Voice of the Voter panel on Mayoral Candidates -- 6 May 2005

VOICE OVER>> ROCHESTER'S NEWS MAGAZINE
SINCE 1997, THIS IS "NEED TO
KNOW."

(MC)>>THANKS FOR JOINING US.
I'M MICHAEL CAPUTO.
THEY COME FROM THE RANKS OF
DEFENSE ATTORNEYS AND POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
THEY ARE THE FOUR MEN WHO WANT
TO REPLACE BILL JOHNSON AS
ROCHESTER'S NEXT MAYOR.
IT IS THE MOST HIGH PROFILE
CAMPAIGN IN THE SEASON.
THE DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE, WXXI
PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND 13-WHAM
TELEVISION ARE THE PARTNERS FOR
MORE THAN A DECADE NOW.
AS ALWAYS WE BRING ORDINARY
CITIZENS TOGETHER TO HEAR WHAT'S
IMPORTANT TO THEM AND THEN TURN
THEM LOOSE ON THE CANDIDATES.
THIS PAST WEEK, A FEW OF OUR
CITIZEN PANELISTS SAT DOWN WITH
ALL FOUR CANDIDATES CONDUCTING
SEPARATE INTERVIEWS WITH EACH
HOPEFUL.
THE GOAL WAS TO ASK THE KINDS OF
QUESTIONS A HUMAN RESOURCES
DIRECTOR MIGHT ASK AN APPLICANT
DURING AN INITIAL INTERVIEW.
DURING THIS BROADCAST, YOU WILL
HEAR FROM WIDE NORWOOD AND THE 2
FORMER POLICE CHIEF OF THE CITY,
ROBERT DUFFY.

Lydia Lees (VOV participant)>> CANDIDATES MAKE PROMISES.
AS YOU KNOW, PROMISES DEPEND ON
DIFFERENT ENTITIES WITH WHEN YOU
ARE RUNNING, SUCH AS THE
CONGRESS, THE LEGISLATION AND
SUCH, AND IF SO, HOW DO YOU KNOW
THAT YOU HAVE THEIR SUPPORT?

Bob Duffy (mayoral candidate)>> WELL, I'M MAKING ONE PROMISE
FROM MY CAMPAIGN AND ONE PROMISE
ONLY.
THAT IS, IF I'M ELECTED, I WILL
FIND THE BEST PEOPLE, THE MOST
PASSIONATE COMMITTED PEOPLE
POSSIBLE TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS
IN CITY HALL THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
THEY MAY BE IN CITY HALL.
THEY MAY NOT BE IN CITY HALL.
THAT IS MY ONE ONLY PROMISE.
I HAVE MADE NO OTHER PROMISES,
BECAUSE TO ME, IT IS
INAPPROPRIATE TO CUT DEALS OR TO
MAKE PROMISES AT THE EXPENSE OF
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY.
WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN MY CAREER,
AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED THROUGH
THIS PROCESS IS THAT OFTEN IN
THE WORLD OF POLITICS, THERE ARE
DEALS THAT ARE MADE, PROMISES
MADE BEHIND THE SCENES THAT
DON'T BENEFIT THE CITIZENS.
THEY RUN THE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY
WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICES OR SEEK
OTHER POSITIONS.
I THINK ANY NEGOTIATION, ANY
PROMISE, ANY DEAL SHOULD BE
GEARED TOWARD BENEFITTING
220,000 TPHR- THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER, SO THAT'S THE ONE
PROMISE THAY WOULD MAKE.

Jim Worden (VOV participant)>> MR. DUFFY, AS YOU KNOW, THE
CITY RUNS ON A BUDGET, AND IS
UNDER FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS.
THEY GET MONEY FROM THE
VALUATION OF PROPERTIES.
HAVE YOU HAD EXPERIENCE IN 3
HANDLING BUDGETS?
I KNOW YOU HAVE WITH THE POLICE,
BUT HAVE YOU WORKED INSIDE THE
THING AND STASH BLISHING THE
FLOW OF MONEY IN A BUDGET?

