Harrietstown supervisor candidates finally debate the issues

Bob Bevilacqua, left, and Tom Catillaz — both candidates for the open Harrietstown supervisor seat this election — debate the issues Thursday, Nov. 1 at the Adirondack Daily Enterprise offices in Saranac Lake. Denton Publications Assistant Managing Editor Andy Flynn and Enterprise Senior Staff Writer Chris Knight asked the candidates 12 questions, and the debate lasted about one hour. It was video and audio tape recorded. Peter Crowley

By Andy Flynn

As of Saturday, November 3, 2012 -10:15 a.m.

Saranac Lake — The two candidates for town of Harrietstown supervisor Thursday, Nov. 1 finally met to debate the issues in a closed-door session at the Adirondack Daily Enterprise offices.

Audio clips

Harrietstown Supervisor Debate 2013

Harrietstown Councilman Bob Bevilacqua (R) and Saranac Lake Village Trustee Tom Catillaz (D) answered questions about various issues, including the Adirondack Regional Airport, town business park, economic development, Trudeau Institute, the proposed rail trail, and the working relationship between the town and the village.

Denton Publications Assistant Managing Editor Andy Flynn and Enterprise Senior Staff Writer Chris Knight asked the candidates a series of questions about issues important to town residents. The debate was video and audio tape recorded. The video will be uploaded to YouTube and a link will be posted on the newspapers’ websites. The audio will be aired on the Mountain Communications radio stations (WNBZ-AM 1240 and Rock 105, 105.5-FM and 102.3-FM) around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3.

Three time’s the charm, as the first two public debates scheduled for the Town Hall were canceled: Oct. 16 because Catillaz temporarily suspended his campaign for 10 days and Oct. 29 because of high-wind warnings as Hurricane Sandy moved up the East Coast.

The Nov. 1 debate was informal and held in a conference room, with Enterprise Managing Editor Peter Crowley keeping time and Flynn and Knight moderating as they asked questions. The candidates had 2 minutes to answer each question and 30 seconds for a rebuttal, if they chose. With opening and closing statements and 12 questions, the debate lasted about one hour.

We've only included several questions. Please listen to the audio for the rest.

Audio clip

FULL Harrietstown Supervisor Debate 2012

Opening remarks

TOM: The first thing I’d like to do is thank everyone who is responsible for putting this on. I’d also like to thank all the people that I met in my door-to-door campaign. The responses have been very positive and helpful to me. And it’s important to the whole town, I think, to get out and get in touch with them. So, thank you.

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