水果派AV

A Buffalo-area native, Hochul said she was inspired to enter public service by her parents. She recalls discussions as a child about the events happening in the world, such as the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., and the Vietnam War.聽

Hochul attended Syracuse University, where she earned a bachelor's degree. While at Syracuse in the late 1970s, she pushed the university to divest its holdings in companies doing business with South Africa and she protested the bookstore's high prices. Most notably, she led an unsuccessful effort to rename the Carrier Dome in honor of Syracuse football legend Ernie Davis.聽

After earning her law degree at Catholic University, Hochul briefly worked at a law firm before becoming an aide to then-U.S. Rep. John LaFalce. She later worked for U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan.聽

Back home in western New York, she became active in local politics. She led an effort to oppose the expansion of Walmart and other big box stores that could threaten small businesses in Hamburg, a town near Buffalo. She was elected to the Hamburg Town Board in 1994.聽

In 2007, then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer appointed Hochul to serve as Erie County clerk after the departure of David Swarts, who joined Spitzer's administration.聽

"I really think a lot of my accomplishments as lieutenant governor go back to that first rung in political life, which was local government," Hochul said in a phone interview. "I never really have lost that sense you can improve people's lives, even through simple matters and helping neighbors."聽

Hochul left the clerk's office when she won a special election in what was then the 26th Congressional District. There were more Republican voters in the district and it was known as being one of the most conservative in the state. But Hochul outlasted Republican candidate Jane Corwin to win the race.聽

She lost her re-election bid in 2012, and was out of government for more than a year when Cuomo asked her to be his running mate in 2014.聽

In a video announcing his decision, Cuomo called Hochul "a person who knows upstate New York, and knows the needs of upstate New York." The Cuomo-Hochul team won the election in 2014, and Hochul is the only statewide elected official who hails from upstate New York.聽

That distinction is not lost on Hochul. She believes it's important to have a voice in state government from upstate New York. While she has spent considerable time in downstate areas聽鈥� she said she's visited New York City more than 800 times as lieutenant governor and has made 300 trips to Long Island聽鈥� she highlighted the importance of focusing on upstate issues.聽

"I know what it's like to come from an area that has been long maligned, overlooked and almost the brunt of jokes," she said. "I know what that sense is like, but it can either knock you down, or it can make you tougher. I think that is what's important. You have to be particularly tough to be a Democrat in these Republican areas. I'm proud of that. I'm seasoned and I know the needs of upstate New York."聽

Hochul feels that there's unfinished business, which is why she is seeking another term as lieutenant governor. She wants to continue her efforts to combat the opioid crisis. She has been co-chair of the state's Heroin and Opioid Task Force, which has proposed recommendations and proposed solutions for the ongoing epidemic.聽

One concept she supports is more programs to provide medication-assisted treatment, especially in rural areas.聽

"We want to make sure we don't lose sight that as long as there's one person to be saved, we're going to continue to focus on that," she said.聽

Upstate New York's economic recovery is also a top priority. Since becoming lieutenant governor in 2015, she has overseen the state's regional economic development councils. She touted other programs, including the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. (On the day of the interview with Hochul, it was announced Auburn won $10 million from the state to improve the city's downtown area.)聽

She wants to continue efforts to reduce taxes in New York. Voting reforms, such as early voting and same-day registration, are on her to-do list. Cuomo has pushed for voting reforms in the past, but Republicans in the state Senate have resisted those changes. And she thinks the state can do more to ensure education funding is reaching the districts that need it the most.聽

Other issues she hopes to address in her second term include criminal justice reform, fighting federal policies that could hurt New York and ensuring New Yorkers have access to health care.聽

One of the main differences in the race for lieutenant governor is how the two Democrats view the office. Williams has said he wants the lieutenant governor to be more independent, and that's how he would approach the job if elected.聽

Hochul disagrees with Williams' position. She compared the roles of governor and lieutenant governor to those of a president and a vice president. Without sharing specifics, she said she has shared her views on issues with Cuomo in private and "he is very receptive to that." But she believes a lieutenant governor who operates independently of the governor would introduce gridlock and dissension within the executive branch.聽

