Zephyr Teachout: 'Cuomo is stealing from our kids'

• Teachout is challenging Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a Sept. 9 Democratic primary
• She is a constitutional law professor at Fordham Law School
• Teachout also attacked hydrofracking during her speech%2C calling it toxic for the environment

More than sixty political supporters gathered at Village Gate Square Thursday to hear gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout voice her support for public education, small businesses and clean energy.

Teachout, who is challenging Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a Sept. 9 Democratic primary, harshly and repeatedly criticized Cuomo for cutting public school aid and pledged to stop the implementation of Common Core standards if elected.

"Again and again, [Cuomo] has taken money out of education funding and put it in the pockets of big banks," she said. "Andrew Cuomo is stealing from our kids."

Teachout, a liberal who is a constitutional law professor at Fordham Law School, told supporters that fixing the higher education system would in turn help small businesses to thrive.

"A 28-year-old won't invest in her new business idea if she is carrying around lots of student debt," she said.

Teachers and education advocates in the crowd held signs and cheered during the rally.

Doug Baker, 80, of Pittsford, said he came to the rally because he has become disenchanted with the way Cuomo has handled education and other issues.

"We need another voice in New York state," he said. "Here we are looking at someone who has displayed intelligence, vigor and is knowledgeable on education."

As a self-identified "FDR Democrat," Teachout also attacked hydrofracking during her speech, calling it toxic and telling the crowd that it would get in the way of building a sustainable agricultural economy.

"I support wineries and agro-tourism," she said. "We can't have wineries if we also have hydrofracking."

Cuomo's campaign unsuccessfully attempted to knock Teachout off the ballot by challenging her residency. Last week, a state Supreme Court judge and then an appeals court ruled that Teachout has lived in New York — not her home state of Vermont — for the five years required to be on the ballot.

Ann Hood, the local coordinator for Thursday's event, said there is growing support for Teachout because "people are tried of business as usual."

Teachout has received endorsements from 11 organizations across the state, including the New York State National Organization for Women and the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club.

In an opinion piece published online Tuesday, The New York Times editorial board said it would not endorse a candidate in the Democratic Primary but nonetheless delivered a stinging reproach to Cuomo.

"The state government remains as subservient to big money as ever, and Mr. Cuomo resisted and even shut down opportunities to fix it," the editorial board wrote. "Because he broke his most important promise, we have decided not to make an endorsement for the Democratic primary on Sept. 9."

But while the board praised reform proposals from Teachout, it concluded she lacks the experience to govern or to deal with "the snarling self-interest of the Legislature."

Despite the lack of a formal endorsement, Teachout's campaign hailed the piece.

NUPADHYE@Gannett.com

Twitter.com/NeetiU_DandC