WCDO Radio News

Former long time area Assemblyman Gary Finch passed away Friday at the age of 79. Finch retired from the Assembly in 2020 after serving for 10 terms in the Assembly, part of his district was in Chenango County.

Commerce Chenango is holding their Legislative Breakfast this morning at The Silo Restaurant in Greene.  Legislators expected to attend in person are State Senator Fred Akshar, Congressman Anthony Brindisi, Assemblyman Cliff Crouch, Assemblyman Gary Finch and State Senator Jim Seward will attend virtually, to discuss legislative issues affecting businesses of New York State.

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The Delhi Health center will host a drive through Flu Shot clinic for established Bassett Hospital patients today from 12:00 Noon until 2:30 PM.  Appointments are required at 746-0550.

New York Farm Bureau has released its annual “Circle of Friends,” naming 172 New York State Legislators to this year’s list. The “Circle of Friends” honor is based upon each legislator’s voting record on issues of agricultural importance as well as other evidence of legislative support, including sponsorship of bills that New York Farm Bureau has either supported this year. Local “Circle of Friends” recipients for 2017 are State senator’s Fred Akshar, John Bonacic, Jim Seward & Assembly Members Cliff Crouch, Gary Finch, Pete Lopez, Donna Lupardo & Bill Magee.

Chenango County Republican Committee's 43rd annual Lobsterfest is Sunday from 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM at the Northeast Classic Car Museum. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, State Senators Fred Akshar and Jim Seward, and Assemblymen Clifford Crouch and Gary Finch are expected to attend this year. More information is available at 226-3271.

The results are in for key races from yesterday’s elections: in the 52nd State Senate race, Republican Fred Akshar defeats Democrat Barbara Fiala. For Delaware County Family Court Judge, Gary Rosa defeats Porter Kirkwood. In the Chenango County District Attorney’s race, Joseph McBride wins reelection over Zachary Wentworth. For Town of Franklin Supervisor Jeffery Taggart is re-elected, in the Town of Harpersfield Supervisor, Jim Eisel is re-elected, in the Town of Guilford the Supervisor will be George Seneck, in the Town of Oxford, Supervisor Lawrence Wilcox is re-elected, & for the Sidney Town Board, the 2 seats will go to Republicans Eric Wilson & Jeannette Hinckley over Loddie Marsh & incumbent Bill Heath.

Assemblyman Cliff Crouch stated today that the Kraft manufacturing plant in Walton under review for closure needs to stay open. Crouch said that there are 150 local jobs as well as a methane digester project being pursued by the Village of Walton at stake. The methane digester project is being pursued through the Regional economic Development Council as a cost-saving measure for Kraft & as well as the Walton school district, to save on heating costs paid by area taxpayers. Crouch joins Governor Cuomo & U.S. Senator Schumer in trying to get Kraft Heinz from closing the Walton plant, and 2 others in the state, following a merger of the 2 food industry giants.

New York Farm Bureau has come out with its annual “Circle of Friends,” naming 158 State Legislators to their annual list. The award is an indication of the individual lawmaker’s support of New York agriculture and the Farm Bureau, based upon each legislator’s voting record on issues of agricultural importance. The “Circle of Friends” local recipients for 2015 are State Senators John Bonacic & Jim Seward & Assembly members Cliff Crouch, Gary Finch, Pete Lopez, Donna Lupardo & Bill Magee.

The attorney for State Senator Tom Libous has asked a federal judge in Westchester County to dismiss the case against him. Senator Libous was arraigned in July in a Federal court for 1 count of making false statements to the FBI in 2010; he is accused of scheming to get his son a job at downstate law firm in exchange for political considerations.   Libous denies the charges; his son is facing several charges, including filing fraudulent tax returns to the IRS.

1 of the winners in Tuesday night's voting is now calling for election spending reform, saying donors 'should be obligated to share where that money came from." State Assemblyman Gary Finch won re-election in the 126th Assembly District, Finch said his opponent outspent him with the help of a half million dollars from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Finch plans to introduce reform measures in the next legislative session.