Upstate Regular

This week, Ben interviews Cooperstown Village Trustee MacGuire Benton. Benton was recently re-elected to a second term in a runoff election after an earlier tie with Republican Mary Margaret.

The interview focuses on how this race was different from the last, Benton's plans for Cooperstown as far as the double day field committee goes, and how the village is preparing for another surge of the virus.

You can find out more about MacGuire Benton here: https://www.facebook.com/BentonforCooperstown/

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This week, Shane interviews Greg Klein. Klein is a reporter with the Daily Star Newspaper in Oneonta, NY. Klein is also the Board President of a new organization in Otsego County, the Cooperstown, Oneonta, Otsego County Film Partnership Inc., known as Film COOP.  This new commission is dedicated to helping attract the film business to the area and growing the industry in the region.

Shane and Greg discuss the background of the film industry in the county, his personal connection to film, and how a film commission can help the region grow and attract business.

You can find out more about Film COOP here: https://film-coop.com/

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Shane and Ben discuss the recent COVID19 outbreak at SUNY Oneonta as well as the controversial Endicott battery recycling plant. After months of keeping COVID numbers low, the start of the SUNY Oneonta semester has lead to an outbreak. 
Can officials keep it under control?
What happened?
What will it mean for the economy?

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This week, Don Mathisen interviews Republican Congressional Candiate Kyle Van De Water. Van De Water is running in New York's 19th Congressional district which includes all or part of 11 counties in upstate New York between NYC and Albany. The district is currently represented by Democrat Antonio Delgado, who is seeking reelection.

Van De Water was born in Rhinebeck and raised in Poughkeepsie, NY. He serves in the U.S. Army Reserves JAG Corps at the rank of Major and also works as a litigation attorney at Corbally, Gartland, & Rappleyea, LLP in Poughkeepsie.  Van De Water lives in Millbrook, NY with his wife and three children. He served as a Millbrook Village Trustee from 2017 to 2018.

This interview focuses on Van De Water's background, his positions on tax policy, the role of members of Congress, New York State politics, bail reform, and more.

You can find out more about Kyle Van De Water here: https://www.kyleforny19.com/

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Shane and Ben discuss the current election in New York's 19th Congressional District. Kyle Van de Water is now the Republican nominee to challenge Antonio Delgado. How are the candidates fundraising, doing outreach, and talking to voters? Ben and Shane discuss these questions and more as we head into the 2020 election in November.

If you are interested in being a guest on the show, shoot us a message on Facebook.

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This week, Shane talks with Democratic Otsego County District 11 Board Representative Clark Oliver. Oliver is a freshman member of the Board where he sits on the Human Services and Performance Review & Goal Setting committees. Oliver works full time at the Otsego County SPCA as an Adoption Counselor. His district includes Wards 1 and 2 in the City of Oneonta. Oliver is the youngest person to serve on the Otsego County Board and is the youngest Democratic county legislator in New York State.  

The conversation touches on Oliver's decision to run, his background, how the County is dealing with and responding to COVID-19, his goals for the County such as instituting a County Administrator and fighting climate change locally, and more.  

You can find out more about Clark Oliver on his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OliverForOtsego/  

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After a long pause, we have returned. Our technical issues have been resolved and we are ready to start making shows again.

This week, Shane and Ben talk about the current state of COVID19 and reopening in upstate NY, recent and upcoming elections, and more.

If you are interested in being a guest on the show, shoot us a message on Facebook.

If you like the show, give us a like on Facebook, subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app, and leave us a review! Let us know your thoughts!

This week, Ben interviews Democratic Congressional Candidate Nate McMurray. McMurray is running in New York's 27th Congressional district which includes Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, and Livingston Counties, as well as parts of Erie, Monroe, Niagara, and Ontario Counties.

McMurray is a native of North Tonawanda, NY. A lawyer by trade, McMurray has worked extensively in Asia. McMurray is also wrapping up his term as Town Supervisor for the Town of Green Island, NY, and is currently Vice President of Business Development for Delaware North.

The interview touches on McMurray's background, experience, campaign strategy, COVID19, issues he cares most about, and more.

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This week, Shane and Ben talk about the weight of the Coronavirus pandemic on upstate NY and how the region can bounce back. What are some opportunities that might be presented as a result of this pandemic? How will our daily interactions change? Can we attract more residents utilizing remote/virtual work? Shane and Ben discuss these questions and more.

We have some exciting interviews coming up, but we hope you enjoy this conversation in the meantime.

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Let us know how you are coping with the pandemic and/or what you see the future holds for upstate NY. We might include it in a future show! 

This week, Don Mathisen interviews New York State Assembly Republican Minority Leader William Barclay. Barclay represents the 120th Assembly District which includes much of Oswego and parts of Onondaga and Jefferson County. Barclay is a partner at Barclay Damon LLP. where he specializes in business law. Barclay is a graduate of St. Lawrence University and Syracuse University College of Law. After graduating from law school, he served as a law clerk for Roger J. Miner, a judge of the United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.

This interview focuses on the New York State Coronavirus response, the positions of the Republican conference, regional reopening, state budgeting, upstate NY economics,

You can learn more about Assembly Leader William Barclay here: https://nyassembly.gov/mem/William-A-Barclay    

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