Both candidates for New York's 123rd Assembly District believe they are the true proponents of reform. But both framed their arguments differently Tuesday afternoon during Cayuga Community College's last in a series of televised forums for Adelphia Communications.

Incumbent Republican Gary Finch contended he has always been the voice for change.

"Many things are wrong (in Albany), but you're going to throw out the incumbents who've been trying to bring attention to the problem? I think that's wrong," said the Springport legislator who is seeking his third two-year term.

"I've been speaking out about it for five years."

Bergan, an Auburn lawyer and former city councilman, suggested Finch is part of the dysfunction in Albany.

"I am sick of the fingerpointing when it's the people who we elected who are responsible."

At the outset of the forum, Bergan - like the other Democratic challengers for Assembly - was asked whether he would support Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for another term as speaker if Silver had yet to come out publicly for significant reform by Jan. 1.

"I will only get behind a candidate who supports the reform movement," he offered, although he seemed weary of his opponent's repeated attempts to link him and his campaign financing with Silver.

"If Mr. Finch wants to run against Sheldon Silver, he should move to Manhattan."

Critics of state government point to the need for dramatic rule changes in both houses, which have been stalled by both Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, but Finch would not accept that the Republican party power broker was part of the problem in Albany. Instead Finch addressed the system which leaves him nearly powerless to enact legislation nor bring home significant funding for Cayuga County projects. "People should be able to keep their money, not send it to Albany and then have it come back as member items," said Finch. "It's hypocrisy."

Unlike his Democratic counterpart in the 128th District race, Randy Pellis, Bergan has not campaigned on the fact that a Democrat in the Assembly majority will be able to bring back more member item discretionary funding than the Republican. "It may be true, but it's not right," Bergan said, though he did note that Finch "has not been effective in bringing back money to his constituents."

Both men professed to be pro-choice, in favor of the state's death penalty, and said they believe that recruitment and retention of Cayuga County business was the most important priority of the next term.

Bergan said he believed the state should raise its $5.15 minimum wage immediately, while Finch would rather see the federal government raise the minimum.

As for the state's continued late budgets, both candidates said they would support legislators not being paid at all after the budget deadline until it is passed. Currently, legislators' pay is suspended but then returned in full once a budget is passed.

While both also offered that they'd be willing to stay in Albany until a budget is passed - Finch and other members of the Assembly returned home last spring despite missing the deadline - neither would personally promise to stay.

Finch closed the forum reminding voters that he has been a vocal supporter of reform since he has been in Albany.

Bergan reiterated that Finch was as responsible for the partisan gridlock in Albany as anyone on either side of the aisle.

"Do you want more of the same," Bergan said, alluding to his opponent, "or do you want real change in the way Albany does business?"