Duffy >> I THINK I'M THE ONLY
CANDIDATE WHO HAS ACTUALLY RUN
AN ORGANIZATION.
I HAVE BEEN THE CHIEF OF THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE LAST
SEVEN YEARS, 850 PEOPLE IN THAT
ORGANIZATION, WITH A BUDGET IN
EXCESS OF $63 MILLION.
AS OPPOSED TO APPROVING A BUDGET
OR READING ONE, I HAVE TO APPLY
IT AND LIVE BY MY DECISIONS, SO
THAT HAS GIVEN ME THE FIRSTHAND
EXPERIENCE IN TERMS OF
BUDGETING.
NOW, I THINK THE ISSUE WITH THE
CITY OF ROCHESTER IN TERMS OF
THE FUTURE, WE DO FACE A NUMBER
OF FINANCIAL CHALLENGES WHICH
ARE CRITICAL.
FIRST IS THE ISSUE OF OUR
SUPPORT OF OUR STATE DELEGATION.
IF WE ARE TO RECEIVE THE SAME
PER CAPITA AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT
BUFFALO RECEIVES, NOT MORE, BUT
THE SAME PER CAPITA, WE WOULD
RECEIVE $289.4 MILLION.
OVER THE COURSE OF FOUR YEARS
THAT, IS JUST UNDER $120
MILLION, WHICH WOULD BE A GREAT
POT OF MONEY TO INVEST BACK IN
TO ROCHESTER.
NUMBER TWO IS HOW WE SPEND
MONEY. WHEN
I'M HUNGRY, I DON'T GO OUT AND
BUY A NEW CAR.
I BELIEVE IN SPENDING ON BASIC
NEEDS FIRST, TRYING TO ADDRESS
THOSE, AND SPENDING ON AREAS
THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS.
I'M A BELIEVER THAT IF A PROGRAM
IS SUCCESSFUL, I WILL FIND MONEY
TO KEEP IT GOING.
IF SOMETHING IS NOT SUCCESSFUL 4
AND THERE IS NO DISCERNIBLE
CHANGE OR SUCCESS, I WOULD MAKE
A TOP DECISION NOT TO SPEND
MONEY THERE.
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US IN
THE FUTURE IS WITH PROPERTY TAX
REVENUE.
THE GREATEST SOURCE OF INCOME
FOR THE CITY OF ROCHESTER
OUTSIDE OF STATE AID AND GRANTS
OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
WE HAVE EXORBITANTLY HIGH
FORECLOSURE RATES IN THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER.
WE HAVE FOO MANY VACANT HOUGSS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE LEAVE OURG CITY
FOR CERTAIN FEARS -- SCHOOL
DISTRICT IS ONE AND SAFETY IS
ANOTHER.
THE IDEA IS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE
TO COME IN FROM THE SUBURBS TO
LIVE IN OUR CITY AND KEEP PEOPLE
WHO ARE HERE IN ROCHESTER.

Bonita Williams (VOV participant)>> WHAT DO YOU SEE AS
ROCHESTER'S GREATEST ASSET, AND
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CONCERN
FOR THE CITY OF ROCHESTER?

Duffy >> OUR^ GREATEST ASSET IS OUR
PEOPLE, AND I'VE HAD ALMOST 29
YEARS IN SO MANY DIFFERENT
CAPACITIES OUT IN NEIGHBORHOODS
AND SEEING THINGS FIRSTHAND.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE, GREW
UP IN ROCHESTER, AND WHAT I HAVE
ALWAYS SAID -- I HAVE NEVER HAD
ONE CYNICAL DAY IN MY ENTIRE
CAREER, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH YOU SEE
SOME THINGS THAT ARE BAD AND
NEGATIVE AND SOMETIMES
HEARTBREAKING, I HAVE SEEN SO
MANY GOOD THINGS HERE.
I'VE SEEN CITIZENS THAT HAVE
NOTHING IN THEIR HOMES OR
FAMILIES WHO SHARE WHAT THEY
HAVE.
I'VE SEEN JUST ACTS OF COURAGE,
ACTS OF GREAT SPIRIT.
WE HAVE A GREAT CITY. 5
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FAIL
TO DO IS FOCUS ON THAT.
THERE IS SUCH AN AIR OF
NEGATIVITY HERE IN ROCHESTER
THAT WE FAIL TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
AND UNDERSTAND HOW GOOD WE HAVE
IT, AND IT STARTS RIGHT WITH
PEOPLE, AND WE'RE DIFFERENT.
NOW, THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS TO
HOW DO WE BRING THAT CITY
TOGETHER?
WE ARE DIVIDED.
WE ARE DIVIDED ECONOMICALLY.
WE ARE DIVIDED RACIALLY.
WE ARE DIVIDED GEOGRAPHICALLY.
WE NEED TO BRING PEOPLE
TOGETHER.
SOME OF THE DECISIONS ARE NOT
JUST BASED ON HOW PEOPLE FEEL.
THEY ARE FOSTERED POLITICALLY
WITH THE DECISIONS THAT ARE
MADE, THINGS THAT ARE SAID THAT
CREATE THOSE DIVISIONS.
IF WE CAN BRING THIS CITY
TOGETHER IN AWHAT THAT REALLY
CREATES A SENSE OF TEAM AND TEAM
SPIRIT FOR THE FUTURE, WE'LL DO
WONDERFUL THINGS.
ANYTIME WE DIVIDE FOR ANY
REASON, WE ARE WEAKER, AND I
THINK THAT IT CREATES A SENSE OF
STRENGTH THAT WE NEED HERE.
WE NEED TO BRING EVERYONE
TOGETHER TO THE TABLE.
I'M A CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE
THAT DOES NOT HAVE A HISTORY OF
POLITICS.
I THINK THAT IS A STRENGTH THAT
I BRING TO THE TABLE, BECAUSE
THE ONE THING I WILL NOT ALLOW
TO HAPPEN IS TO BE DIVIDED
POLITICALLY.
IT IS NOT ABOUT REPUBLICANS AN
DEMOCRATS T IS ABOUT PEOPLE.
PEOPLE HAVE TO COME BEFORE
POLITICS.

Lydia Lees (VOV participant)>>HOW DO YOU STAY FOCUSED ON
YOUR MISSION FOR ROCHESTER, AND
HOW DO YOU AVOID BEING 6
OVEREXTENDED?

