Former Majority Leader Discusses MCC Job ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) - Former Monroe County legislature majority leader Bill Smith sat before a bank of TV cameras Wednesday to talk about his credentials as a candidate for the presidency of Monroe Community College (MCC). Smith interviewed with the school's board of trustees yesterday and said he thinks that meeting went well. He also attended a forum with faculty, which he said was insightful, despite previous vocal opposition to his candidacy by some professors.

During the session with media Smith talked about the need for the school's next president to be connected with government officials, and said that he's committed to a downtown location for MCC, even if the Renaissance Square project falls through.

"Regardless of who is chosen to be president of the college, I would hope that no one has a vision any different than the commitment to the Damon City Campus. If this college is going to fulfill its mission of open access to the education it can offer, one of the ways it does that is to be accessible - especially to the folks in the city who may not have the transportation options, if nothing else."

Smith said that his relationship with county Democrats is cordial, and wouldn't hinder his ability to negotiate on the college's behalf. But he denied that his political ties to the county executive would have a bearing on his decision making about Renaissance Square.

Smith is one of three remaining candidates for the MCC post. Dennis Kessler, a local businessman, is being interviewed tomorrow and Laurence Spragg, a community college president from Binghamton was interviewed last week. A fourth candidate, Kenneth Ender, withdrew from the race earlier this week. © Copyright 2010, WXXI