Niagara Falls Block Club Council’s will be able to hear what the candidates had to say on their local public access channel.
The candidate’s forum is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Niagara Falls Public Library.
The event will be covered by students from Niagara Falls High School for Our Schools Channel TV 21, the student-run local television station directed by media education director Rich Meranto. LCTV Operations Manager Richard Zapp said the Lockport public access station has agreed to air the debate on LCTV Channel 22 on the Time Warner Cable system in Niagara County. Scheduled to appear at the forum are: candidates for Niagara Falls City Judge Diane Vitello and Charles Pitarresi; Niagara County Sheriff’s candidates Jim Voutour and Ernest Palmer; and 138th State Assembly District candidates Francine DelMonte and Paula Banks-Dahlke.
In addition to airing the debate, Zapp said LCTV is making its production facilities available to candidates who would like to produce a 10-minute taped program for cablecast on LCTV 22. Each candidate’s program will follow a predetermined format that has been designed to provide a consistent presentation of campaign issues. The playback of these tapes will be in a rotation, with each candidate receiving equal time at various time-slots on LCTV 22.
Independence Party for Palmer
The Niagara County Independence Party will back Niagara Falls Police Chief of Detectives Ernie Palmer in next month’s sheriff’s election.
In a release issued by the party this week, Chairwoman Eileen Koszelak cited Palmer’s experience in law enforcement as the primary factor in the decision-making process.
Palmer has 26 years of law enforcement experience, including previous stints as chief of both the Niagara Falls and Youngstown Police Departments. Palmer also has the endorsement of the Niagara County Police Chiefs Association.
“Both candidates were pleasant individuals, but when looking at their respective resumes, there is no gray area; Palmer’s qualifications were far superior,” said Koszelak. “When reviewing the candidates’ credentials, we were actually quite surprised at the level of disparity in professional experience between the two candidates.”
Law enforcement backing
New York state Sen. George Maziarz picked up the endorsements of several law enforcement organizations this week.
The incumbent who faces a challenge from Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Grear in the 62nd State Senate District race received the backing of Council 82 of the New York State Law Enforcement Officers Union, the Police Conference of New York, the Western New York Police Association and the Monroe County Police Benevolent Association.
Contact reporter Mark Scheer
at 282-2311, ext. 2250