Duffy >> WELL, I'VE HAD GREAT
EXPERIENCE IN DOING THAT OVER
THE LAST 13 YEARS AS DEPUTY
CHIEF AND CHIEF.
I'M A VERY DISCIPLINED NATURE --
DISCIPLINED PERSON BY NATURE.
I'M UP AT THE SAME TIME EVERY
MORNING.
I'M UP AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING.
WEEKENDS AND WE DAYS I HAVE A
REGIMEN I PUT FORTH.
ONE OF THE EXPERIENCES OF THE
FRANKLIN COFFEE EXPERIENCE IS.
IS IF YOU DO SOMETHING FOR 21
DAYS, IT BECOMES A HABIT.
GOOD HABITS I BELIEVE IN.
FIRST OF ALL, IT IS TO FOCUS ON
PRIORITIES.
MY PRIORITIES ARE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION AND
SAFETY.
THERE IS NATIONAL DATA THAT IF
YOU FOCUS ON THREE GOALS, THREE
PRIORITIES, YOUR CHANCE OF
ACHIEVING THOSE ARE UP TO 100%.
BETWEEN FOUR AND SEVEN, YOU ARE
DOWN TO 50%.
OVER SEVEN, IT IS ALMOST ZERO,
SO IF YOU EXTEND YOURSELF TOO
FAR, YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH
NOTHING.
THOSE THREE THAT I MENTIONED,
THEY ARE ALL LINKED.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS LINKED
WITH EDUCATION AND WITH SAFETY.
I HONESTLY BELIEVE IF WE STAY
FOCUSED ON THOSE THREE AND
EVERYTHING THAT I DO, EVERY
DECISION THAT I MAKE, EVERY BIT
OF TIME THAT I HAVE, IF I CAN
HONESTLY STAY DISCIPLINED WITH
MY TEAM TO STAY ON THOSE THREE
AREAS, NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF
OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT,
BUT FOCUS ON THOSE PRIORITIES, I
THINK IT WILL SHOW SUCCESS IN
YEAR ONE, YEAR TWO, YEAR THREE
AND YEAR FOUR. 7

Jim Worden (VOV participant)>> THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THE
PLANNING PROCESS FOR THE CITY
AND THE COUNTY ARE ACTUALLY ALL
MERGING TOGETHER SOONER OR
LATER.
YOUR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
CITY MAYOR AND THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE REQUIRES A PLAN, AND
THERE SHOULD BE PROBABLY A
BUSINESS PLAN FOR THE CITY.
WOULD YOU SUGGEST OR HAVE YOU
HAD EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING
BUSINESS PLANS, AND WOULD YOU
SUGGEST MAKING THOSE BUSINESS
PLANS PUBLIC, I.E, THE INTERNET.

Duffy >> THAT S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
I HAVE EXPERIENCE
DEVELOPING STRATEGIC AND
BUSINESS PLANS FOR THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
THE ONLY WAY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS
IS TO BE ORGANIZED AND HAVE THAT
PLAN THOUGHT THROUGH ON PAPER
AND MEASURED.
ONE OF MY PROMISES THAT I MADE
EARLY ON IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT ISSUES, THE FIRST 90
DAYS THAT I CAME WOULD COME IN
AS MAYOR, I WOULD BRING TOGETHER BUSINESS LEADERS, LABOR
LEADERS, DEVELOPERS TO COME IN A
GROUP AND WE WOULD FORGE A
BUSINESS PLAN FOR THE CITY BASED
ON WHERE WE CAN GO IN THE NEXT
FOUR YEARS OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH.
THOSE ARE KEY STAKE HOLDERS
COMING TOGETHER, AND THEN I WANT
THAT PLAN ARTICULATED PUBLICLY.
I WOULD HAVE IT MEASURED.
I WOULD HAVE IT ONTO INTERNET,
ANYWHERE AVAILABLE WHERE THE
PUBLIC CAN SEE IT.
I WANT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE
FOR EVERYTHING I DO.
I WANT PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT WE ARE
SAYING WE ARE GOING TO DO I WANT
PEOPLE TO JUDGE AND MEASURE ME 8
AND WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
THOSE GOALS. YES, I WOULD.

Bonita Williams (VOV participant)>> WITH YOUR KNOWLEDGE YOU HAVE
OF THE OTHER MAYORAL CANDIDATES,
CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU LOOK
STRENGTHS ARE FOR THE JOB AS
MAYOR OF ROCHESTER?

