Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - One of the big local races to watch this coming Tuesday on Election Day is for the 143rd State Assembly District, pitting incumbent Monica Wallace against Cheektowaga Police Officer Pat Chludzinski.
Leading up to Election Day this year, the two candidate agree on one key matter in the race: Affordability.
Chludzinski says New York State spends too much.
"Taxes are too high. Inflation is making it incredibly difficult for our residents of all ages to make ends meet. And sadly, my opponent has spent the last six years supporting and voting for these misguided taxing and spending policies," said Chludzinski in an interview with WBEN.
Chludzinski intends to look at all avenues of how he can save taxpayers money.
"[Wallace] gloats on how she brings funds and money back to this community, but yet, then votes for billions to go to New York City area for migrants," Chludzinski added.
Wallace says she was raised by a single mother, and knows what it's like to struggle.
"I benefited from programs like free lunch and college tuition, which helped me become the first person in my family to graduate from college. So I'm fighting to keep those programs funded to make sure that everyone in western New York has the same opportunity to grow and thrive," said Wallace with WBEN.
She adds folks are seeing prices go up, but wages haven't kept pace over the years.
"That's why I've been fighting for things like increasing minimum wage and making it be indexed to inflation. I fought to increase access to child care, expanding access to free lunch programs," Wallace said.
Chludzinski is also concerned about the migrant issue in Cheektowaga. He claims it's an issue Wallace welcomed into the district.
"My opponent invited [them] to our community with no plans on how residents would pay for the services required, and it has contributed to our local tax burden. We've seen an increase in crime at these locations and generally a decrease in the quality of life for so many residents that are are living near these locations," Chludzinski said.
He adds Maryvale School District is now bearing the burden of the cost for the education of the children of the migrants. Wallace says she's working on getting the funding owed.
"Every one of those [70] students will be out of there by the end of this year, by the way. But in the interim, I have been working with the county executive, with state education and with others to bring back some of the funding New York City had originally promised to reimburse. 100% they did reimburse, I believe half," Wallace explained.
She says Maryvale was to receive $400,000, as well as $1.7 million in foundation aid this year, above what they got last year.
Wallace first was elected to the State Assembly in 2016.