"I don't think the formula for an adversarial lieutenant governor is what the people of our state deserve," she said.聽

As the current lieutenant governor, Hochul believes she's the best choice for Democrats because of her experience. She not only has extensive experience in state and local government, but she has been a member of Congress and an aide to a congressman and U.S. senator. Her familiarity with the federal government is an asset, she argues, because she can help find ways to counter President Donald Trump's policies.聽

She also noted some of the Cuomo-Hochul ticket's signature achievements, including the establishment of a paid family leave program, a $15 minimum wage, laws to combat sexual assault on college campuses and the Excelsior Scholarship, which aims to provide free tuition to students at public colleges and universities.聽

"These are life-changing policies that I'm very, very proud of," Hochul said, "and we're not finished yet."聽

The son of Grenadian immigrants, Williams grew up in Brooklyn. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a Master of Arts in urban policy and administration at Brooklyn College.聽

He began his career as assistant director for the Greater Flatbush Beacon School and is a former executive director of New York State Tenants and Neighbors, an organization that advocates for tenants' rights.聽

In 2009, he was elected to the New York City Council representing the 45th district in Brooklyn. He has been re-elected twice, most recently in 2017.聽

As a city councilor, he has been a leading proponent of anti-gun violence and fair policing initiatives. He authored legislation that created the inspector general's office within the New York City Police Department and a separate bill that prohibits employers from asking about applicants' criminal records before a job offer is made.聽

Williams announced in January that he would explore a run for lieutenant governor, the state's No. 2 post. One month later, he formally launched his campaign for lieutenant governor.聽

Since entering the race seven months ago, Williams believes he's been successful in changing the discourse about what a lieutenant governor can do in state government.聽

"I think we've met all of our objectives," he said by phone during a recent swing through upstate New York.聽

A major theme of Williams' campaign is to be the "people's lieutenant governor." He views Hochul as being too aligned with Cuomo and not independent. He would take a different approach, even if his preferred gubernatorial candidate, Democratic challenger Cynthia Nixon, is elected to the top post in the executive branch.聽

If elected聽as lieutenant governor, Williams said he would partner with the governor on issues of shared interest. But he wouldn't be a rubber stamp for the governor's agenda.聽

Hochul, he explained, has said that she believes the job of a lieutenant governor is to be "the eyes and ears of the governor."聽

"I fundamentally disagree," Williams said. "I want to be the eyes and ears of the people."聽

As an example, he panned the state's Excelsior Scholarship, a free tuition program offered to students at public colleges and universities. A recent study found that only 3 percent of students in New York received the scholarship. If he were lieutenant governor, he said he would speak out and publicly say it's not accurate to call it a universal tuition-free program.

Williams has ideas for boosting the state's economy and addressing critical issues, such as affordable housing and infrastructure. He authored a white paper outlining his proposals, which include a higher tax on multi-millionaires and property tax relief. He supports a property tax cap, but believes the state must do more to reduce the property tax burden.聽

He also believes the state should revive the stock transfer fee, which could raise up to $14 billion in new revenue, and institute a fee on stock buyback transfers. He would also pursue a fee on luxury real estate to raise an additional $500 million.聽

The "fairness fees," as Williams calls them, could help address issues ranging from education to transportation infrastructure.聽

Another priority for Williams is one he has worked on in the past: affordable housing. He considers Cuomo's housing policies a failure. With New York City rent regulations due to expire next year, he wants to see universal rent protections for tenants statewide.聽

"That's been a huge problem," he said. "Do that in a way that respects everyone involved but provides protections that people desperately need."聽

Part of his proposed fairness fees would be allocated to boost the upstate economy. He said the funding could be used to support renewable energy projects and other economic development initiatives.聽

Creating new jobs would have an added benefit, he noted. Jobs are important to reducing violent crimes. Violent crime arrests decrease, he said, if young people have a job.聽