Duffy >> MY STRENGTHS THAT I WOULD
BRING TO THE TABLE, FIRST OF
ALL, I HAVE CEO EXPERIENCE.
I HAVE LED A MAJOR EXPERIENCE
FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
I WAS SECOND IN COMMAND FOR SIX
YEARS BEFORE THAT, SO 13 YEARS
AT THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL.
20 YEARS OF MANAGEMENT
EXPERIENCE IN THE CITY
GOVERNMENT WITH EVERY ARRAY OF
ISSUES THAT ANYONE COULD FACE IN
GOVERNMENT, SO THAT EXPERIENCE,
I BRING TO THE TABLE IN TERMS OF
THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISINGS TO
RUN A MAJOR ORGANIZATION.
NUMBER TWO IS THE PEOPLE
EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE THE ONE
THING THAT I BELIEVE THAT NO ONE
CAN BRING TO THIS RACE THAT I
HAVE SEEN IS IZ HAVE SEEN THE
HIGH POINTS AND LOW POINTS OF
THIS COMMUNITY FOR MY ENTIRE
CAREER.
I HAVE SEEN IT UP CLOSE AND
PERSONAL.
I HAVE BEEN IN MORE HOMES,
BARBER SHOPS, CHURCHES, BEAUTY
SALONS, STREETS THAN ANYONE IN
THIS RACE, AND I THINK WHAT I
BRING TO THE TABLE IS
I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE, WHAT THEIR
NEEDS ARE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND
IT IN TERMS OF DEVELOPING A
FUTURE OF THIS CITY, AND I DO,
AND THE LAST PART IS I HAVE A
HISTORY OF BEING ACCESSIBLE.
I ANSWER PHONE CALLS. 9
I ANSWER E-MAILS.
I GO OUT TO THE STREETS, AND I
THINK THAT IS A KEY ISSUE FOR
ANY EXECUTIVE, NOT TO BE OUT
BEHIND A DESK BUT TO BE OUT ON A
VERY PERSONAL BASIS. YOU ARE INVOLVED IN SO MANY
THINGS.

Lydia Lees (VOV participant)>>HOW DOES YOUR PERSONAL FAMILY
LIFE STRUCTURE GET IMPACTED BY
YOUR DECISION TO RUN FOR MAYOR
AS OPPOSED TO THE POSITION YOU
HAVE BEEN HOLDING FOR ALL THESE
YEARS?

Duffy >> WELL, I AM BLESSED WITH A
GREAT WIFE AN TWO WONDERFUL
KIDS.
MY FAMILY'S SUPPORT HAS BEEN
EXCEPTIONAL.
I WILL TELL YOU, THE DECISION TO
RUN FOR MAYOR WAS NOT AN EASY
ONE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID OFF
THE BAT WAS TO SIT WITH MY WIFE
AND MY CHILDREN, AND MY WIFE,
WHO WAS VERY RESISTANT AT FIRST
AS WELL, BASS I HAVE NEVER
LOOKED FOR A POLITICAL CAREER OR
STEPPINGSTONE.
IT IS REALLY WHAT I BELIEVE IN
PEOPLE.
WE WERE ABLE TO, OVER TIME, GET
TO A POINT WHERE MY WIFE HAS
GONE FROM THE INITIAL RESISTANCE
TO JUST BEING A FULL SUPPORTER.
SHE IS MY BEST FRIEND.
SHE HAS BEEN WITH ME FOR 20
YEARS OF MARRIAGE THIS
SEPTEMBER.
I WOULD NOT MAKE A DECISION TO
IMPACT MY FAMILY NEGATIVELY AND
SHE IS USED TO ME BEING AWAY,
BEING CALLED AWAY AND BEING AT
MEETINGS, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS
I FIND IMPORTANT IS THAT I WILL
NEVER BE A HYPOCRITE.
I WILL NEVER GO OUT AND PREACH
FAMILY VALUES AND THEN PRACTICE 10
SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
MY FAMILY WILL BE A BIG PART OF
THIS.
I'LL MAKE SURE OF THAT. I WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING
TO IMPACT THAT RELATIONSHIP.
MY WIFE HAD SAID THAT IN HER
MIND, I SHOULD NOT DO THIS, I
WOULD HAVE RETHOUGHT THAT
DECISION.
SO SHE WAS A FULL PARTNER AT THE
TABLE.

Michael Caputo>> BOB DUFFY WITH THE VOICE OF
THE VOTER PANEL.
WE NEED TO KNOW YOUR COMMENTS.
E MAIL US AT "NEED TO KNOW" AT
WXXI.ORG OR CALL OUR RESPONSE
LINE TO THE NUMBER -- 258-0250. NOW WE'LL MOVE TO ANOTHER OF THE
MAYORAL HOPEFULS.
THIS TIME OUR VOICE OF THE VOTER
CITIZEN PANEL SITS DOWN WITH
CITY COUNCILMAN WADE NORWOOD.

Lydia Lees (VOV participant)>> HOW DOES YOUR FAMILY LIFE
STRUCTURE GET IMPACTED BY YOUR
DECISION TO RUN FOR MAYOR OF
ROCHESTER?

Wade Norwood (mayoral candidate)>> MY FAMILY LIFE STRUCTURE HAS
BEEN IMPACTED IN A VERY GREAT
WAY.
MY WIFE AND I ARE RAISING TWO
SMALL CHILDREN.
MY SON IS A NINTH GRADER AT
WILSON MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL.
MY DAUGHTER IS A FIRST GRADER AT
CITY SCHOOL NO. 29, AND I HAVE
ALWAYS TRIED TO SEE MORE THAN AN
-- TO BE MORE THAN AN ENGAGED
PARENT.
I HAVE TRIED TO BE AN EQUAL
PARTNER WITH MY WIFE AND OUR
MARRIAGE.
FOR THE LARGER PART OF OUR
MARRIAGE, WE RAISE ADD SPECIAL
NEEDS CHILD, AND WITH MY WIFE'S
CAREER BEING AS SUCCESSFUL AS IT 11
IS, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR HER
TO^ BEAR THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY
OF CHILD RAISING AND TO HAVE THE
MAJOR BURDENS OF MAINTAINING THE
HOUSE, BUT THAT'S THE SACRIFICE
THAT, AS A FAMILY, WE HAVE BEEN
WILLING TO MAKE.

