From the Oneonta Daily Star:
Several candidates balk at LWV forum invitations
Staff Report. Oct 13, 2025 Updated Oct 13, 2025
The League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area will hold two candidates’ forums this fall in advance of Election Day, Nov. 4. The forums will feature candidates for town offices in Hartwick and Milford.
The Hartwick Forum is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22 at the Clark Sports Center Community Room, 1124 County Route 52 in Cooperstown. All the candidates in the contested elections for town supervisor and town council were invited to participate.
According to a LWV news release, both candidates running for Hartwick town supervisor, Republican Cody Moore and Conservative Andrea Vazquez, were invited to the debate. Moore has accepted; Vazquez had not replied as of Oct. 13.
All the candidates running for Hartwick Town Council were also invited to the debate. Joanne Gardner, running on the Republican and Hartwick United lines; and Caren G. Kelsey, Hartwick United, have agreed to attend. Conservative Kimberly Ann Henderson had not responded to the league’s invitation as of Oct. 13. Sarah McGuire, running on the Common Sense line, has declined to participate.
“The League only conducts a debate when there are at least two candidates from opposing parties for each race. Since only one candidate for town supervisor agreed to attend the debate, there will be no debate for town supervisor unless Ms. Vasquez agrees to participate,” said Anna Gaeta, voter services chair of the LWV of the Cooperstown Area. “We do, however, have commitments from two candidates for town council who are running — Joanne Gardner and Caren Kelsey, so Hartwick citizens will hear from them.”
The Milford forum will take place 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23 at the Milford Town Hall at 2859 State Highway 28 in Portlandville. All the candidates in the contested election for town council, Russel Langford, running on the Republican and Milford’s Choice lines; Peter Paffenroth, Republican; Jesse Charlotte Thorsland, Democratic; Kristen Velasco, Democratic; and Kevin Yerdon, Community Vision, have agreed to attend, according to the release.
The league also proposed a forum for Oct. 20 for candidates for representative in Otsego County’s District 7 (towns of Cherry Valley, Middlefield and Roseboom). Leslie Berliant, a Democrat, agreed to attend; and James McCartney, a Republican said he is unable to attend because of a work commitment. David Bliss, running on the Conservative line, had not responded to the league’s invitation as of Oct. 10.
“The League’s Candidates’ Forums enable voters to hear the candidates and question them about important issues in their towns. League policy, however, requires that at least two candidates for each race from opposing parties must be present or that portion of the program will be canceled. Candidate Forums are open to all members of the public and the media,” the release stated.