However, he critiqued Cuomo's existing economic development programs, including the regional economic development councils led by Hochul. He said the process is "ripe for corruption" because it lacks transparency. He wants more information released about who applied, how applications were scored, what the scores were and how the awardees were chosen.聽

"You always feel comforted when you understand and believe that the process was fair and open," he said.聽

Transparency is part of his anti-corruption message, but he wants the state to take additional action. One proposed change is to implement public financing of elections. New York had a pilot program in place for the 2014 state comptroller's race, but a statewide system hasn't been adopted.聽

Williams benefited from a public financing system in New York City. In city elections, there is a matching system that allows candidates to receive public funds for their campaigns if they receive small-dollar contributions.聽

"It brings down the corruption, I believe, and it allows people access to run for office that normally would not have," he said.聽

If he's elected lieutenant governor, Williams said he will be motivated by the same issues that led to him entering public service. As a young adult, his first love was acting. But at Brooklyn College, he got involved in campus politics and ran for student government twice. (He was elected president as a graduate student.) It was then that he saw how electoral politics and social justice issues he cared about were connected.聽

Since becoming a city councilor in 2010, he said he's been trying to "shake up how the process works." He was ranked the second-most productive council member and he's had more bills passed than any other sitting member of the city council.聽

One criticism levied against Williams is that he is too much of an activist. He said he's been told that he had to choose between being an activist and an elected official.聽

"I said, 'No, you can embrace both,'" he said. "You can be productive in embracing both."聽 聽

A Brooklyn native, James began her career as a public defender before becoming an aide to two members of the state Assembly. She later worked as an assistant attorney general under then-state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. A major focus of her work as an assistant attorney general was consumer fraud.聽

James was elected to the New York City Council in 2003. After a decade as a lawmaker, she was elected New York City public advocate in 2013. She was re-elected to the post last year.聽

As public advocate, James said in a phone interview that she has transformed the office in a "mini-legal services slash attorney general's office." She has pursued cases on behalf of seniors, residents of public housing and pushed for New York City police officers to wear body cameras.聽

Her office also advocated for video cameras in public housing and lobbied to implement ShotSpotter, a system which detects gunfire.聽

James has been active on federal matters, too. She joined a coalition that challenged several policies pushed by President Donald Trump's administration, including the travel ban for individuals from certain Muslim-majority countries, the family separation policy at the border and actions that affect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.聽

As public advocate, James said she has represented unaccompanied minors pro bono and assisted individuals who were seeking asylum in the U.S.聽

"What we need now more than ever is someone who has a proven record of getting things done," she said. "Someone who has a background in the law and is knowledgeable of the law. Someone who knows about advocacy and knows about the legislative process."聽

If elected attorney general, James would continue ongoing efforts to challenge the Trump administration. State Attorney General Barbara Underwood has filed several lawsuits challenging various policies, including a coalition of states questioning the constitutionality of the cap on state and local tax deductions.聽

James believes it's important to investigate Trump's business interests and his alleged violation of the U.S. Constitution's emoluments clause. Businesses and charities affiliated with Trump, she argues, are not complying with the law.聽

She has other priorities if she becomes the state's chief law enforcement officer. She would work to combat the opioid crisis by bringing cases against pharmaceutical companies. She wants to continue her work on consumer fraud, which she called "a major issue in the state of New York." She plans to focus on environmental protection, health care, immigrant rights, reproductive rights and voting rights. She also aims to fight the Trump's administration's decision to end net neutrality.