Jim Worden (VOV participant)>> MR. NORWOOD, THANKS FOR BEING
HERE.
I'M GOING TO CENTER ON THE
FINANCIAL ASPECT OF BEING THE
MAYOR.
MY QUESTION TO YOU IS -- HAVE
YOU WORKED WITH FINANCIAL
REPORTS BEFORE AND SET UP
BUDGETS?
CAN YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF
ANY FINANCIAL REPORTS THAT YOU
HAVE GONE THROUGH AND ANALYZED?

Norwood>> THE WONDERFUL THING THAT I
BRING IN TO THIS CAMPAIGN IS 15
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE ON THE CITY
COUNCIL WORKING WITH THE CITY
BUDGET HAVING RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THE OVER0 SIGHT OF THE CITIES
AND THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
BUDGET.
MY PARTICIPATION IN NOT ONLY
ANALYZING THOSE BUDGETS
PRESENTED BEFORE US, BUT ALSO
ASSISTING IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
THE CITY COUNCIL'S BUDGET, IN MY
PROFESSIONAL AS A STATE
LEGISLATIVE AID, I HAVE ALSO HAD
20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OF
ANALYZING, RESPONDING TO THE
STATE BUDGET PROPOSALS AND
UNDERSTANDING THEIR CONSTRUCTION
AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY
IMPACT ON THE CITY.
MY EXPERIENCE HAS REALLY BEEN IN
PUBLIC BUDGETARY PROCESS SEES,
UNDERSTANDING HOW^ BUDGET
DOCUMENTS EXPRESS PRIORITIES AND
HOW IT IS THE VOICE OF THE
COMMUNITY GETS INTERPRETED
THROUGH A BUDGET DOCUMENT.

Bonita Williams (VOV participant)>> WHAT DO YOU SEE AS
ROCHESTER'S GREATEST ASSET AND
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CONCERN
FOR THE CITY OF ROCHESTER?

Norwood>> I WOULD SAY OUR GREAT ASSETS
ARE ALONG THREE LINES -- FIRST
OF ALL, OUR KNOWLEDGE BASE AND
THE KNOWLEDGE OF RESOURCES ARE
EDUCATIONAL AND FACILITIES ARE
EXCELLENT AND POSITION US TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHANGES
TAKING PLACE IN THE ECONOMY.
OUR SECOND FALLS ALONG THE LINES
OF OUR ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL
RESOURCES, PARTICULARLY OUR
CULTURAL HISTORY.
THIS IS FROM THE WATERWAYS TO
THE MOUNTAINS TO FINGER LAKES,
THERE ARE FEW COMMUNITIES THAT
BOAST THE NATURAL BEAUTY THAT WE
HAVE.
IN FACT, I AM RUNNING
FOR OFFICE IS THAT WE ARE NOT
YET BEEN ABLE TO GENERATE A
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THIS LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, THE STATE GOVERNMENT
AND THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT TO
REALLY ALLOW ROCHESTER TO LINK
THE WAY FOR GROWTH IN THE 21ST
CENTURY AND I BELIEVE THAT THE
NEXT TASK OF LEADERSHIP WILL BE
NOT ONLY FOR ROCHESTER BUT
LEADERSHIP FOR ALL LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT.

Lydia Lees (VOV participant)>> HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK YOU
SHOULD GET PAID IF YOU ARE THE
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ROCHESTER
AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THE LAST
INCREMENTS THAT WERE GIVEN TO
PAST MAYORS?

Norwood>> THE LAST INCREMENT WAS
ENACTED IN THE LAST FOUR, FIVE
YEARS.
AND WHAT IT DID WAS STEP UP AN
ESCALATOR WHERE THE MAYOR'S
SALARY WAS INCREASED TO
RECOGNIZE INFLATION AS AN 13
INCOMING MAYOR, I WOULD BE HAPPY
WITH THAT BEING FROZEN OVER THE
LENGTH OF MY TENURE, SIMPLY
BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I DO
BELIEVE IT IS AN INADEQUATE
SALARY AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW.

Jim Worden (VOV participant)>> HOW ARE YOU AT BUILDING A
BUSINESS PLAN, DEVELOPING A
BUSINESS PLAN NOT ONLY FOR THE
CITY BUT WITH THE COUNTY AND
WHERE WOULD YOU GO TO GET HELP
TO BUILD A BUSINESS PLAN AND
ANALYZE IT AS IT GOES FORWARD.

