ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Libertarian candidate for governor Larry Sharpe continues his tour of upstate New York today here in the Rochester area.

Larry Sharpe says he's trying to understand Upstate New York as much as he does Downstate.

At a kickoff event at Nazareth College he focused on education reform and the economy. He says centralized control over education needs to end, and that instead of the k through 12 model, schools should adopt a k through through ten model.

Sharpe says it's also time for a mix up in both the Republican and Democratic parties.

"They are the old parties," Sharpe said. "New York right now is too tough and stuck with old money. Alright? We've lost. We've lost marijuana to Colorado and California and Washington. We're losing Bitcoin because of our silly Bitcoin licensing. That's already gone. Now we're losing financing. That's going over to San Francisco. We've got to stop losing. We are happy with the slow decay of status quo and that's got to change. But whether you vote R or D in 2018, that's not going to change. You've got to vote for a 3rd party. You've got to vote for a change. That's me"

Sharpe will be in the Rochester area for two more days.

Monday evening he'll be speak to business owners at the Domino's in Webster from 5 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday he'll host a meet and greet at the Nox Cocktail Lounge from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.