Whose Debt Is It? Council Candidates Debate

Several audience members rose from their seats and yelled as Councilman Pat Vetere spoke out about debt he says has crippled the town's finances over the last several years.

After outlining his support of fellow Democrat Joan Walsh's administration during his opening statement in Tuesday's League of Women Voters debate, Vetere threw the blame at opponent and former Mayor/Supervisor Steve Malfitano (R) during his last statement of the night.

"They were all his budgets," Vetere said, holding up a copy of the of the town finances released last December. "State comptroller says it right here, most of these budgets, and we're having these deficits, it belongs to Steve Malfitano."

That same issue was just an hour earlier, when Malfitano appealed that advertisements sponsored by local Democrats mischaracterize just who is responsible for Harrison's debt and tax increases over the last few years. Democrats say it was overspending by the Malfitano administration, Republicans say debt was created by a recession that cut away at revenues out of the town's control.

Vetere made his thoughts clear during the evening's closing statement.

"He's blaming somebody else," Vetere said, before his voice was drowned out by chatter in the audience.

The statement created a stir, and highlighted one of the biggest issues between the council candidates: Was it policy or the recession that created the hard times in Harrison over the last several years?

Malfitano, who served as Harrison supervisor from 2002 to 2007, made his thoughts clear as well, saying it was an eroding tax base and sales tax base that hit the town during the first year of the Walsh administration (his final budget was used during Walsh's first year in office). The former supervisor went on to say that if taxes are up 35 percent while spending has returned to 2007 levels, it's revenues—not spending—that are to blame.

"Our revenues have imploded," Malfitano said, "revenues that we can't control."

Malfitano, who called finances the "800-pound gorilla in the room", went on to explain that the attacks on past spending are just a distraction from the lack of leadership the town has experienced over the last few years.

"We had a stellar reputation and we've lost it," Malfitano said in his opening statement. "We can be a great community, we've got to focus on fixing problems."

The audit, which is suddenly a hot-button issue after it was quoted in advertisements and literature in town, came down hard on Harrison's budget practices from January 2008 to November 2009. But Democrats point out that the total audit period covered January 2005 to April 2010, which includes both the Walsh and Malfitano administrations.

Earlier in the forum Vetere, who has faced questions about his health throughout the last few months, also shot back against some rumors that have been circulating about him.

"The reports of my health have been generally exaggerated," Vetere said, quoting author Mark Twain. "I did not have a stroke or a heart attack, nor do I have an illness or condition that would prevent me from serving as councilman for a seventh or eight term."

Harrison voters will select two of the four candidates invited to Tuesday's debate for office. Incumbent Fred Sciliano (R) and challenger Howard Hollander (D) stuck mostly to their own leadership qualities while addressing the audience. Sciliano touted his experience with the town council, West Harrison Neighborhood Association and construction background as assets to the board.

He voiced support for his Republican team, citing leadership and experience as a way to restore Harrison's image moving forward.

Hollander, a self-proclaimed outsider to town politics, highlighted his leadership skills as an airline pilot and union leader. The challenger said he entered the race in hopes of guiding the town away from tax increases that have priced-out some of Harrison's older residents and hoped to continue responsible spending to avoid further tax increases.