By ANDY GARDNER

WADDINGTON -- The Democrat candidate for Waddington town supervisor is trying to debate the incumbent, but the supervisor says she would prefer to hold a meet-and-greet with constituents.

Alex Hammond, a Democrat, is challenging Republican incumbent Sandra Wright for the town’s top seat.

In a letter to the editor, Hammond says he challenged Wright to a debate on Saturday, Oct. 21 and she declined through an intermediary.

“I would like the public to know that I challenged my opponent Sandra Wright to a debate this Saturday Oct. 21 at 6 p.m., which I had made arrangements for in the community room of our public library. Mrs. Wright said, through a third party, that she was ‘not interested’ in having a debate. I believe that people’s concerns ought to be heard, and that issues need to be discussed and debated in order for elected officials to properly represent constituents. I am running for the position of town supervisor to do exactly that,” Hammond said. He says the event will take place, with or without his opponent.

“When asked about the debate, I stated that I would be more than happy to participate in a meet and greet session. In a small town setting, I prefer this format which was used the last time I ran for Waddington Town Supervisor. This process allows people to interview candidates and get their questions answered. Sorry but I am not available on Saturday (Oct. 21). If Mr. Hammond wants to contact me, I would be willing to take part in a meet and greet at another date that would work for both of us,” Wright said in an emailed statement. “I am currently conducting a door to door campaign, stating the current town board’s actions and accomplishments. I ask if there are any questions before they read the letter and if they have any after reading the letter, my contact information is stated at the end. I am always on the job and available because that’s what people in Waddington expect and deserve”.

In an Oct. 18 phone interview, Hammond clarified that he tried to speak to her in person, unsuccessfully, so he tried to set up the debate via Russ Straight, the town’s Republican chair.

“I’ve tried to introduce myself various times to her. She lives two doors down from me,” Hammond said. “I had kind of suspected (she would decline the debate) because she would not debate the incumbent she beat four years ago. She wanted a community session, something where the community could come meet the candidates but no debate.”

Wright has not returned phone calls seeking comment.

Hammond, 21, says he is seeking the supervisor’s office because he thinks he can bring a fresh perspective to addressing longstanding problems in town.

“The main reason why I’m running to have a new voice for the same old problems the town has had for a decade. As far as the tax rate, surplus land … there was never a new set of eyes looking at the same old problem without a new perspective. That’s why I’m running is for people to have an option, someone who’s new and not party of the system … different perspective,” Hammond said on the phone.

He said some of the things that made him want to get involved with politics was hearing about an “issue with the firing of an employee from the THD, he had served … almost two decades and it came up where that person was fired, or let go, and put between a rock and a hard place.” He also cited “different things in the past with allocation of funds going to things promised and things not promised” and “cutting funds to the library while putting up new signs that cost more than the cuts.”

Hammond said he plans to host “Community Coffee Chats” on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 from 2 to 4 p.m. each day in the Waddington library’s community room. It will be a chance for voters to ask questions and hear his answers, and Wright is invited, the Democrat candidate said.

“Anyone in the community is welcome to come. I will be there. I would love to talk to anyone one-on-one … I am totally open. I want everyone to know where I stand on the issues and why I’m running,” Hammond said. I still invite her to come to the community session.

“I want people to be involved … and come out and voice their concerns and hear my answers to those concerns.”

Hammond’s letter to the editor is at goo.gl/BHqp2s.