Continuing to police Wall Street is also on her agenda.聽

James would use her platform to advocate for criminal justice reforms. As a staff attorney in the state Legislature, she helped write criminal justice reform bills. She expressed disappointment that some criminal justice reform measures that the state Assembly has approved in recent years haven't advanced in the state Senate. If Democrats win control of the state Senate, she believes that will change.聽

With a Democratic state Senate, James said lawmakers could end cash bail, provide more resources for alternatives to incarceration and allow for more drug treatment centers. She supports closing Rikers Island, a notorious New York City jail, and providing supportive housing for those with mental illnesses.聽

Other criminal justice reforms she supports include legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, reforming the grand jury process and cracking down on prosecutorial misconduct.聽

Another top priority for James is combating public corruption in state government.聽

"It's a sad commentary that in the last decade, 30 elected officials have been convicted in the state of New York," she said. "We obviously have a problem."聽

She supports ending the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, a panel that was launched by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. She wants an independent ethics agency and true ethics reform passed by the state Legislature.聽

Campaign finance reform is also needed, she said. She supports public financing of elections. As a candidate for New York City Council and public advocate, she received matching funds through the city's public financing system. Other proposals she endorses include closing the LLC loophole and more oversight of public authorities.聽

James doesn't believe the attorney general should need to seek approval from the governor to investigate corruption and fraud, especially within the executive branch.聽

"That's why it's important that we have an independent attorney general who can investigate corruption and fraud and sexual harassment and all types of abuses and violations in our body politic and all throughout the state of New York," she said.聽

Polls have shown James either leading or in a statistical tie for the lead. Her main competitors appear to be U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, a Hudson Valley congressman, and Zephyr Teachout, an anti-corruption expert and law professor who ran for governor four years ago.聽

What shes her apart, James said, is her experience and record. She said she fashioned herself after Shirley Chisholm, a New Yorker who was the first African-American woman elected to Congress.聽

Chisholm, James said, was "unbought and unbossed."聽

"Clearly what we need now more than ever is a fighter," James said, "and I have been someone who rises every day looking for a good fight."聽

A Buffalo native, Eve has a long career in public service. She has been an aide to some prominent Democrats, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo, former U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton and former Vice President Joe Biden. (Eve worked on Biden's staff when he was a U.S. senator representing Delaware.)聽

Eve's current roles include serving as a commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Professionally, she is employed as Verizon's vice president for government affairs in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.聽

Like her opponents in the Democratic primary, she has criticized many of President Donald Trump's policies. In an interview with 水果派AV, she slammed the "unprecedented attacks" by the Trump administration on civil rights, environmental rights, LGBTQ rights and reproductive rights.聽

"We must have an attorney general come January 1 who most aggressively and comprehensively fights against those assaults," she said.聽

If elected attorney general, she pledged to champion ethics reform. There has been some ethics reform in state government, she said, but it's been "reform at the margin." She believes the state should advance several proposals to combat corruption. One idea she supports is public financing of elections. The state had a pilot program with the comptroller's race in 2014, but a statewide system hasn't been adopted.聽

Eve also supports lowering contribution limits, increasing lawmakers' salaries and banning outside income. She wants to restructure how corruption cases are investigated and prosecuted. That starts with eliminating the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, a body created by Cuomo.聽

To replace JCOPE, Eve wants a constitutional amendment that would call for the creation of an independent ethics agency. The agency would have investigative authority and could partner with the attorney general on cases.聽

"We need to completely upend how we monitor, investigate and prosecute political corruption," she said.聽

Eve emphasized the need for criminal justice reform. She supports legalizing the recreational use of marijuana and expunging past convictions related to the use, not sale, of marijuana.聽

Expunging the records, she said, would make the justice system fairer and allow communities to move forward.聽

As part of her criminal justice reform agenda, Eve wants to promote the use of alternatives to incarceration programs. Her mother, Constance Eve, founded an alternatives-to-incarceration program for women in Buffalo. She believes those who commit low-level crimes or nonviolent felonies should be allowed to participate in these programs.聽

Another criminal justice reform she supports is eliminating cash bail. Thousands of people are sitting in jails because they don't have the financial resources to pay bail so they can be released.聽

"Our criminal justice system is so extraordinarily unfair," Eve said. "It treats poor New Yorkers, regardless of background, differently. We, as a state, should be leading on this issue."聽

The latest polls show Eve trailing the other three candidates in the race for the Democratic nomination. A Siena College poll released this week found U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney and New York City Public Advocate Letitia James in a virtual tie. Zephyr Teachout wasn't far behind in third place.聽

