Cortland County Women's Coalition to host election candidates' forum

From left to right: Joyce St. George, New York State Sen. James Seward, New York State Assemblyman Gary Finch, and Cayuga County Legislator Keith Batman

CORTLAND, N.Y. — The Women's Coalition of Cortland County will be hosting two candidates' forums ahead of the upcoming November election.

The Sept. 29 forum for New York State Senate District 51 and Assembly District 126 will include a Cortland Voice livestream-watch event at SUNY Cortland. All four candidates committed to participate in August:

Senate District 51, Saturday September 29, 10 am - noon

  • James L. Seward (Republican, Conservative, Independence, and Reform parties) and
    Joyce St. George (Democratic and Women’s Equality parties). 

NYS Assembly District 126, Saturday September 29, 10 am – noon

  • Keith Batman (Democratic, Working Families, and Women’s Equality parties) and
    Gary D. Finch (Republican, Conservative, Reform, and Independence).

The Cortland Voice will be live-streaming the event, which takes place from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m at the Cortland Elks Lodge, 9 Groton Ave., Cortland. You can watch the video by visiting our Facebook page at facebook.com/cortlandvoice

The coalition announced that a planned forum between Congresswoman Claudia Tenney and democratic congressional candidate Anthony Brindisi due to a lack of response from Tenney's campaign.

"This is a loss for Cortland County voters. Local forums provide voters an opportunity to ask questions about issues that matter to us, as well as to hear candidates' views on a range of topics—all in a fair, non-partisan setting," the coalition said in a press release. Brindisi had agreed to participate in the forum.

The Sept. 22 livestream viewing breakfast at SUNY Cortland was also cancelled.

The Women’s Coalition has been organizing biennial voter forums since 1986 and includes the Cortland branch of the American Association of University Women; League of Women Voters of Cortland County; SUNY Cortland Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Committee; YWCA Cortland; and Zonta Club of Cortland.