INDIANAPOLIS -- The race for a City-County Council seat, pitting a newcomer against a longtime councilman, has stirred plenty of controversy.

Eighth district challenger Kurt Webber (pictured, right) accused the incumbent, Monroe Gray (pictured, left), of ghost employment. Gray fired back that Webber is naïve about the job.

Gray, the council's president, is a division chief with the Indianapolis Fire Department. He's also the legislative liaison, acting as the go-between with the council and IFD.

Although Gray's situation is legal, Webber, an Indianapolis lawyer who works in Carmel, said that without evidence of Gray's work as a liaison, Gray should quit one of the jobs.

"He can't serve two masters. He needs to pick one. Either he's going to be president of the council and be his current boss' boss, or he's going to resign his position as firefighter," Webber said. "You have to pick one."

Gray called Webber's attack political -- a Republican trying to tear down the president of a Democrat-controlled council.

"I have no qualms about the fact (that I'm doing both jobs effectively,) Gray said. "Is he going to give up his law practice if he gets elected on the council?"

Gray pointed out that the council job is part time and that it would be difficult to make a living with only that job, unless the office holder is retired.

As councilor, Gray earns $18,000 a year. As IFD liason, his annual paycheck is $83,000. Chief James Greeson said Gray has done his job in that capacity.

Gray expressed no plan to change the way he does either job. Webber vowed to continue to make it an issue as he presses for a debate.