Hartwick Institute of Public Service Hosts Local Candidate Forums

By WRILEY NELSON
ONEONTA

Hartwick College’s Institute of Public Service will host two forums for Oneonta and Otsego County candidates for public office at the College’s Shineman Chapel House. County candidates will attend the event on Wednesday, October 25 and city candidates will address the Wednesday, November 1 gathering; both forums run from 6-8 p.m.

HIPS aims to inform local residents about the offices and candidates up for election in 2023 and provide every office seeker with a chance to share their ideas and engage with constituents.

As of press time, five candidates had accepted the invitation to the Otsego County Candidate Forum on October 25: County Clerk candidate MacGuire Benton, New York State Supreme Court District 6 candidate Deirdre Hay, and County Board of Representatives candidates Margaret Kennedy, Nora Mendez, and Adrienne Martini. Supreme Court District 6 candidate Cheryl Insinga and District Attorney candidate John Muehl expressed interest in the forum but are unable to attend due to prior scheduling commitments.

“All candidates who agree to participate in the forum will be allotted equal time to discuss their vision for office,” said Associate Professor of Sociology and HIPS Co-Director Zachary McKenney. “After each candidate has been given an opportunity to speak, we will hold a catered reception with light refreshments for all attendees. The reception will provide [candidates] with the opportunity to hear directly from constituents about their concerns and priorities.”

Candidates attending the November 1 Oneonta Candidate Forum include Common Council hopefuls Emily Falco, Bryce Wooden, Scott Harrington, Donald Garrison, Leonard Carson, Daniel Rorick and Cecelia Walsh-Russo. More local candidates may attend.

“The candidate forums are critical to help inform college students who are members of our community about the key issues facing Oneonta and Otsego County,” McKenney continued. HIPS registered 163 Hartwick students to vote this semester, including 132 who registered to vote in Oneonta.

The candidate forums and receptions are free and open to all members of the public, thanks in part to a grant by the Community Foundation of Otsego County. Pending candidate approval, the events will be recorded and posted to the college’s YouTube page to allow all community members to view them.

HIPS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan regional political institute dedicated to state and local government, civic engagement, and legal studies. It aims to inspire a new generation of public servants, create avenues for meaningful public service careers in state and local governments, nonprofit organizations and legal services, and serve as a hub of innovation and collaboration between New York communities.