Despite what the polls indicate, Eve believes she's the best candidate in the Democratic field. She touted her experience as a litigator and past work as a clerk for the state Court of Appeals.聽

That work and her experience in the private and public sectors makes her best prepared, she said, to fight for New Yorkers.聽

"It makes me best prepared, given my track record of commitment, given my track record of service, to help move the state forward," she said.聽

Now, she is hoping to become New York's chief law enforcement officer at a time when Democratic attorneys general are leading challenges against actions taken by Republican President Donald Trump's administration.聽

"The new roles that the attorney general is going to have to play involves really using the powers of the office to continue to lead the legal resistance against Trump, but also investigate Trump's businesses and foundation and illegal activity by Trump associates here in New York."聽

She believes a strong attorney general is needed to fight back against what she views as assaults on civil rights, environmental protection and voting rights. She highlighted her role in fighting fossil fuel interests when she joined activists who opposed hydraulic fracturing, a method of natural gas drilling, in New York.聽

The Environmental Protection Agency under Trump is led by fossil fuel lobbyists, she said. She added that she would use state laws to protect New York's air, land and water bodies.聽

At the state level, Teachout plans to use the attorney general's office to combat public corruption. There has been a slew of corruption cases involving state officials over the years, including members of Cuomo's administration and two legislative leaders.聽

"I'm not only an anti-corruption expert, I'm independent from the governor and from political party bosses," she said. "To me, that's an essential qualification. Independence is in the job description. All the candidates will tell you they will take on corruption in Albany. I've already been doing it."聽

Teachout referred to her criticism of Cuomo's decision to shut down the Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption, a panel launched by Cuomo in 2013 and shuttered in early 2014. The commission was formed after Cuomo issued an executive order allowing for its creation.聽

She noted that Cuomo may have closed the commission, but the order hasn't been rescinded. She wants to use the powers outlined in that order to investigate corruption. And she would use that order to investigate other offenses, including sexual misconduct in state government.聽

There are legislative solutions she supports to address corruption. She supports changing the way elections are funded in New York and has a self-imposed ban on accepting contributions from limited liability corporations. The so-called "LLC loophole" allows wealthy individuals to form several entities to get around New York's campaign contribution limits. She believes the LLC loophole should be closed and that the state should have public financing of elections.聽

Other legislative changes she supports include greater oversight of procurement and voting reforms.聽

"Our voting system is an embarrassment and it acts as a voter suppression tool," she said.聽

Criminal justice reform is also a top priority for Teachout. She recalled her early career as a lawyer representing clients who were on death row. What she saw was the effects of mass incarceration and "how profoundly racist it is and how unjust it is," she said. She supports several legislative proposals, including eliminating cash bail, discovery reform, legalizing marijuana, parole reform and second-chance sentencing.聽

As attorney general, Teachout's biggest target would be Trump. She believes he is violating the emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution because he hasn't divested his business interests since taking office. There are state attorneys general who are聽pursuing cases that could force Trump to divest his businesses in those states.聽

But the "heart" of Trump's businesses, Teachout said, is in New York聽鈥� the president's home state.聽

"Donald Trump cannot be both president and taking foreign government money," she said. "It's a direct constitutional violation. I have been one of the key strategists and lawyers pushing this argument. I'm confident we're going to succeed."

The other candidates in the Democratic primary field are attorney Leecia Eve, New York City Public Advocate Letitia James and U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. A Siena College poll released this week found that James and Maloney are running even, but Teachout isn't far behind.聽

Teachout believes she is the best choice for Democratic voters when they go to the polls Thursday.聽

"My life's work as an anti-corruption fighter and expert makes me painfully and uniquely qualified to deal with the national corruption crisis, as well as the corruption crisis here in New York," she said.聽

She also had a special pitch for Democrats in Cayuga County. The last time she ran as a statewide candidate, she lost Cayuga County to Cuomo by 84 votes. Four years later, she's hoping to win the county in her bid for the Democratic nomination.聽

