CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS

By DAVID HULSE

RIVER VALLEY - Fourteen-term Republican incumbent Ben Gilman and Democratic challenger Paul Feiner are having at it for the second time in this year's race for the 20th New York Congressional District. Both men made their arguments for voter support in recent face-to-face TRR interviews.

The southern portion of Sullivan County represents about four percent of the population of the 20th district, which also includes Orange, Rock-land and portions of Westchester counties.

Gilman, the 77-year-old chair of the House International Relations Committee, says he's a proven performer who's gained the seniority and experience and made the connections that help get things done.

Feiner, 44, says the region needs more responsive leadership in the House of Representatives and that it's time for a change.

Despite his two-to-one victory over Feiner in 1998, Gilman insists that he "runs scared" in every election. "President Dewey taught me that," he said in a reference to favorite Dewey's surprise loss to Harry Truman in 1948. Gilman appeared to be as sharp as ever in a recent interview and says he has no plan to leave Congress. "I enjoy the work and I plan to continue as long as my health allows," he said.

"Try to follow him around for a day," added Gilman aide Andrew Zarutskie.

In contrast, Gilman says his experience and seniority are key advantages. "Because of my seniority, I'm able to get through and expedite constituents' problems. A chairman has a certain amount of recognition. Seniority, and the relationships engendered along the way, do pay dividends," he said.

Feiner is the four-term incumbent supervisor of the Town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, which includes a population of 87,000. Feiner believes that public officials should be paid on a merit system and in Greenburgh he has set up an escrow account holding five percent of his annual salary, which is released only upon his attaining planned goals set for a given year. He says he'll carry the policy over in Congress.

In an interview at TRR office, Feiner said despite Gilman's longevity, he's not been effective in "bringing home the bacon" for Sullivan County. "Has he played an active role in preventing the deterioration of the county's economy? The Port Jervis area is depressed economically. Has it gotten the maximum benefit of his seniority? I don't think he's been an active Congressman," Feiner charged.

If elected, Feiner says he will be accessible and become Sullivan County's "best friend."

"I love solving problems and the county has been a stepchild too long. I want to treat Sullivan County as the most important community in the world. It's coming back," he added.

Gilman said his involvement with Sullivan County has been continuous and his long standing relationships with state and federal officials have played roles bringing about projects like the Bethel performing arts center, the Kohl's distribution warehouse and a Japanese firm's mushroom growing proposal for Wurtsboro.

According to Gilman's staff, his initiatives brought home about $1.8 billion in Federal money to the 20th district during fiscal year 1998, some $1.4 billion in Federal money returned during fiscal year 1999 and about $342 million in 2000, but this figure does not count the last three months of the fiscal year in which Gilman's press releases related several successful grant initiatives. "Accordingly, Mr. Feiner's allegation that we are not bringing home the bacon is proven bogus," said Zarutskie.

Gilman, who was interviewed at his Middletown office, said he would have loved to have had more time to put into his re-election campaign this fall, "but we just haven't been able to end the session," he said. Despite his work in Congress, Gilman does return to the district each weekend and has been active in Sullivan County appearances as well. Zarutskie said the Town of Cochecton sponsored a candidates' debate recently, which Gilman could not attend, but he did send a representative. "Mr. Feiner did not show nor send a representative," Zarutskie said.