Hartwick College hosts second candidate forum
Nov. 1—Candidates running for Oneonta Common Council were asked about encouraging college students to stay after graduation, diversity and youth engagement during a candidates forum at Hartwick College Wednesday, Nov. 1.
The Hartwick Institute of Public Service hosted the forum, which allowed candidates running for each ward seat the opportunity to speak about themselves for three minutes before being asked questions by the audience. Zachary McKenney, Hartwick assistant professor of sociology and one of the three HIPS co-directors, said that all candidates running for office in the city had been invited to participate in the forum.
In attendance Wednesday were Daniel Rorick, candidate for Ward 3, Kaytee Lipari-Shue, candidate for Ward 4, Leonard Carson, candidate for Ward 5, Donald Garrison, candidate for Ward 5, Scott Harrington, candidate for Ward 6, Bryce Wooden, candidate for Ward 7, Sean Dwight, candidate for Ward 7 and Emily Falco, candidate for Ward 8.
McKenney said Council Member Luke Murphy, who is running for re-election for the First Ward had a prior commitment and Cecelia Walsh-Russo, who is running for the Second Ward, had to cancel at the last minute due to illness. He read a statement from Walsh-Russo outlining why she is running and what she hopes to accomplish while in office. Both Murphy and Walsh-Russo are running unopposed. James Peter DeAndrea, who is running for Ward 8, and Shannon McHugh, who is running for Ward 3, were also not in attendance.
During the question and answer segment of the forum, Senior Jada Vaughn asked what the city council should do to entice college students of color to stay in Oneonta after graduation.
Carson, who represents the Fifth Ward, which includes Hartwick College, said he has started meeting with the college once a month and that is an important first step, but it really is about what the students want. "What are you looking for? What jobs are you looking for? It's got to be more about you," he said.
Lipari-Shue, who is running unopposed in the Fourth Ward, said when she campaigned four years ago in Center City, she knocked on every door and would ask college students if they were interested in local politics. "They said they were only here six months, so they weren't," she said. "I thought, well, that's half the year." She also said she thought it should be a student-led initiative.
Dwight said he and his wife "adopt" two college students every year and help them out with rides to Walmart or have them over for dinner. He said as a small business owner he tries to hire local students so they stay in the area after college.
Rorick said bringing more businesses to the city would entice students to stay. He said he would like to see some zoning changes that would allow more corner stores in Center City.
Carolina López Granados said when she came to college from Texas she was concerned by the lack of diversity along Main Street and asked if the candidates had any ideas on how to make the city more diverse.
Wooden said he thinks "about that all the time." He is a counselor at SUNY Oneonta's Office of Opportunity Programs and a member of the Oneonta NAACP. The chapter held a block party along Main Street in February and he wants to bring more diversity to the city.
Falco encouraged students or clubs at the colleges to apply for an Oneonta Community Initiative grant to bring an event downtown.
Nadia Buttermann, 9, asked the candidates if they would like to see more youth involved in the city and how would they encourage children to be involved.
Harrington, who is running for re-election unopposed, said, "Everyone should have a voice in government. He has spoken at Oneonta High School about participating in government and encouraged children to either write letters to council members or talk to them. "As part of the Sixth Ward I have Neahwa Park, so if there's something you want to see there, contact me."
Garrison said when the city "closed down the basketball hoop, it stifled the voices of our youth." He encouraged children to engage in their community and band together to advocate for what they want.
After the question and answer session, college students and community members could talk to the candidates one-on-one to ask questions or air their concerns.
Vicky Klukkert, staff writer, can be reached at vklukkert@thedailystar.com or 607-441-7221.
