Fact check: Do Craig Diego, Joe Villano support ‘indiscriminate cuts’ to Auburn services?

A campaign mailer distributed to Auburn residents has sparked a political controversy by accusing City Council candidates Craig Diego and Joe Villano of supporting “indiscriminate cuts” to city services, a claim that requires careful examination in the lead-up to local elections.

The mailer, sent by the New York State Democratic Committee, targets the two Republican candidates running for at-large council seats in the November election. It specifically alleges both candidates would make cuts to essential services, including police, fire protection, and public works.

When contacted about these claims, both Diego and Villano firmly rejected the accusations, characterizing them as misleading political tactics designed to sway voters with inaccurate information.

“I’ve never once stated I would cut any services whatsoever,” Diego said in a recent interview. A local business owner and first-time political candidate, Diego emphasized that his campaign has consistently focused on fiscal responsibility rather than service reduction. “My platform is about examining our spending habits and finding efficiencies, not slashing vital community services.”

Villano expressed similar frustration with the mailer’s characterization of his position. “This is a complete fabrication,” he stated. “I’ve been clear throughout my campaign that my goal is to ensure Auburn residents receive the highest quality services while maintaining reasonable tax rates.” Villano, who has previously served on local community boards, added that his experience has taught him the importance of essential city services to Auburn’s quality of life.

The controversy highlights the increasingly contentious nature of local elections in Auburn, where economic concerns and municipal budgeting have become central campaign issues. Both candidates have made fiscal management a cornerstone of their platforms, but maintain that improving efficiency doesn’t necessarily mean reducing services.

A review of public statements, debate transcripts, and campaign materials from both Diego and Villano failed to produce evidence supporting the mailer’s claims about “indiscriminate cuts.” Neither candidate has publicly advocated for reducing police, fire, or public works budgets in any campaign communications.

The New York State Democratic Committee, when asked to provide substantiation for the claims in their mailer, referenced general Republican policy positions on government spending but couldn’t point to specific statements from either candidate proposing service cuts in Auburn.

Local political analysts note that this dispute reflects broader tensions in municipal politics, where candidates must balance promises of fiscal restraint with commitments to maintain service levels. Dr. Elizabeth Morgan, a political science professor at a nearby university, explained: “Local candidates often face this challenge – how to address budget concerns without alarming voters about potential service reductions. Campaign communications frequently oversimplify these nuanced positions.”

Auburn Mayor Michael Quill, a Democrat, declined to comment specifically on the mailer but emphasized the importance of factual campaign communications. “Voters deserve accurate information about candidates’ positions to make informed decisions,” Quill stated.

The timing of the mailer, approximately three weeks before Election Day, follows a pattern seen in many local campaigns, where messaging often intensifies as voting approaches. Political communication experts suggest that late-stage campaign materials frequently employ sharper contrasts between candidates.

For Auburn voters, the controversy underscores the importance of consulting multiple sources when evaluating campaign claims. City resident Margaret Simmons expressed frustration with the situation: “It’s getting harder to know what’s true in these campaigns. I wish we could just hear directly from candidates about their actual plans rather than these back-and-forth accusations.”

Both Diego and Villano have indicated they plan to continue addressing the mailer’s claims through direct voter outreach in the final weeks before the election. Meanwhile, the incident serves as a reminder of how political communication can sometimes oversimplify complex policy positions, particularly in local elections where nuance often matters most to community outcomes.