Norwood>> I WOULD TURN TO THE PARTNERS
WHO HAVE BEEN SO HELPFUL IN
HELPING US GAIN THE PRESENT
POSITION THAT WE ARE IN.
SPECIFICALLY, I WOULD LOOK TO
THE GRA.
I WOULD LOOK TO THE ROCHESTER
BUSINESS ALLIANCE, THE RBI, AND
I WOULD LOOK TO THE COUNTY
GOVERNMENT TO SIT WITH THE
NORWOOD ADMINISTRATION AND
CONSTRUCT A SOLID
ACTION-ORIENTED STRATEGIC PLAN
FOR ATTRACTING BUSINESS TOSS
THIS AREA, AND FOR SUPPORTING
THE GROWTH OF THOSE BUSINESSES
THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
OUR GREATEST CHALLENGES REALLY
CANNOT JUST BE SIMPLY DISMISSED
AS NEW YORK'S DIFFICULT
ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO DO
BUSINESS.
WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT NEW
YORK IS A DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT,
AND WE HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE ON
THE LOCAL LEVEL, TO HELP
BUSINESSPEOPLE FIND THE WAYS TO
REACH GROWTH TO RECOGNIZE
PROFITS, AND TO GROW JOBS,
NOTWITHSTANDING THE DIFFICULT
STATE OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.

Bonita Williams (VOV participant)>> WITH THE KNOWLEDGE YOU HAVE
OF THE OTHER MAYORAL CANDIDATES,
TELL US, WHAT SETS YOU APART AS 14
A PERSON FOR THE JOB AS MAYOR OF
ROCHESTER?

Norwood>> I WOULD SAY THAT WHAT
DISTINGUISHES ME IS THE FACT
THAT NOT ONLY DO I BRING IN TO
THIS CAMPAIGN A KNOWLEDGE OF
CITY GOVERNMENT, BUT I ALSO
BRING IN TO THIS CAMPAIGN A
KNOWLEDGE OF STATE GOVERNMENT,
STATE POLICY-MAKING.
I BRING IN TO THIS RACE VERY
EXTENSIVE RELATIONSHIPS ON ON
THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL AS
WELL AS A SOLID AND MEANINGFUL
PARTNERSHIPS AT THE GRASSROOTS
LEVEL.
AND, I ALSO BRING IN TO THIS
RACE A BUSINESS RATE OF
COMPETENCY IN NAVIGATING
POLITICAL TURMOILS AN POLITICAL
WATERS SO AS TO CREATE RESULTS.
I THINK BOB DUFFY HAS BEEN A
GREAT POLICE CHIEF, BUT THE
PROBLEMS OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT
GO FAR BEHIND CRIME, AND I
REPRESENT 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
DEALING WITH A RANGE OF ISSUES.
MR. MAINS HAS BEEN A VERY
EFFECTIVE COUNCILMAN IN TERMS OF
BRINGING FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT TO
THE CITY, BUT HE HAS NOT YET
BEEN ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THE
ABILITY TO HAVE A BROAD BASED
LEGISLATIVE MAP OF
ACCOMPLISHMENT AS I DO.

Williams>> YES.
YOU HAVE MENTIONED THAT YOU HAVE
DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIPS ON
DIFFERENT LEVELS, STATE, LOCAL
AS WELL AS FEDERAL.
HOW WILL THOSE RELATIONSHIPS
IMPACT THE CITY RESIDENTS?

Norwood>> JUST ABOUT EVERY SINGLE ISSUE
THAT THE CITY GOVERNMENT FACES.
IN SOME WAY, WE TOUCH A
CONSTRAINT IMPOSED UPON US BY
STATE STATUTE OR FEDERAL 15
REGULATION OR BY LIMITED
RESOURCES FROM THE STATE AND
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I HAVE A WAY TO NAVIGATE THROUGH
THOSE SYSTEMS.
I HAVE 20 YEARS OF RELATIONSHIPS
WITH THOSE SYSTEMS.
I HAVE THE ABILITY TO PICK UP A
TELEPHONE AND KNOW I CAN GET
SOMEONE TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
I AM PROUD OF THE FACT THAT,
LOOKING AT THE CANDIDATES IN
THIS FIELD, THAT THOSE ELECTED
OFFICIALS, NOT ONLY AT THE CITY
GOVERNMENT LEVEL BUT AT THE
STATE AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT
LEVEL, WHO HAVE WORKED WITH ALL
THREE OF US AS PUBLIC OFFICIALS,
THAT HAVE BY AND LARGE JOINED IN
SUPPORTING MY CAMPAIGN.

Lydia Lees (VOV participant)>> YOU KNOW MANY LARGE CITIES
ARE HAVING PROBLEMS FINANCIALLY.
WOULD YOU SAY WE HAVE A REVENUE
PROBLEM OR A SPENDING PROBLEM?

Norwood>> WITHOUT A DOUBT, OURS IS A
REVENUE PROBLEM.
IT IS A REAL REFLECTION OF THE
FACT THAT THE STATE AND FEDERAL
GOVERNMENTS HAVE, OVER THE LAST
30 YEARS, WITHDRAWN FOR
SUPPORTING INNER CITY
COMMUNITIES, AND HAVE WITHDRAWN
FROM SUPPORTING POOR PEOPLE IN
THIS COUNTRY.
IT'S ALSO A REFLECTION OF THE
FACT THAT, AS PEOPLE IN
BUSINESSES HAVE FLED FROM THE
CITY, PROPERTY VALUES HAVE
DECLINED AND THE CITY'S TAX
PROPERTY BASE HAS SHRUNK.
NOT WITHSTANDING IT IS A REVENUE
PROBLEM, WE STILL HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTROL
EXPENSES, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO
BALANCE OUR BUDGET, AND SO THIS
THIS IS OUR FUTURE -- OUR FUTURE
WILL BE MARKED JUST AS OUR PAST
HAS BEEN MARKED WITH THE CITY
GOVERNMENT INCREASINGLY 16
CONTINUALLY FINDING WAYS TO
BUILD EFFICIENCIES, TO REDUCE
SERVICES, AND TO ENSURE THAT
WE'RE ABLE TO STILL MEET
INCREASING DEMANDS.

