WXXI: Parma Primary: The Supervisor and the Legislator (2009-09-10)

Tuesday, September 15 is the primary election for Monroe County and in Parma, two stalwarts are vying for the supervisor spot on the Republican ballot. But in this race, the challenger has been endorsed by the county party.

Rick Lemcke is the current supervisor in Parma. He got into politics in 1991, first sitting on the town zoning board, and then quickly rising through the town board to the supervisor spot, which he's held ever since.

Lemcke says he lost his party's nomination because he didn't want to "play the political game."

"I haven't seen eye-to-eye with our Republican committee and I lost to a gentleman who's been a member of the committee a lot longer than I have - he's a lot older than me ... so based on that, I've decided to keep going."

Lemcke says he thinks of himself as a public servant, not a politician, and that his strategy has been to run the town like a business. He touts a record that includes low taxes, town services for the elderly and recreation that he calls "awesome."

Lemcke says when he first came into office, Parma had a high debt service, which he paid down and then some: he says the town is currently weathering the economic downturn by relying on a rainy day fund.

The incumbent's strategy of eschewing borrowing and saving for major purchases is shared by his opponent.

Challenger Peter McCann, a 16-year veteran of the Monroe County legislature, also embraces that "pay-as-you-go" philosophy. But McCann says he questions Lemcke's priorities. He says the supervisor has expanded recreation programs, to the detriment of other town services, like the highway department.

"Probably the biggest problem I see that the town has right now is the complications between the supervisor and the highway department. That's a big big issue as far as I'm concerned."

McCann says he'd like the town to have a better relationship with the highway department, charging that Lemcke has been a contentious figure.

Both men agree that keeping taxes low is a priority, citing their small business credentials. McCann runs an insurance agency on Main Street, and Lemcke runs a landscaping business.