UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - On this election eve, one race continues to be a big talk of conversation, the race for Utica City Comptroller. Mike Cerminaro has been Utica's Comptroller since 2005. He is proud of his success, "Our bond rating has increased, our finances have stabilized, four consecutive budgets, these are the issues that touch the taxpayers pockets directly."

This year, the republican Cerminaro has two opponents, democrat Frank Meola, and conservative party candidate Rocco Garro. Garro says "A comptroller is a fancy word for the guy who watches the books and we're not watching the books." Both Garro and Meola are on the attack when it comes to Cerminaro's performance. Meola says the City of Utica was audited by the state in 2006 and 2008. He says so far Cerminaro and the Administration have not responded to the State's corrective action plan request. Meola says "It's very important for the people of the City of Utica know that there wasn't a response, that means there is no answer right now with what's going on in the internal control problems. We have to resolve them."

Cerminaro's response to why it's taking so long, "Well, you have an election process that takes place, there's a lot of things going on at City Hall, it's along process, sometimes it can take as long as a year to get it complete and it's done in steps, we've completed several steps right now." Cerminaro says before Meola throws stones at someone else, he ought to get his own house in order.

The main reason for the controversy in this race, Meola was involved in the federal asbestos trial of Paul and Steven Mancuso. Both brothers were convicted just last week of conspiracy for violating asbestos disposal regulations. Comptroller candidate Frank Meola, who is currently on Utica's Common Council, took air quality samples for Paul Mancuso. Mancuso and his brother Steven were recently convicted of conspiracy for violating asbestos disposal regulations.

On the issue, Meola talked to News Channel Two's Gary Liberatore who asked Meola to answer people's questions about whether there was any kind of falsifying of documents or anything, Meola responded "That's totally untrue statements." Meola went on to say "Again the trial is over, and I'd really like to concentrate on the city's finances." Garro says, "I'm afraid that Mr. Meola has a bad credibility problem." Cermanaro says he has no comment on Meola's legal problems, but he did on the issue itself of asbestos, "It hits home to me, because my dad died of asbestosis, and when I read about whether documents are falsified and proper documentation isn't done, to me that's unconscionable, because you effect human lives that way, so it effected me in the passing of my dad."

Garro says, "This is the campaign where they have to go vote based on qualifications, I know that Mike (Cermanaro) is more popular, he's been there for four years, but his background is not in any of this stuff."

Garro is an accountant, Meola owns several businesses, has a degree in accounting and has been a Utica Common Councilor for the last six years. Cerminaro is a former auto mechanic and City of Utica Department of Public Works Commissioner, and is the current Utica City Comptroller. Cermanaro says he hopes people get out to vote, "It means an awful lot, there was one race that was determined by one vote in the first ward, so peoples voices have to be heard, and when people's voices are heard it makes a big difference so we urge people to get out and vote this Tuesday."