Two young would-be Scranton mayors matched up Monday in an old form of politics, engaging in a debate highlighted by Marcel Lisi's sarcastic jabs at opponent Gary Lewis, who gently parried with a policy-oriented focus.
The Republican mayoral debate at the University of Scranton started with a simple question about why they want to run a city in such a financial fix.
Mr. Lewis, a financial consultant with a blog focused on Scranton's finances, said it's because he's researched and written about the city's finances and watched city officials ignore "a very fixable problem" for more than a year. As a nonpolitician, he feels freer to fix the problems.
Mr. Lewis "gave you an answer that's not an answer," Mr. Lisi responded. "Honestly, we don't have a Wal-Mart in Scranton; that's pathetic. Taylor has one, Dickson City has one."
He blamed the city's high taxes for that. Repeating his campaign mantra, Mr. Lisi said he's running to lower taxes - the best way to attract residents and businesses and ultimately help the city raise tax revenues.
Mr. Lewis returned fire when questioned about defining success after one term as mayor.
"We need to balance the budget," he said. "It's great to sit here and talk about how people are leaving and how taxes drive people out of the city, but the most fundamental issue is an imbalanced budget, which is causing tax hikes" and keeping Scranton from providing basic services like paving streets.
Mr. Lisi, a self-described entrepreneur who said he's working on developing board games and a construction-related business, said balancing the budget is implied.
"I'm totally against spending," Mr. Lisi said. "Right now, we're probably borrowing money just to cut the grass at Nay Aug Park."
On whether the city should file for bankruptcy, Mr. Lewis said that "would be the most appropriate fix," but it won't happen because the city council and the state, overseer of the city's distressed status, won't approve.
The state could help with pension reform and by easing cities' ability to refinance debt at lower interest rates, he said.
"Now Mr. Lewis, you say you're a smart guy, but if bankruptcy's not a viable option, how can you advocate for it?" Mr. Lisi asked. "If we declare bankruptcy, who's going to live here? Who wants to live in a bankrupt city?"
On taxes, Mr. Lisi said he would fight for decreases in all taxes and the garbage fee. Mr. Lewis said he would fight to keep taxes the same, but try to cut business, mercantile and real estate transfer taxes because they chase away businesses and residents.
"To me, the quickest and easiest way to do so is to eliminate the nuisance taxes (the business privilege, mercantile and real-estate transfer taxes)," Mr. Lewis said. Cutting real estate taxes right away would hurt the city's finances, he said, though stabilized finances could allow for cuts "down the road," he said.
Mr. Lisi said Mr. Lewis' approach will only lead to more business and residential flight, pointing to three businesses that recently moved out.
"Mr. Lewis, wake up, the population's decreasing," Mr. Lisi said. "Where's your revenue going to come from, buddy?"
That prompted Mr. Lewis to say Mr. Lisi would know better "if you actually looked at the city budget."
"What we have in Scranton is population flight that's driven by decreasing home values and a lack of jobs," he said. "The most critical thing we need to do is prevent additional tax hikes."
Asked about cooperating with boroughs and townships, Mr. Lisi said he would, for example, attend Dunmore Council meetings to discuss cooperation.
"Talking's wonderful, but you need to have a plan," Mr. Lewis shot back.
He would analyze the city's strengths and weaknesses and offer to share services by convincing other towns the city could perform a service for less, he said.
On a question on economic development, Mr. Lewis said it's hard to tell if the city's development programs are working because he hasn't seen any substantial investment "in a while." He called for closer ties to the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.
"People are moving back to Scranton. I came back to Scranton," Mr. Lewis said. "People do want to be here."
Mr. Lisi's response was pointed.
"Hey Gary, why don't find the people that want to be here and bring them into the audience tonight because I can't find one in Scranton and I've been to hundreds if not thousands of doors in the city," was all Mr. Lisi said.
The four Democratic mayor candidates square off tonight at 7 on the fourth floor of the DeNaples Center at the university. The League of Women Voters of Lackawanna County is sponsoring both mayoral debates.
Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com