(WKTV) - Before you cast your vote on election day, will you know where the candidates stand on the issues?

We are going to try to help make sense of it all in a five-part series called "Where Do They Stand?"

Of course there is the economy, the energy issue and our dependence on foreign oil, there's health care, the war in Iraq and the future of Social Security.

We will tackle each of these issues in depth over the next five weeks, and let you know where Barack Obama and John McCain stand, but first, we simply wanted to get a gauge of what Central New Yorkers believe is their number one issue.

Jennifer Mauer, a Utica College Junior says "this is actually my first time voting, I actually picked up some pamphlets on each of the candidates, I don't know who I'm going to vote for just yet."

Utica College Political Science Professor Dr. Dan Underwood says "I think in Central New York, especially where, we're from, it's the economy, it's jobs. The creation of jobs and keeping of jobs, and how the national government effects that is a really big deal."

Frankfort resident Meagan Penree says her issue is "pretty much overseas, having our army come back, my brother, half my family is in there so, it's pretty much what I care about."

Utica resident Russell Quinn says "this country's going broke, the next thing you know, they're going to be digging into the Social Security and it's going to be screwing everybody up. And you don't think either candidate can help? No, I don't think so."

So there are a variety of views on what is the number one issue is, but most people we talked with did say it's the economy, things that effect them everyday, like the price of gas, and looming high heating bills this winter.

We will go in depth with one issue each Monday during our 5:00 and 6:00 newscasts.

Our first "issue" piece will air next Monday, October 6th, it will be on Energy.