As Governor Cuomo has turned his attention to how the state would deal with Ebola, Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins appeared in Buffalo Friday campaigning against charter schools, Common Core and Fracking.
Hawkins stood outside Lafayette High School with a handful of supporters as he protested the district's proposal to create a charter at the failing school.
"I think it is a set up. This is not about these schools failing. These schools are failing because they are under resources," said Hawkins. "If we are going to deal the problem of poor performance and achievement in these disadvantage communities we have to have broader social reform."
Hawkins received a major endorsement the Buffalo Teachers Union.
Hawkins, Republican opponent Rob Astorino and Libertarian candidate Michael McCermott all say if they were elected they would rescind Common Core.
"I would call off this high-stakes testing and Common Core and let the teachers teach," said Hawkins.
The state rolled out Common Core in 2010. Cuomo supports Common Core it, but has admitted the rollout was faulted.
You can hear from all four candidates for Governor as they face-off in WNED-WBFO state-wide debate next Wednesday night at 8'o'clock. The debate will be broadcast on WBFO and WNED-TV, moderated by WBFO News director Brian Meyer in the WNED studio.