Jim Worden (VOV participant)>> HAVE YOU HAD EXPERIENCE ON
HIRING PEOPLE, AND HAVE YOU HAD
EXPERIENCE IN FIRING PEOPLE?

Norwood>> MY EXPERIENCE IN HIRING AND
FIRING PEOPLE HAS BEEN LIMITED.
AS A STATE EMPLOYEE, I HAVE NOT
HAD THAT AUTHORITY OR THAT
LIBERTY, AND AS A CITY COUNCIL
MEMBER, WE ARE GIVEN A HALFTIME
STAFFPERSON AND WE SHARE A
CENTRAL STAFF.
WHAT I WILL SAID IS THAT MY
EXPERIENCE IN MANAGING PEOPLE
HAS A GREAT DEAL TO DO WITH
BUILDING VOLUNTARY PARTNERSHIPS
AND LEARNING HOW TO ENGAGE
PEOPLE AND A BROAD MISSION AND
GUIDE THEM TO A SPECIFIC ACTION.
MY EXPERIENCE IS ROOTED IN
FINDING PEOPLE WHO DO NOT
NECESSARILY HAVE TRADITIONAL
SKILL SETS, BUT YET HAVE
KNOWLEDGE THAT CAN BE BROUGHT TO
HELP SOLVE PROBLEMS IN A NEW AND
DIFFERENT WAY, AND I BELIEVE
THAT IT'S TIME TO ALLOW THAT
TYPE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT TO HAVE REIGN AT CITY
HALL.

Worden>> THAT WOULD BE VERY NICE, BUT,
YOU KNOW, PART OF THE TOUGHEST
THINGS OF RUNNING ANY BUSINESS
OR ANY ASPECT OF BUSINESS IS
BRINGING PEOPLE IN AND MAKING
THE DECISION SOONER OR LATER IF
SOMEBODY IS NOT PERFORMING, AND
CANNOT DO THE JOB, YOU HAVE TO
LET THEM GO.

Norwood>> THAT IS EXACTLY CORRECT. I 17
WILL HAVE NOT ONLY -- NOT ONLY
DO I NOT HAVE THAT PROBLEM WITH
REGARD TO INDIVIDUALS BUT I
THINK IT IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS
WITH THE CITY AS AN
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, THE
WAY WE'RE ORGANIZED IS A WAY IN
WHICH PEOPLE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO
REALLY WORK EFFICIENTLY TO TASK,
AND A WAY THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH
OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, NOR IT'S IS
THE STRUCTURE REALLY RELEVANT TO
THE OTHER INSTITUTIONAL ACTORS,
BE IT THE COUNTY OR A
NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION.
THERE IS A REAL IMPRESS AND
PRESSING NEED FOR A
REORGANIZATION AT CITY HALL, AND
IT IS MY 16 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
WITH THE CITY GOVERNMENT,
MANAGING ITS BUDGET,
UNDERSTANDING ITS PEOPLE AND
PROCESSES AND UNDERSTANDING
WHERE IT FALLS SHORT THAT I'M
WILLING TO BRING TO THE TABLE.

Bonita Williams (VOV participant)>> MR. NORWOOD, IS IT PART OF THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MAYOR TO
SEE THAT CITY STUDENTS RECEIVE A
QUALITY EDUCATION?

Norwood>> YES, IT IS, AND AS THE ONLY
PARENT OF A CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
STUDENT IN THIS RACE, I FEEL
THAT RESPONSIBILITY IN A VERY
REAL AND PRESSING WAY, ALTHOUGH
THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE DIRECT
CONTROL OVER THE SCHOOLS OR THE
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.
WE ARE A MAJOR FUNDER OF THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND WE ARE A
MAJOR STAKEHOLDER IN ITS
SUCCESS.

Michael Caputo>> WIDE NORWOOD MEETING OUR
VOICE OF THE VOTER PANELISTS.
NOW LET'S OPEN UP THE BUSINESS
SECTION WITH THE DEMOCRAT AND 18
CHRONICLE.

Julie Philipp (JP)>> JOINING US IS ELLEN ROSEN,
THE BUSINESS EDITOR OF THE
DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE.
NICE TO SEE YOU, ELLEN.
KODAK TAX ACCOUNTANT IS ON THE
HOT SEAT.

Ellen Rosen (ER)>> YES, PAPERS FILED IN FEDERAL
COURT TODAY, A MAN CHARGED WITH
FRAUD.
BASICALLY, ONE OF HIS JOBS AS
CORPORATE TAX ACCOUNTANT FOR
KODAK, ONE OF HIS JOBS WAS TO
CONTRACT OUT TO HAVE ASSESSMENTS
OF PROPERTIES THAT KODAK WAS
LOOKING AT OR KODAK OWNED HAD
THE ASSESSMENTS VALUE TO SEE IF
THEY WERE FAIR OR NEED TOBDZ
CHALLENGED. WHAT KODAK IS
ALLEGING -- APPARENTLY THIS IS
SOMETHING THEY DISCOVERED AND HE
CONFESSED HE OPENED A SEPARATE
COMPANY CALLED STRATEGIC ASSETS
MANAGEMENT AND HE WAS TAKING
KICKBACKS.