"I have spent time there before," she said. "I will continue to come through."聽

It's the second time Maloney has been a candidate for state attorney general. In 2006, he ran in a four-way primary for the Democratic nomination. He finished a distant third behind Andrew Cuomo, who went on to serve as the chief's top law enforcement officer for one term before being elected governor in 2010.聽

Maloney views the New York attorney general's office as the "primary line of defense" against Trump administration policies. In an interview with 水果派AV, he stressed the importance of protecting the state from hostile federal policies, including efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and a tax overhaul passed last year that contains a provision, a $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions, that affects many New Yorkers.聽

"This is the cop on the beat that is holding the president accountable and making sure his administration doesn't hurt New York," Maloney said of the attorney general's responsibilities.聽

He lauded state Attorney General Barbara Underwood for existing efforts to fight back against Trump's policies. One example: Underwood has filed a lawsuit challenging the cap on state and local tax deductions. The attorney general's office is also engaged in challenges to prevent immigrant children from being separated from their parents and preserving women's access to reproductive health services.聽

The attorney general's office is active on another front: Challenging the rollback of environmental regulations that Maloney believes help curb climate change.聽

"The office is literally on the front line of every important fight, from health care to civil rights and the environment," he said. "I plan to continue that work."聽

Like his opponents in the primary, Maloney says combating public corruption in state government is a priority. There have been several corruption cases over the years that have led to the convictions of Democrats and Republicans. Two members of Cuomo's administration were recently convicted in separate bribery and bid-rigging trials. Two former state legislative leaders have been convicted of charges, too.聽

Maloney said he wants to fight corruption in state government "with a sledgehammer." To achieve that goal, he believes the state attorney general needs primary civil and criminal jurisdiction to handle corruption cases.聽

"We've never done that, and that's why we still have a problem," he said. "We need to change that and we need to use every authority we have to fight corruption in the White House and fight corruption in the state of New York. We have seen way too much of it and we don't need to put up with it."聽

Criminal justice reform is also on his agenda. He supports several proposals, including ending cash bail, investigating discriminatory jury selection practices and supporting programs that allow for reentry into communities.聽

He also plans to make addressing the opioid crisis a priority as attorney general. He supports pre-booking drug diversion programs that would allow addicts to get the treatment they need and free up courts and jails. He introduced a similar bill in Congress that would support states by funding drug diversion programs.聽

Maloney believes he's the best choice for Democrats because of his experience. In addition to being a member of Congress since 2013, he was an attorney in the private sector and worked in President Bill Clinton's administration.聽

"I am the only candidate that has beaten the Republicans time after time in real tough fights at the ballot box, in the House of Representatives and in the courts," he said. "I've been in the fight against the tea party and Donald Trump, and I've beaten them every time. Right now, the Democratic Party needs to win and it needs people who have been in tough fights. I'm the only candidate who has been in those fights with the Republicans."聽

The seat is up for grabs in the general election in November after Bennett temporarily resigned from the Legislature last spring in order to retire and collect his pension from his career as a maintenance mechanic at Cayuga Community College. Although he was reappointed to the Legislature after few days, elections law requires a special election to determine who will finish out the final year of Bennett's second term.

The primary election set for Thursday, Sept. 13, will determine which of the two men will appear under the Democratic Party line on ballots come November. However, both are also running on other party lines and are likely to face each other again no matter who wins Thursday.

Zank, who moved from Michigan in 2010 to work at the Owens-Illinois bottle plant in Sennett, is taking his first run at public office and said he wants to provide a voice for the working class, pointing to a variety of union leadership positions as qualifications for the Legislature.

Bennett, a lifelong District 10 resident who previously served as the Legislature's vice chairman, among other leadership roles, said he's running based on an obligation to the voters who elected him previously and a belief that he can continue to serve the county well. Bennett also noted that he previously survived a 14-month legal challenge from Republicans to his eligibility to serve when first elected.

To better inform voters, 水果派AV asked both candidates a series of questions on some of the biggest issues and topics facing the Legislature.

