Gubernatorial Candidates – Except Cuomo – Debate

November 5th, 2018

On Thursday night, 4 of the 5 candidates for governor faced off at a debate at a college in Albany hosted by the League of Women Voters.  Republican Marc Molinaro, independent Stephanie Miner, Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins and Libertarian Larry Sharpe debated in front of a crowd of roughly 100 people; only incumbent Democratic Andrew Cuomo chose not to participate. [Watch the debate via Facebook here.]

Molinaro called for upstate communities to receive more attention from state government, and called for property tax relief by the state taking on the local share of Medicaid costs. Miner called for the end of the Cuomo Administration’s economic development programs, urging investment in local infrastructure instead.  Hawkins said that he supports 100 percent clean energy in the state by 2030, which would create thousands of jobs; promised to address harmful algae blooms and lead and other contaminants in the state’s water; and would pay for his initiatives by raising taxes on the rich. Sharpe called for a simpler tax code that is less onerous, and promised to reduce the size of the state government.

Instead, Governor Cuomo spent the week at various ribbon-cutting events, including a new cancer and medical research center at Stony Brook University and airport enhancements in Syracuse, Rochester, Elmira and Plattsburgh.

We’re very disappointed that the Governor chose not to defend his eight-year record in office, and take this opportunity to share his vision for the next four year if here is re-elected.  (Read our recent press release on the important issues facing Upstate here.)