The fact that Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, a Republican, came out publicly in support of Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, is causing a stir.

Beginning yesterday Picente appeared in a television campaign ad for the Governor.  The reaction to his appearance was mixed.  Some say Picente stepped up to the plate of bipartisanship in an effort to get things done in the Mohawk Valley.  Others accuse him of turning against his Republican brethren by endorsing Cuomo.

The ad caught the attention of WIBX for yet another reason.  At approximately the :16 second mark in the video a building is shown with the words "Nano Utica" at the top.  Familiar with the SUNY Poly campus on which the "Quad C" project is located - Quad C, of course, an important part of the Nano Utica project - no staff member recalled seeing a building marked "Nano Utica."

On this morning's WIBX First News with Keeler in the Morning we asked Picente about the building.  He says he has seen the video and says that the building is indeed part of Quad C but admits that it may not have the words "Nano Utica" on top. He says that the picture is actually a rendering of the building because the actual structure is not yet complete.  When it is complete, it is unlikely that the words "Nano Utica" will be on it.  That sign will most likely contain the name and / or logo of the building's primary leaseholder.

When asked whether the choice to Photoshop such a picture in the aftermath of comments by on WIBX Cuomo challenger Rob Astorino that Nano Utica was nothing more than "smoke and mirrors," Picente said he could not speak to the decision to Photoshop or not to Photoshop, but said that the issue is irrelevant because the building is indeed being constructed and will be part of Nano Utica's home.

Here is the video.  Judge for yourself:

Here are some photos of the actual buildings and worksite (as they look today) on the campus of SUNY Poly (formerly SUNYIT):

Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino
Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino
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Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino
Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino
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Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino
Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino
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Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino
Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino
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