Democratic congressional candidate Alice Kryzan used a debate here Tuesday to criticize her opponent Jon Powers for taking special interest campaign money— while the third candidate in the race, millionaire Jack Davis, skipped the square-off and again let his money do the talking.

Kryzan, long the polite bystander to the bitter battle between Powers and Davis in the state’s 26th Congressional District, railed about the role of special interests much as Davis often does.

But Davis — who has sworn off joint appearances in the race — appeared to try to deflect attention by donating $1.5 million to his alma mater, the University at Buffalo.

Davis’ donation never came up during the 105-minute tilt between Kryzan and Powers, a wide-ranging discussion of issues ranging from Washington corruption to the local economy and the drinking age.

But his absence was certainly noticed.

“We obviously see our third opponent isn’t willing to come out and talk about the challenges Western New Yorkers are facing,” Powers said.

But Kryzan, an environmental lawyer from Amherst, was more than willing, using every opportunity to portray the party- anointed Powers as the establishment candidate who won’t change much of anything about Washington.

“I do not believe you can go to Congress and be an independent voice when you’ve taken hundreds of thousands of dollars from PACS, lobbyists and special interests,” Kryzan said, adding that Powers has taken money from sources who “actually do expect something in return for their donations.”

Powers replied that much of his organizational support comes from labor unions that represent local workers.

“The reason I’m the endorsed candidate is that I’ve been out having conversations in living rooms and on the phones,” Powers said. “I’ve earned the support of these groups.”

But Kryzan wouldn’t let it rest there, noting that Powers had received donations from a political committee that represents defense contractors.

Powers later countered by noting that Kryzan once donated $250 to Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds, the retiring Republican whom they are bidding to replace.

Kryzan dismissed that as a “business accommodation” and added: “Yes, I did give $250 to Tom Reynolds, but I have to say I haven’t taken any money from any lobbyist or any PACs, except for $1,000 from the League of Conservation Voters.”

The sharp exchanges over ethics marked a debate in which Kryzan repeatedly tried to show Powers to not only be indebted to his funders, but also naive about key issues.

For example, after Powers touted his recent round-table discussion with teachers in the district, Kryzan responded by saying: “One thing we are very famous for in Western New York is having round-table discussions . . . that end up getting put on the shelf. I think it is time to take action.”

While saying she thinks education is largely a state and local issue, Kryzan criticized Powers for his emphasis on a national service program that could encourage more people to enter teaching. Given that there is a surplus of teachers in Western New York, such a program could actually encourage more young people to leave, she said.

The candidates largely agreed that the development of alternative energy sources could lead to a large number of “green collar” jobs in Western New York.

And they also both answered yes to a question from a student at Geneseo State College who asked whether the drinking age should be lowered to 18.

“I served in Iraq with guys who were 18 and 19, and I think they deserve a beer,” said Powers, an Army veteran.

Meanwhile, in Amherst, UB announced that Davis had donated $1.5 million to its Engineering School for a new building. It’s the largest donation in the Engineering School’s history.

“I received an excellent education at the University at Buffalo, and this is my way of paying the university back for teaching me how to think,“ Davis said in a prepared statement.

The Davis campaign steered questions about the possible political implications of the donation to UB.

And university spokesman John Della Contrada said the university announced the donation as soon as it was made, with no consideration of the political ramifications of the donation and no input from Davis as to when the announcement was to be made.

But Kevin Hardwick, a professor at Canisius College who had hosted a debate that Davis skipped Sunday on WBEN radio, said: “Obviously I think he’s done this for political purposes. But at least he’s using his own money, which is different from what a lot of people have done in the past.”

Source: Buffalo News