Republican Kevin Hardwick, candidate for 10th District Erie County legislator, is pledging to cut his pay if elected.

His complaint revolves around the fact that in many other states, state officials make less than county officials do here. In his opinion, the resulting tax disparity is a reason this area’s young workers are migrating south.

“Our county legislators have higher salaries than state senators in 39 states. State legislators get by on a salary of $13,951 in North Carolina and $10,400 in South Carolina,” Hardwick said. “If part-time legislators can make laws for the entire states of North and South Carolina, why must we pay our legislators $42,588 for a single county?”

Democratic incumbent Legislator Michele Iannello, D-Kenmore, said the matter isn’t as simple as Hardwick is making it out to be. While North Carolina’s state officials might make less per year, figuring out how many people they serve and in what ways is essential to seeing whether or not they provide the same service for less.

“You have to compare apples to apples,” Iannello said.

North Carolina State Senator Jim Jacumin, selected at random from the list of 50 senators, represents two counties with an estimated 169,000 residents according to US Census data. But Al Lee, Director of Quantitative Analysis for PayScale, Inc., writes on the company’s Web site that North Carolina state senators receive a daily per diem of $104, plus a monthly expense allowance of $559. Once these additions and other perks are included, he places their annual pay rate at around $44,059 — just higher than what Erie County legislators pocket.

But Hardwick contends that the stipends and per diem pay makes sense for a part-time senator who has to commute to the state capitol and rent lodgings while business is being conducted. He also argues that still means North Carolina state senators are serving four times as many people at the same pay rate, but Iannello said the cost of those senators is higher than their individual salary. Since state officials have a staff to handle administrative duties, field calls from constituents and handle myriad other responsibilities day to day, Iannello said legislators have only one other person to help out.

“I have one full-time staffer,” Iannello said. “The things we do involve lots of follow up and follow through. I do my own resolutions, my own press releases. I am a full-time working legislator.”

Hardwick argues that although county legislator is what he calls a “total time” job, it is still a part-time position. State senators deal with much more difficult issues — from state-wide education decisions to whether or not capital punishment is acceptable — than county leaders. And with volunteerism and public service serving as such vital parts of the Western New York core values, he adds that it’s insulting to other public servants that legislators make so much money.

“Paying it as a full-time (job) is a slap in the face to the many people who donate so much of their time as volunteer firemen, auxiliary police officers, youth sport coaches and volunteers for other organizations that make our community so special.”

If elected, Hardwick has pledged to donate $7,500 of his annual salary to these types of community groups in Kenmore, Tonawanda and Grand Island. The move hearkens back to County Executive Chris Collins campaign promise to take only $1 per month in salary until the county control board went back into an advisory status. But giving the money directly to organizations instead of back to the county government itself has caused Iannello to raise an eyebrow.

“It might seem generous on the surface, but to me it sounds like he’s buying votes by saying he’ll give them money if he’s elected,” Iannello said.

In reference to doling out money to various community organizations, Iannello said that county legislators, unlike federal and state officials, aren’t in charge of any “pork barrel” funds they’re able to earmark just for their community. While she can’t afford to support many groups out of her own pocket, Iannello said she often offers to make a personal appearance instead, and is “on-call” more than a typical 40 hour a week job would entail.

“I show up, because that’s all I’ve got to give,” Iannello said. “If he’s going to keep on working, keep teaching and go back on the radio, there’s no way he can dedicate the time to the job that I feel is necessary to serve my constituents properly.”

Hardwick said he continued teaching when he was a City of Tonawanda councilman and will do the same if elected to the legislature. He points to other former legislators who have held jobs during their term, in particular Dr. Barry Weinstein, who maintained a medical practice while serving as a legislator. Hardwick even hopes to bring some of his political science students into internship positions so they can learn in a real world environment and provide service to the people of the 10th district at the same time.

“It’s one thing to read about something in a textbook and another to get in there and make a difference,” Hardwick said.

He adds that he’ll be working to convince other legislators to cut their pay by 30 percent, down to $30,000 per year, but Hardwick isn’t the first Republican candidate running with pay cuts as a plank in his platform. Legislator Raymond Walter, R-Williamsville, is also on record supporting a reduction in legislative salaries “to create true ‘citizen legislators’ and not career politicians.” Yet as Iannello points out, no legislation has moved toward realizing that goal. While she’s not opposed to the move, Iannello said she knows it would be a tough sell.

“He says he’s going to cut the salary, but he’s not going to get eight votes,” Iannello said. “But bring me eight legislators on board and I’ll support this.”

Hardwick is more confident about his chances. As a Tonawanda City Councilman from 1996 to 2001, Hardwick said he voted to reduce his own salary and is confident that he can convince county legislators to come along. While getting a majority in a body of 15 is decidedly more difficult than in a group of five, he adds that legislators taking any other course of action would be “defending the indefensible.”

Whether the position is defensible or not, getting legislators to unite behind cutting their own pay will likely be difficult.

Contact reporter Daniel Pye at 693-1000, ext. 158.