Tensions in the politically charged Erie; County Legislature flared again Friday when a secretary for Legislator Raymond K. Dusza said she was verbally attacked by Legislator Gregory B. Olma a day earlier, a charge Olma de-
nied as "politically motivated and ridiculous."

Dorthea Gielinski, Dusza's district office secretary, said she was on the seventh floor of the Legislature's offices on Delaware Avenue on Thursday when Olma approached her and verbally and profanely accosted" her, a charge two other Legislature employees corroborated. He also said he would "get" Dusza, she said.

Jennifer Anger, who said she witnessed the incident, said Olma was upset because Dusza earlier in the day endorsed his opponent.

"He was upset about that, and he decided to take it out on her. Unfortunately, this isn't out of character for Greg," Anger said.

"That's ridiculous," Olma said Friday night. "We had a few quips. There
was no yelling."

Olma said the incident was an attempt by his opponents to make him look bad before the election. The maverick Democrat contended that Legislature Chairman Charles M. Swanick and Erie County Democratic Party Chairman G. Steven Pigeon were part of the effort.

"This is Chuck Swanick and Steve Pigeon trying to silence an independent voice by making up these ludicrous charges," he said. "They're desperate people."

As for the witnesses, Olma said they were "professional politicians taking shots at someone they're trying to beat."

Gielinski was so upset by the incident, she sent a letter Friday to Swanick reporting the incident.

"I am accustomed to hearing politically tinged comments such as this, so I ignored the substance of what he said and simply looked at Mr. Olma," Gielinski said in her letter. "Thereafter, Mr. Olma walked toward me, looked me in the face and directed at me a four-letter expletive beginning with the letter 'F.'"

"My staff should not suffer for my actions," Dusza said Friday night, referring to his endorsement of Olma's opponent. "He should confront me to my face with what he said to this little girl."

Dusza recalled Olma's arrest last year on charges brought by two election workers who said he hurled racist and sexist slurs at them. Olma was later cleared by a grand juiy of anycriminal wrongdoing.

"What happened yesterday was deja vu," Dusza said. He said Olma should resign, and he will ask Swanick to censure him.

Olma, a Democrat often at odds with party leaders, scoffed at the idea.

"There is no censure in the rules," he said. "Swanick is a staunch supporter of Steve Pigeon. This is just part of a dirty-tricks election campaign against me."