SCHENECTADY - The Schenectady League of Women voters sponsored a legislative debate forum Wednesday night. Candidates in five different races squared off, among them the 110th Assembly district race. The event was held at Schenectady High School.
From the beginning, the tension between Phil Steck, a Democrat and Jennifer Whalen, a Republican was palpable.
While both seemed to have similar positions on several issues, including education spending, having the state pick up the costs associated with Medicaid, even increasing the minimum wage; Steck was quick to cry fowl. He pointed out that Whalen supported increasing the minimum wage in the past but only under certain conditions.
Whalen and Steck were supposed to debate Sunday, only Whalen skipped out. Instead she chose to file a complaint with Fair Campaign Practices of the Capital Region over a mailer sent out by Steck's campaign; indicating that she supported cuts to school aid, which she calls a lie.
Steck has also filed a complaint against a mailer of Whalen's in which she claims Steck was complicit in a sexual harassment scandal involving Assemblyman Vito Lopez and taxpayer money Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver steered to settle the lawsuit. Steck denies that, telling NEWS10 he supports the investigation now underway. He said it shouldn't even be an issue.
Both candidates said they enjoyed the debate and are looking forward to the debate next week in Colonie.
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