Countywide shared services

In regard to a state-required plan to increase cooperation between county governments and their municipalities, both Zank and Bennett expressed optimism that the plan would realize savings for Cayuga County taxpayers.

If elected, Zank said he'd particularly like to foster more cooperation between the county and the city of Auburn, in addition to the other municipalities in the area.

Avoiding and eliminating any duplication of services to ultimately save constituents money would be a worthwhile effort, Bennett said.

Water quality

Both men agreed here, as well, saying that protecting drinking water, particularly from harmful algal blooms, is a critically important issue for both Auburn residents and the county as a whole. Protecting water quality will require good investments, such as in new filtration systems, Zank said, adding that the state needed to have a role in funding such projects, not just local governments.

Much of the process of receiving help from the state can get slowed down by government paperwork, according to Bennett, who said he'd like to see those processes sped up.

County administrator

The position of county administrator has been a tumultuous one in Cayuga County, with a number of different changes to the position's authority and duties in recent years as well as several resignations. Discussions of how much county priorities and decisions should come from the administrator or the legislators are frequent in the Legislature.

Bennett said he feels current administrator J. Justin Woods, who took the job toward the start of this year, has been adjusting well and is doing a good job.

鈥淭he administrator should basically have his own, in essence, identity, where he's a top man but also as to answer to the Legislature that the people voted for,鈥� Bennett said, adding that many of the resolutions Woods proposes come from a consultant's report commissioned by the Legislature, meaning in a roundabout way they had welcomed the priorities.

Zank said he couldn't provide an opinion on the administrator issue since he's not served on the Legislature.

Redistricting/reapportionment

As a requirement with the upcoming 2020 U.S. Census, the Legislature will examine and possibly change the apportionment for its weighted voting system, and proposals have been made to consider changing the amount of seats on the body at the same time.

The weighted voting system, in which legislators are assigned points based on the population of the district they represent, can result resolutions passed with a minority of legislators, but a majority of points, in support.

Again, Zank and Bennett largely agreed, saying that even though their district, one of the smallest, could face elimination, it's most important to do what's best for constituents.

"I think for the size of Cayuga County we have too many legislators," Zank said, later adding. "I think it's going to be better for the county."

Unions' role

Throughout his campaign, Zank has consistently said he seeks to represent the "working man" of Auburn in the Legislature by focusing on bringing back high-paying jobs and tax relief.

While his union experience, including serving as vice president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and treasurer of the Cayuga County Labor Council, give him perspective on the needs of working families, they also give him experience in negotiations and other skills valuable to a legislator.

Bennett, however, noted that county legislators are only rarely involved directly in negotiations. Additionally, he said his own record working with unions, including as former President AFSCME Local 932-C at Cayuga Community College and former President of United Steelworkers Union Local 3482, speaks for itself.

"I've been a union member since I was 18 years old," Bennett said.

Political party

While both candidates are hoping to run on the Democratic line in November, they've each already ensured they'll appear on at least one other line on the ballot.

Zank secured enough independent petition signatures to run on an independent line under the Auburn First heading, which is traditionally used by Democratic candidates in the city.

Dia Carabajal, an Auburn city councilor who is acting as Zank's campaign manager, said they secured that line in order to provide voters with options in the general election.

Bennett, a longtime Democrat, is also running on the Republican and Conservative lines, which he said he sought after it became clear he would not receive an endorsement from the Cayuga County Democratic Committee.

According to both Carabajal and Committee Chairman Ian Phillips, the committee made no endorsement in the race as it was not apparent Bennett would face a challenge until after it had already met to decide endorsements for this year's elections.

Cayuga County Republican Committee Chairwoman Cherl Heary said Bennett approached her and several Republican legislators about running under their party's line.

Heary said the committee agreed to let Bennett run because they liked that he often votes conservatively.

"We've never really had a problem with his voting record, so we at least agreed to look into that," Heary said. "And I'm a believer that you can't be in total alignment with any candidate anyway."

