Collins vs. Keane debate does little to answer question
DAN MEYER Political Columnist
It may not rank right up there with the most important arguments in our society, but it's one that I've been wrestling with for the past couple of weeks.

So while we all will continue to struggle with Coke or Pepsi, chocolate or vanilla, hugs or kisses and hot dogs or hamburgers as important decisions that need to be made in our everyday lives, voters throughout Erie County will have to take a few moments next week to try and decide whether Chris Collins or Jim Keane is the best candidate to be our next county executive.

To be perfectly honest with you, Election Day is just days away and I still don't know whose lever I'm going to pull when I walk into the voting booth on Nov. 6.

I thought witnessing firsthand a live debate this past weekend would help me solidify where I stood on the two candidates, but after two hours of back and forth "I'm not the liar, you're the liar" bickering on WBEN radio, I'm more confused now than ever.

Collins and Keane got together for what turned out to be a 120-minute entertaining, informative, but at times downright depressing, conversation. The debate, admirably moderated by Kevin Hardwick, a political science professor from Canisius College, caused me to realize that some of the questions I had about both candidates remain unanswered, and a few statements made by Keane and Collins created new questions related to the credibility, reputation and personality of both men.

The following is an easy-to-follow breakdown of what was entertaining, what was informative and what was downright depressing from the radio debate:

• What was entertaining: The constant use of buzz words, catch phrases, cliches and other campaign rhetoric that we all have grown so tired of. It never fails that the talk of campaigns of this magnitude unfortunately boil down to who has the most money to use a combination of negative advertising that slams their opponents and lots of glossy fliers, billboards and in this day and age, a flashy Web site that talks about "change" and "new promises" and "the end of politics as usual."

Keane's slogan of "results matter" is a way for him to avoid that dreaded career politician identification badge that Collins continues to try and hang around Keane's neck, while Collins' promise of providing "a new generation of leadership" is his way of saying he has no experience as an elected official but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I also got a kick out of Keane saying his accepting Paul Clark's endorsement was his way of trying "to put the Democratic Party back together" after the nasty war of words between them. Ha.

And then I chuckled when Collins discussed wanting to seek out a "Six Sigma Black Belt" to serve as his deputy county executive if he is elected to office. Despite knowing Six Sigma is a detailed management system that may actually help improve how county government is run on a day-to-day basis, I still couldn't stop thinking about the movie "The Karate Kid" after Collins made that reference.

• What was informative: What did catch the ears of Hardwick, myself and hopefully others was both Keane and Collins saying they don't have anyone in mind for the deputy county executive post.

Sorry, I'm not buying that. I think both men, thanks to some input from their respective county party chairmen, have a pretty good idea of whom they want to serve as their right-hand man if they are victorious and are awarded a four-year term in the big office on the 16th floor of the Rath Building.

• What was downright depressing: That Keane and Collins are our only two choices when we head to the polls - no offense to either man since I've met both face to face a couple of times and I think they both have the best interests of this region in mind.

But the buzz words, the questions surrounding each of their backgrounds and my overall concern that the ideal candidate is not on the ballot are hard for me to swallow.

But swallow I must. And on Nov. 6, I hope you do the same and exercise your right to vote.

(Daniel Meyer is a columnist for the Weekly Independent Newspapers of Western New York. Opinions are those of the author.)