(JP)>> SO HE WAS AN ACTUAL EMPLOYEE
TAKING KICKBACKS AND PUTTING
THEM TOWARDS HIS OTHER --

(ER)>> YES.
THEY SAY IT WAS ONE AND A HALF
MILLION TO $2 MILLION.
HE MAY HAVE FUNNELED AS MUCH AS
$4 MILLION.
KODAK SAYS THEY'RE IN THE
PROCESS OF TERMINATING HIM.
BASICALLY HE IS DUE BACK IN
COURT.
THE PAPERS WERE FILED BASED ON
CONFESSIONS HE MADE TO KODAK
SECURITY.
KODAK SAYS THIS DOESN'T IN ANY
WAY AFFECT ANY OF THEIR
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

(JP)>> DOES IT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH THE CHANGES FROM THE OXLEY-SARBANES ACT?

(ER)>> NO. 19
THIS IS SOMETHING COMPLETELY
SEPARATE.
THERE IS NO WAY THEY WOULD HAVE
UNCOVERED THIS IN THIS BECAUSE
BASICALLY HE WAS GETTING
KICKBACKS FROM A SEPARATE
ENTITY.
THERE IS NOTHING TO SAY THAT THE
PAYMENTS WERE BEING MADE TO
THESE COMPANIES FOR LOOKING AT
THESE ASSESSMENTS WAS ILLEGAL.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF
COMPANIES DO WHEN THEY HAVE A
LOT OF PROPERTIES.
THIS IS ONE WAY YOU KEEP YOUR
COSTS UNDER CONTROL.

(JP)>> IT SOUNDS LIKE AN
INDIVIDUAL ISSUE, NOT ONE THAT
WILL AFFECT THE BOTTOM LINE.

(ER)>> YES.
KODAK SAYS IT WILL NOT AFFECT
THEIR BOTTOM LINE OR MATERIAL
EARNINGS IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER.

(JP)>> ANOTHER STORY THAT INTERESTS
ARE ME, BACK IN OCTOBER, ULTRALIFE
BATTERIES SAYING THEY HAD $286
MILLION CONTRACT OVER FIVE YEARS
BUT THEIR FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS
REPORT CAME OUT EARLY. DIDN'T LOOK TOO PROMISING...

(ER)>> THE DELAYED SHIPMENT OF THE
MILITARY MATERIALS.
THEY SAY THAT PUTS THEM INTO THE
HOLE.
THEY SAY THEY WILL BE COMING OUT
OF IT SOON AND THEY EXPECT THE
REST OF THE YEAR TO LOOK GOOD.

(JP)>> SO THIS WASN'T A SURPRISE?

(JP)>> NO, ACTUALLY, THE CEO OF
ULTRALIFE SAID SOMETIME AGO
THAT THEY EXPECTED THE REVENUE
TO BE DOWN.
EVEN THOUGH THEIR EARNINGS HAD
BEEN LET THAN WALL STREET
PREDICTED.

(JP)>> BRIEFLY, YOU SPOKE WITH ANN MULCAHY
THE COMPANY SEEMS TO BE TURNING
AROUND.
IS SHE PLEASED WITH WHERE THE
COMPANY IS NOW?

(ER)>> SHE IS PLEASED WITH WHERE THE
COMPANY IS NOW.
WE MEET WITH ANN REGULARLY AND
THE VICE PRESIDENT OF XEROX.
ANN IS THE KIND OF PERSON WHO
TRIES TO DEFLECT THE ATTENTION
BACK ON THE COMPANY.
A LOT OF INTERVIEWS YOU ARE
SEEING IN THE NATIONAL PRESS,
SHE DIDN'T DO INTERVIEWS, THEY
WERE GATHERED IN OTHER WAYS.

(JP)>> DID SHE EXPRESS CONCERNS?

(ER)>> THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE
DIRECTION THE COMPANY
IS GOING.

(JP)>> ANY WORRIES ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FROM HP AND THIER CEO CARLY FIORINI?

(ER)>> SHE GETS UPSET WHEN YOU
COMPARE HER TO THE HP PRESIDENT.
SHE SAYS IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE
BOTH BLOND WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY.

(JP)>> THANKS, ELLEN. IF YOU MISS ANY OF OUR RECENT
BROADCASTS, THERE IS AN EASY WAY
TO TUNE IN.
IF YOU HAVE TIME WARNER A VIDEO
ON DEMAND, YOU CAN DIAL UP
CHANNEL 716, ROCHESTER ON
DEMAND, AND FIND WXXI NEWS FOR
"NEED TO KNOW" PROGRAMS FROM THE
LAST MONTH.

Michael Caputo>> THAT'S OUR REPORT.
NEXT WEEK, WE CONTINUE OUR LOOK
AT THE ROCHESTER MAYORAL
CAMPAIGNS WITH OUR VOICE OF THE
VOTER PARTNERS AND OUR CITIZEN
PANEL.
JOIN US THEN.