Polling locations for the District 10 primary have not changed since last year's general election. For any questions, call the Cayuga County Board of Elections at (315) 253-1285.

"It's something I had thought about in the abstract, but I had my practice here and it's doing well so I hadn't really thought it all the way through," he said.聽

But after a family meeting and a visit to the cemetery, Buschman said he drafted a group text to his eight brothers and sisters: "I'm in."聽

Meanwhile, another local attorney had announced he was in the race as well.聽

Following McKeon's announcement in May, David Thurston, of Thurston Law Office, P.C., issued a statement that he would be running for city court judge. As the appointed part-time city court judge, he said, the full-time position seemed like a "natural fit."聽

In 2014, Auburn City Council appointed Thurston as the assistant judge in Auburn City Court. At the time, Thurston had taken over for Judge Thomas Shamon, who retired.聽

Since then, Thurston said, he has presided over city court at least two days a week, and while he has dealt with some criminal matters, he has primarily handled civil cases, including zoning and housing code violations.聽

"We're obviously a very busy court, handling thousands and thousands of cases each year," he said. "Each day's a little different, so (Judge McKeon and I) are kind of both involved in just about every type of case."

And when Thurston learned that McKeon would not be seeking re-election, the Auburn native said he didn't hesitate to enter the race.聽

"I've found it to be a very rewarding way of serving the community," Thurston said. "This is my home, so it's important to me to try to do what I can and use the experience that I have to be able to give back to the extent that I can."聽

Thurston was later endorsed by the Cayuga County Democratic Committee, as well as Auburn Police Local 195. He is seeking to run on the Democratic line, but also has the Working Families party line locked up after getting its backing to pass ballot petitions.

A lifelong Democrat, Buschman is also seeking the support of the Democratic Party and will force a primary in September. However, should he lose the primary, he said he would also run on the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines, as he has received the Republican and Conservative Parties' endorsements and secured the required number of party member signatures during the petition process.聽

"I'm not trying to upset the apple cart ...聽I'm just throwing my hat in the ring," he said. "Everyone should have a voice. I'm doing it for all parties because I believe at this local level the name and the qualifications and the person are much more important than that party designation next to that person's name. ... This is about people. It's not about politics for me."

Born and bred Auburnians, Buschman and Thurston have worked and lived in the city for the past 20-plus years.

After graduating from Auburn High School in 1989, Buschman earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from SUNY Oswego. He then went to the University of Akron in Ohio for law school. He is 47 years old and has two sons, Andre, 14, and Ernesto, 10.聽

Thurston also graduated from Auburn High School and earned a degree in economics from Binghamton University. He then went to law school at Syracuse University, and has worked at his father's practice on Genesee Street since 2005. He is 40 years old and he and his wife, Stephanie, have two children, Leah, 5, and Ben, 10 months.聽

"When I'm presiding, I hope people expect somebody who's going to be fair and prepared and understanding of what the positions are and what the facts of each case are," Thurston said. "Everybody wants a judge that they can respect and have trust and faith in. ... You're not just asking for people's votes. It's an important position and you're really asking people to put a lot of faith and trust in you."聽

Buschman added, "Win, lose or draw on the Democratic primary, I'm going to November. I think what city court does is extremely important. People that are in city court, they're you're neighbors. ... It's very important to have somebody that has the ability to balance rehabilitation versus punishment, and you have to be able to analyze that based not only on the law but life experience in the community. "聽

City of Auburn residents will also be choosing one of two candidates for city court judge, while city residents of the Cayuga County Legislature's District 10 will decide which of two candidates will run as a Democrat in November.

The Reform Party has also taken the unusual step of opening up its primary for attorney general to any voters not registered with any party.

Polling places in most of the county have not changed since the most recent elections, with the exception of the town of Fleming, which has been divided into two districts.

The first district, which is all of the town east of Silver Street Road, has its polling place at the Fire House Community Hall at 6063 W. Lake Road. The second district, all of the town west of Silver Street Road, has its polling place at the Fire House at 5024 state Route 34.

Polls are open from noon until 9 p.m.聽