‘Mac’ Benton Steps Back

From Challenging Marietta

In Exchange, Incumbent Will Support

Trustee As His County Board Successor

By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

COOPERSTOWN – Village Trustee MacGuire Benton has decided not to challenge fellow Democrat Andy Marietta for the county board’s Cooperstown/Town of Otsego seat.

An email the two men sent today to members of the county Democratic Committee says “we have come to the conclusion that there is much more that we agree on than  which divides us.

“Therefore, MacGuire has decided to suspend his campaign so that Andrew may run for re-election without internal opposition, and to support his re-election efforts unreservedly,” the email states.

Further, Marietta has pledged that, when he eventually leave the county board, he will support Benton to succeed him, recognizing “MacGuire has done an excellent job as (village trustee) and would make an excellent representative for the people of the Town of Otsego.”

Marietta has said he intends to run for a final term next year, where he will focus on seeking the creation of a county manager position.

The email ends, “We are united going forward.”