ERIE COUNTY, N.Y. -- The two Republican candidates in New York's 147th Assembly District primary have similar political ideologies but say they're very different people.

Incumbent David DiPietro said he works across the aisle when necessary but isn't afraid to voice his opposition to the Democratic majority.

"I've been called the conscience of the Assembly by our leaders and I'm very proud of that. I'm very humbled by it but there are a few of us that will take the fight all the way down on the floor because we don't ever compromise," DiPietro said.

Opponent Mitch Martin said DiPietro's antagonistic nature is not the way to get things done in the state Legislature.

"We should be working together. Republicans, Democrats, we're all Americans and it's about building relationships and I believe that I have, in the past, have proven that I've built relationships with all party affiliations," Martin said.

Martin is currently a chief with the Erie County Sheriff's Office and behind the scenes has been a local party fixture for years. He's worked for current state Sen. Pat Gallivan and former U.S. Rep. Chris Jacobs and said many local leaders are endorsing him.

"I have all these supervisors and mayors that are supporting me and the sheriff of Erie County and you have to ask yourself, why are they supporting me over him? Because I get things done," he said.

DiPietro is a retired owner of a dry cleaning business, the former mayor of East Aurora and is seeking his seventh term in the Assembly. He said he represents contituents at a grassroots level.

"I have gone out and met the people and that's what I think they want. They want to know that their representatives represents them," DiPietro said.

Both agree on the most important issues this election.

"We need more law enforcement and also to bring back any Second Amendment rights that have been taken and at least hold the line," Martin said.

DiPietro said he's walked the walk on gun rights.

"I've held over 100 town hall meetings," he said. "I've traveled the state on the Second Amendment. I'm suing the governor. It's my bill to repeal the SAFE Act."

Martin said DiPietro has vocally supported term limits in the past but has been in office for over a decade. DiPietro said he does believe in term limits but isn't going to step away as long as the same rules don't apply to others.

He pointed out Martin's former boss, Pat Gallivan, has been in the Legislature longer than him.