ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Two political leaders from upstate New York seen as possible candidates for governor next year weighed in on incumbent Andrew Cuomo, the upstate-downstate divide and the state’s economic future during a forum Monday in Albany.
Outgoing Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, a Democrat, joined Deputy Senate Leader John DeFrancisco, a Syracuse Republican, at the event. Cuomo, a Democrat, has been mentioned as a possible White House contender in 2020 but has said he’s focused on winning his third term in 2018.
Monday’s forum offered a glimpse of two individuals who might stand in his way. Neither DeFrancisco nor Miner confirmed speculation about their interest, but both talked at length about the challenges facing statewide candidates form north of Westchester County, and the need for elected leaders who work for both upstate and downstate.
“People are tired of government,” DeFrancisco said. “They’re tired of the constant divisiveness. People are also of the opinion that they can’t do anything about it.”
While they may disagree on many policy issues Miner and DeFrancisco agreed on the need to invest in aging infrastructure such as pipes and roads and faulted Cuomo’s efforts to boost the upstate economy, which include tax breaks for start-up companies and competitive regional economic development awards.
“These proposals haven’t moved the needle for anybody in upstate New York,” Miner said.
While they didn’t go into detail about their plans for 2018, they both said upstate candidates face challenges in courting New York City voters. New Yorkers haven’t elected a governor who wasn’t from New York City or its suburban counties in generations.
Miner and DeFrancisco agreed that the right candidate with a message that resonates with urban, suburban and rural voters could break the trend.
“I believe it’s a question of can you break through that barrier?” Miner said.
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