Island Dispatch, 2007-10-19

              Island Dispatch  S Niagara Frontier Publications proud publishers of Island Dispatch bewisfon-Porter Sentinel Grand island Penny Saver Niagara-Wbeatfield Tribune www.wnypapers.com For Home Delivery of the Island Dispatch Call 773-7676 Vol. 63 No. 31 October 19,2007 36 Pages 773-7676 $1.00 Chili Cookoff page 7 Huth Happenings page 17 Vikings Clinch Playoff Berth page 27 Election 2007 Cooke, McMahon tackle the issues Photos and story by Donna Webb The following questions were asked of Town of Grand Island Supervisor candidates Peter McMahon and Mary Cooke in advance of Thursday nighf s debate at the Golden Age Center. The interviews were conducted independently within the last week. Dispatch: What are the strengths that you feel you bring/would bring to the position of Town Supervisor? Peter McMahon: "I have 33 years of experience in business and management, and I think that certainly helps. I've got a few more years than that... in public service with the Fire Company and dealing with volunteers and community service; and I think that certainly helps. Then, I think I have an interest in and enjoy what I'm doing. So, those three or four things are probably the keys." Mary Cooke: "I think that my greatest personal strength is that I'm a hard worker. I'm willing to devote time to this job without distraction; I'm respectful of town taxpayers and will be able to separate personal life from Town Hall and, again, devote the time that I think is necessary to the details of this job." Dispatch: What types of community service are you involved in? McMahon: "I haven't seen the [Fire Company's] numbers lately, but at the middle of the year ... I think I had made almost 200 calls. ... I don't come anywhere near the guys who have a tremendous record. Last year, I think, the Fire Company did 1,600 calls. So, if I did 400 of them, thafs 25 percent; but there are people who di 4,1,200 to 1,300 or 1,400.... I've been involved with Relay For Life for a number of years and co-chair for the past three. Thafs a very successful event for Grand Island and for cancer research, and it's a lot of fun.... We're going to continue that and hope to make it a little bit better." (McMahon will be co-chair, along with Mary Dunbar-Oaluisio, for Mary Cooke and Peter McMahon are competing for the position of Grand Island town supervisor. Iannello, Thompson sound off on issues Q and A with Michele Iannello, Democratic candidate for County Legislator Photos and story by Alice E. Gerard Michele lannello, the Democratic candidate for county legislator, is the incumbent, having served in that position since Jan. 1,2006. In the past, she served as an elected official on the Kenmore Village Board of Trustees. lannello has worked as a real estate para- legal and as an owner and an operator of a small business. She is a member of the Romulus Women's Auxiliary and the Zonta Club of Kenmore, and she is an officer on the board of directors of Hasek's Heroes Youth Hockey. She has been appointed to the board of directors of the Buffalo and Erie County Convention and Visitors Bureau. She has also been appointed to the Niagara Erie Regional Coalition and the search committee for a new president of Erie Community College. Dispatch: I understand that you've been a member of the Erie County Legislature since 2006. Can you tell me why you want to run for re-election? Michele Iannello: Two years ago, I was a trustee in the Village of Kenmore. I enjoyed my position there, but I was frustrated about what was going on in the county. So I ran for the county legislature on a platform of reform and change. Michele lannello Q and A with Rus Thompson, Republican candidate for County Legislator Photos and story by Alice E. Gerard Rus Thompson is the Republican candidate for the 10th district of the Erie County Legislature, representing Grand Island, the City of Tonawanda, the Town of Tonawanda, and Kenmore. A Grand Island resident, Thompson is a small business owner who does home remodeling, roofing, siding, and custom woodwork. Thompson has served as director of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Grand Island BusinessCouncfl Harming Committee. He also has been a member of the Grand Island Conservative Committee, and, with his wife, Julianne, has directed the Erie County branch of the New Yorkers for Constitu- tional Freedoms for four years. Dispatch: Why are you running for the 10th Erie County Legislature seat? Rus Thompson: Three years ago, during the budget crisis, I got together with a friend of mine, Lenny Roberto, and we co-founded an organization, called Primary Challenge/Along with the formation of Primary Challenge, we started another organization, called Free Buffalo (dot org). We've been able Rus Thompson Pauley honored for fire prevention efforts by Larry Austin A week of fire prevention education ended with an award for one of Grand Island's top fire prevention educators. Grand Island Fire Company Public Information Officer Ray Pauley received an award from the fire company for his long history of spreading the news about fire safety. Grand Island Fire Chief Greg Butcher said the honor is essentially a lifetime achievement award for Pauley's efforts in fire prevention. Ironically, after more than 20 years as public information officer, Pauley was the last to know about the award. Butcher surprised Pauley with the award on Friday at the Fire Company's Open House, held at the fire hall. Pauley and crew have made the rounds this month to the elementary schools and child care centers to spread the message of fire safety. "He's been involved with this program since it started here on the Island," Butcher said. "He not only is involved with the whole week operations, but all year long he reports on fire prevention education issues." As public information officer, it's Pauley's mission to educate Islanders through the media as well, Butcher said. The award was gratifying for Pauley. "After all the years of doing it, if s sort of second nature," Pauley said of his fire prevention work. "But 40 or so other guys could have gotten the,award because they all pitched in. They all contribute their time and their Ray Pauley, left, public information officer for the Grand Island Fire Co., is congratulated by GIFC Chief Greg Butcher Friday for his years of service to the fire prevention program, (photo by Larry Austin)- SEE MCMAHON, continued on page 2 SEE lANNELLO, continued on page 11 SEE PAULEY, continued on page 2 SEE THOMPSON, continued on page 11 Monday Madness \ LARGE CHEESE PIZZA ! $Q25 j PLUS TAX 1 2131 Grand Island Bjwl_ j ' I j Linda PMi|§ \ Kutzbaeh m^m ; Associate Broker ,# _H I 628-1719 P'\Mj 773-2S73^P^H 1 £****** I / she II tab*, f other* / T» Each office independently , It Moith owned & operated