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The Buffalo News gave a great look at the races in Erie County and the throwing around of the "career politician" label.
Republican candidate Kevin Hardwick gave his own definition of "career politician" while also targeting his opponent, Democratic incumbent Michele Iannello.
"Career politician Michele Iannello engaged in gutter politics," Kevin R. Hardwick, of the City of Tonawanda, said after Iannello tried to label him a career politician.
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"When we talk about career politicians, we talk about people who have no other career, who have no other life outside of politics," said Hardwick, a political science professor at Canisius College. "As a result, we have people who sell their souls to the special interests because they have nothing else to fall back on."
In an interview with Iannello, she told me she was first elected to public office in 2003, when she was elected to serve the people of Kenmore on the Village Board. In 2005, she was elected to the Erie County Legislature, took her oath of office in 2006 and is now seeking her third term in office.
To recap, here is Iannello's political career:
- 2003: Elected to serve on Kenmore Village Board.
- 2005: Elected to Erie County Legislature, serving the 10th Legislative District
Now, here is Hardwick's political career taken right from his campaign website bio:
- Served a three-year term on the Susquehanna Valley Board of Education (was first elected as a senior in high school)
- Was elected to three terms as a Town of Binghamton councilman
- From 1986 to 1988, was administrative assistant to Senator Walter Anderson, the majority leader of the New York State Senate
- Received his Ph.D in Political Science from SUNY Binghamton and moved to Tonawanda in 1989
- Former member of the City of Tonawanda Charter Review Commission
- In 1995, was elected to serve as the First Ward Councilmember in the City of Tonawanda. He was re-elected twice to serve the First Ward
- Two unsuccessful campaigns for Erie County Legislature in 2001 and 2003
- Hosted "Hardline with Hardwick" on WBEN 930 AM
- Presently seeking to serve as an Erie County legislator representing the 10th Legislative District
Remember, this is what Hardwick said about career politicians:
"When we talk about career politicians, we talk about people who have no other career, who have no other life outside of politics," said Hardwick, a political science professor at Canisius College. "As a result, we have people who sell their souls to the special interests because they have nothing else to fall back on."
You might say Hardwick has made a career out of politics. If he's not running for office, he's teaching politics.
Michele Iannello was a paralegal before deciding to serve the people of Erie County full-time. She has been a small business owner and has been involved in many local community groups. Her record is not one of a career politician, but of someone who is dedicated to their community.
Hardwick's record is all politics, all the time. He has campaigned for a number of offices. He has served on city boards, school boards and town boards. He ran previously for Erie County Legislature and lost.
And he is calling Michele Iannello the career politician?
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
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