MidHudsonNews [dot] com is reporting Patrick Ryan, the Democratic incumbent for Ulster County executive, and his Republican challenger, Jack Hayes, laid out their respective platforms to the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce on October 22. Both named the economy and its development as their priority. Ryan has been in office for less than six months, and one of his economic priorities is a county-funded program called the Green Careers Academy, which trains workers for green jobs. Hayes wants to make it easier for new businesses to get started and to help revitalize the region along Route 209 which, he said, has never recovered from manufacturing losses decades ago. During his short time he has served as county executive, Ryan said he has worked on the opioid epidemic, lowering the tax burden, and pushed the county to be fully powered by renewable energy by 2030. Hayes is concerned about budget deficits. He said shortfalls at both the county and state level, as well as the financial impact of criminal justice reform, will be significant, and a lot to tackle if he is elected. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.