Gordon Responds to State of County

With a Republican primary looming in June in the election for Oneida County Executive, candidate Dave Gordon on Tuesday responded to incumbent Anthony Picente's State of the County Address, which he delivered Monday evening at Daniele's in New Hartford .

In his 45 minute speech, the county executive touted his administration’s “fiscal accountability” having held the line on property taxes for the past 5 years.

“The county executive’s assertion that his administration has been fiscally accountable to the taxpayers couldn’t be any further from the truth. When the county executive took office in 2006 the debt service amount paid annually was around 12 million while today it is nearly doubled at 23 million. Instead of using the checkbook, the county executive has used the credit card putting Oneida County nearly a billion dollars in debt and continuing to drive people out of Oneida County.”

Gordon also blasted the county executive on his “blatant lie” to the people that the U-District including the Nexus Center would produce 27 million in annual revenue.

“Unless the county executive is adding a tax-exempt casino downtown, which 99% of the people don’t want, you are never going to have 1000 jobs and 27 million in annual revenue from a high school tournament soccer field. This is similar to his promise that Nano was coming bringing in 1000 jobs. It never happened and never will. The Nexus Center, 22 million paid for by the taxpayers while it will create a great venue for high school tournaments, it will not produce more than 20 jobs and yield little to no money for our community.”

Gordon said, the time to reduce spending and reduce taxes is now.

“Unless and until we treat the disease which is this liberal tax and spend agenda by this administration, we will never keep people in Oneida County. More than 4,000 people have left Oneida County since 2010 and this trend will continue under this same mindset”

Gordon also blasted the downtown hospital concept for its use of eminent domain by the county.

“Using eminent domain to take property from taxpaying private citizens to give to a private entity goes completely against our founding principles.”

Gordon also called out the cost to taxpayers.

“Uticans will be on the hook for 50 million dollars while people in Rome, who promote the Rome Hospital will be on the hook for 25 million dollars to cover these costs. It is fiscally irresponsible and completely immoral. The hospital should be built at the St. Luke’s campus.”

You can read Picente's full State of the County Address here.