It's the high-stakes prizefight that could determine which party controls the state Senate.
But state Sen. Serphin Maltese and City Councilman Joseph Addabbo pulled their punches in their first debate last week.
The campaign encounter on Tuesday was cordial by design because the sponsor, the Howard Beach Civic Forum, set down rules preventing Addabbo and Maltese from even mentioning one another by name.
Despite the polite match, the two could not have been farther apart on one of the evening's main issues - state education dollars for New York City.
Maltese, a veteran Republican defending his seat, went first.
"The state of New York is often accused of not getting enough money back to the city," Maltese said, attempting to debunk a charge often made by city lawmakers. "In the last 10 years, we have increased the [education] funding for the city of New York by 97%."
Though Addabbo couldn't address Maltese by name, he was clearly in accusation mode.
"Sure, New York City may have increased its funding for schools in the state budget," said Addabbo, who is facing term limits next year.
"But when we increase only 8% and Nassau and Suffolk counties increase more than 30%, the funding formula is still unfair," he said.
The candidates were referring to the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit, a drawn-out battle in which the state was forced to deliver $300 million to the city Education Department to make up for statewide funding inequities.
The debate came on the same day that Mayor Bloomberg announced a $185 million cut from the Education Department's budget this year, along with $395 million next year.
Addabbo said the current financial crisis warrants that "education first" should be the "rallying cry" in the state Senate.
"We need to control the $300 million," he said, referring to the court award. "But right now we have no idea where that is."
Maltese was quick to tout his seat on the education committee and his ability to land grants for the 15th Senate District.
He noted the GOP majority secured $646 million more education dollars than initially included in this fiscal year's budget.
Last fiscal year, he said, they got $616 million more.
"We try to get every nickel that we can," he said, arguing that city students "certainly get their fair share."
When asked about mayoral control of city public schools, Addabbo said he is planning a round of town hall meetings to gauge interest. He did not, however, give a position.
Maltese said that though he supported mayoral control at first, the system needs to be reformed to increase "community and parental input."
