Candidates Largely Ignore Adirondack Issues Survey

Protect the Adirondacks sent out a non-partisan candidate questionnaire intended to inform voters about where candidates for U.S. Congress (House of Representatives) and the New York Legislature (Senate and Assembly) stand on issues impacting the Adirondack Park.

The questionnaires, with seven questions for Federal candidates and 12 for State candidates, were sent out in early August to candidates who are running in districts that include areas in or near the Park. Just seven candidates answered the questionnaire about issues affecting their constituents in the Adirondack Region.

The questionnaire asked candidates to state their positions on climate change, several pieces of applicable legislation and issues affecting the Adirondack Park and its residents.

The complete set of questions and candidates’ answers are available on Protect’s website to educate voters on candidates’ positions.

The organization’s Executive Director Claudia Braymer said the candidates’ answers were published exactly as they were written. “The answers have not been summarized, edited, or ranked in any way,” she said.

The candidates for Federal office who responded to the questionnaire include:

1. Paul D. Tonko running for U.S. House of Representatives District 20 against Ralph Ambrosio;

2. Ralph Ambrosio running for U.S. House of Representatives District 20 against Paul D. Tonko; and

3. Blake Gendebien running for U.S. House of Representatives District 21 against Anthony Constantino who did not respond to the questionnaire.

The candidates for State office who responded to the questionnaire include:

1. Melissa Seale running for NY State Senate District 45 against Dan Stec who did not respond to the questionnaire;

2. Cassie Robbins-Forbus running for NY State Senate District 49 against Mark Walczyk who did not respond to the questionnaire;

3. John Gunther running for NY State Assembly District 114 against Matthew Simpson who did not respond to the questionnaire; and

4. Dennis Gordon running for NY State Assembly District 117 against Tammie Nabywaniec who did not respond to the questionnaire.

View the questions and responses here.

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