PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (WCAX) – Democrats in Plattsburgh are gearing up for Tuesday’s mayoral primary in New York.
Wendell Hughes is the Area Eight Clinton County legislator who has received the endorsement of the local party. His challenger is Dan Lennon, an assistant district attorney.
And the race has an interesting twist, as one of the candidates is the subject of a police investigation.
In May, Dan Lennon was put on paid leave from his county job as New York State Police began an investigation. We don’t know what the alleged crime is, but Lennon maintains his innocence.
Dan Lennon: I’ve assured you I have done nothing wrong. I keep assuring the voters and my support that I have done nothing. So, I would not expect charges, so I intend to stay in the race.
Reporter Alek LaShomb: On the off chance there are charges, 1 in 1000 say, would you still stay in the race?
Dan Lennon: It would depend on what they are. It is hard to say because I do not even know what the investigation is about, so I can not even speculate about what the charges could be. So, it is hard for me to say one way or another.
Meanwhile, both Democrats have strong opinions on the future of the Lake City. Hughes and Lennon both have a number of priorities for Plattsburgh, from addressing homelessness and housing to recreation in the city.
Lennon says he wants a city recreation task force to figure out what people want.
“There is other territory throughout the city of Plattsburgh where we could develop an indoor rec center but the people are yearning for it and the city government needs to respond to that,” said Lennon, Democrat for Plattsburgh Mayor.
Hughes says he wants an approach that brings in other municipalities.
“I think collaboratively if we got in with the town, we are using the YMCA for some of the stuff now, collaboratively I think if we shared more services with the town and county youth commission, I mean there are a lot of possibilities between the three,” said Hughes, Democrat for Plattsburgh Mayor.
Regarding the development of a waterfront hotel, which the Common Council rejected last year, Lennon supports it.
“One way we can reduce the burden on taxpayers that exist here is by expanding our tax base, getting more taxpayers into the single pot, so that any taxpayers financial burden when it comes to paying taxes is lessened,” Lennon said.
Hughes says he wants an additional commitment by the developers, as well as a land reclamation provision in the agreement.
“We have to broaden our tax base, but again, it has to be the right deal. It has got to be the right deal. I mean, the city of Plattsburgh can’t invest all of the money for the infrastructure upgrades, I think the company that wants to build down there is going to need to make an investment into the city of Plattsburgh as well,” Hughes said.
When it comes to housing, both candidates support building more, in part, to help address homelessness in the city.
“I would like to see eventually some sort of shelter or some sort of housing development so we can have these people housed,” Lennon said.
“The city can be involved and the town can be involved, too, but the county has got the social services and they have the resources that can be more utilized for that,” Hughes said.
As to whether each candidate will support the future nominee, Lennon says he will, while Hughes says he isn’t sure just yet.
The Clinton County Board of Elections says polling locations can be found on their website.