Election Day is inching closer and closer and Western New Yorkers are hearing from the two candidates vying for Erie County district attorney.

The debate took place at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute Thursday morning. It was the only scheduled Erie County district attorney debate between now and Election Day.  

Democratic incumbent Michael Keane, who took over as acting DA after John Flynn left office, is up against Republican candidate James Gardner.

Topics brought up included bail reform, discovery laws, raise the age laws, car thefts becoming more common, and deaths in Erie County jails.

But despite some disagreements here and there, both candidates expressed the need for change at the state level and were critical of some policies put in place by lawmakers.

"We have to work with the state legislature to change some of these laws," Keane said. "There are problems with the new laws. The de-criminalization of most crimes for 16 and 17-year-olds has created some problems for us. And, coupled with the bail statute, when they have desk appearance tickets for a 17-year-old kid who stole a car. It's a problem."

"The genesis of this raft of car thefts is policy," Gardner said. "The policies of New York state that made it easier for criminals, made life easier for criminals, installed a revolving door on the front of a jailhouse.