Democratic state Senate candidate Paloma Capanna acknowledged Friday that she failed to vote in various elections before 2002.

And while her opponent, Republican incumbent Michael Nozzolio, has blasted her for lack of participation in the democratic process, Capanna is firing back by accusing the senator of detracting from what she calls the real issues.

After discussing the matter with commissioners of the Monroe County Board of Elections, Capanna said it is clear that she “had missed some years previously” when it came to voting in elections. However, she also said that she voted regularly after 2000, including in the last election, when only 32 percent of Monroe County voted.

“It is no reflection of my enthusiasm for democracy or the process,” Capanna said. “It's not a reflection of anything other than life is stressful.”

Capanna's voting record became a public issue earlier this week when a Nozzolio supporter sent a letter to local media outlets claiming election records show that Capanna did not vote from 1997 to 2002.

The topic came up during a televised debate, during which Nozzolio called out his opponent for her voting record.

“I find that shocking,” Nozzolio said during the debate. “That casts into question your commitment to democracy and public service.”

At the same debate, Capanna, a family law attorney, said she was engaged in a trial at least one of the years. New York state courts are closed on election days.

But Capanna sees such comments as an example of what she said is an unwillingness to discuss the real issues. In the last year, 5,000 workers in the Rochester and Syracuse areas have lost their jobs while inflation rose 1.3 percent across the state, according to Capanna.

She also noted that on Nozzolio's campaign Web site the section entitled “Vision” has only a “coming soon” message.

“In the back of my own mind, I keep it as my goal to maintain a focus on the issues,” Capanna said. “Our campaign is all about the future and big policy changes, versus my opponent who represents what Albany has not done well.”

The region has been “plagued” by white-line syndrome, she continued, meaning too many candidates run unopposed. That system has disenfranchised many voters, Capanna said, and it has been distressing to democracy.

“Change is going to come from us, ordinary people who do extraordinary things,” Capanna said. “I think that is the kind of story the voting record tells.”

A representative from Nozzolio's office said Friday that the senator did not wish to comment further on the issue.