Utica Observer-Dispatch: October 18, 2018

We understand that Cuomo’s refusal to debate Molinaro and the three third-party opponents is typical political strategy. With a $9.2 million war chest (Molinaro at last report had only $210,000 in cash on hand; Miner had $55,000; Hawkins, $31,000, and Sharpe, $24,000) and a huge lead in the polls (50 percent to 28 percent in an Oct. 1 Siena College poll), he has little to gain with a debate.

But the voters do. And isn’t that what it’s supposed to be about?

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OUR VIEW: Cuomo should agree to debate opponents

There are many possible reasons why Gov. Andrew Cuomo so far hasn’t agreed to a gubernatorial debate. Some of them are in prison.

All the more reason New York voters deserve to hear from Cuomo.

With less than three weeks remaining before Election Day, in case you don’t yet know the players, here’s a gubernatorial scorecard:

• Andrew Cuomo, seeking his third term, was first elected governor in 2011. The Queen resident is running on the Democratic line. Last week, the Working Families Party voted to endorse him after previously endorsing his primary challenger, Cynthia Nixon. Cuomo trounced her in the Sept. 13 primary.

• Marc Molinaro, the Dutchess County executive and former New York State assemblyman, running on the Republican, Conservative, and Reform Party lines.

• Howie Hawkins, running for the third time on the Green Party line. Hawkins, who lives in Syracuse, ran for governor in 2010 and 2014.

• Stephanie Miner, former Syracuse mayor, running on the newly-created Serve America Movement line.

• Larry Sharpe, who lives in Queens, running on the Libertarian Party. He was runner-up in the 2016 Libertarian primary contest for vice president.

Cuomo did agree to debate Nixon in the primary and during a rather lively session they discussed everything from government corruption to transparency. They also accused each other of lying.

We understand that Cuomo’s refusal to debate Molinaro and the three third-party opponents is typical political strategy. With a $9.2 million war chest (Molinaro at last report had only $210,000 in cash on hand; Miner had $55,000; Hawkins, $31,000, and Sharpe, $24,000) and a huge lead in the polls (50 percent to 28 percent in an Oct. 1 Siena College poll), he has little to gain with a debate.

But the voters do. And isn’t that what it’s supposed to be about?

Debating the issues - New York has plenty of them - is the best thing that can be done for the people going to the polls. A solid leader who truly believes his or her record is a worthy one shouldn’t be afraid to stand behind it.

The question for Cuomo then would be does he truly believe his record is a good one?

For instance, we’d like to hear more about the $400,000 in donations to Cuomo’s campaign from employees of Crystal Run Healthcare, a growing Hudson Valley company that in 2016 received $25.4 million in public funds for two projects that were already under construction. The donations are subject of an ongoing federal investigation, accordign to the Albany Times Union.

We’d also like to know how someone who seems to be so in control as Cuomo could be duped by his closest aide, Joseph Percoco, and former nanotech wizard Alain Kaloyeros. Both have been convicted on corruption charges.

League of Women Voters Legislative Director Jennifer Wilson told the New York Times on Monday that her group hasn’t had any luck setting up a gubernatorial forum, but that they haven’t given up on the idea of organizing a debate. The league’s forum policy would allow them to host a debate where Cuomo’s chair would be left open if he turned down an invite.

“But that’s not a real debate,” Wilson said.

No, it’s not. If Cuomo wants a third term as governor, he should stand up and tell us why he deserves it. Period.