Candidates answer questions about north country issues
Last week, the Watertown Daily Times' editorial board rapped the three 23rd Congressional District candidates for their combined lack of focus on the north country's "bread-and-butter concerns," such as power, transportation and the environment.
By Monday, two candidates had decided to address some of the outstanding questions the newspaper raised.
Douglas L. Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate, was asked some of the questions in a Times editorial board meeting Thursday. His campaign, given short notice Monday, declined to immediately provide additional insight.
St. Lawrence Seaway:
Save the River, Clayton, was created more than 30 years ago to oppose efforts to allow year-round navigation on the St. Lawrence Seaway. Today, the group's aims include keeping ships' ballast free of species that destroy the river's ecosystem and opposing efforts to expand the Seaway to accommodate larger vessels.
Stephanie G. Weiss, assistant director of the environmental advocacy group, said former Rep. John M. McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, "took positions that were essential to protecting the River all the time."
"He understood its importance not only as a resource, but also the impact to people's lives," she added.
Ms. Weiss said she wants a chance to educate the next congressman or congresswoman about a House climate change bill that includes a provision that would create a federal power-marketing agency in the Great Lakes. The proceeds from that agency could be used to fund dredging.
"That could very well do very negative things for the river," she said. "This is something that we feel that someone coming into this area should have a handle on."
Republican Dierdre K. Scozzafava said she disapproves of plans to transform the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. into a federal power-marketing entity, saying it would "shift their core mission away from the north country."
"Now is not the time to enact policies that will shift jobs outside of our region," she wrote in an e-mailed response.
The candidate also said she would oppose efforts to widen and deepen the Seaway so that ocean-going vessels could be accommodated.
"As demonstrated by past events, this type of project will bring unavoidable environmental consequences to our north country communities, while others will reap the long-term economic benefits further down the Great Lakes system," she wrote. "Our fishers and boaters will be the long-term losers from such a project."
The candidate opposed allowing year-round navigation. She credited the Seaway Development Corp. for requiring all ocean-going vessels to flush their ballast water before entering the system, but said "more needs to be done."
"I will support new requirements, coupled with tax incentives that spur innovation, to advance new technology to reach 'no ballast on board' standards from large ocean going ships," she said. "In the state Assembly, I've been supportive of efforts addressing various invasive species and their impact on our waterways."
William L. Owens, the Democratic candidate, noted the Seaway's "critical" impact on the local economy, but took no definitive position on the power plan, dredging, winter navigation, or protecting the waterway from invasive species.
"Whether we're addressing winter navigation proposals, considering widening and deepening the Seaway, or dealing with invasive species that are hurting local industry as well as the environment, I will address these and other issues by gathering input from local officials so that whatever federal action is taken has the best interests of upstate New York in mind at all times," he wrote in an e-mailed response.
Mr. Hoffman took no position on winter navigation or widening the St. Lawrence Seaway when asked Thursday.
Interstate 98
The four-lane divided highway would connect Watertown to Plattsburgh and is estimated to cost $1 billion.
Ms. Scozzafava and Mr. Owens both support the idea, saying it would spur job creation. The Republican added that the first step of the project is already complete with the funding of the Fort Drum connector road between Route 11 and Interstate 81.
Mr. Hoffman said Thursday he was "open" to studying the proposal, but added he'd like to find out the project's "real cost" before deciding whether to support it. He said he'd also like to know its impact on communities, the environment and the economy and its benefits in comparison with other proposals.
Acid rain:
Mr. McHugh voted for the American Clean Energy and Security Act, known informally as the "cap and trade" bill, in part because it offered the Adirondacks continued protection from acid rain.
Mr. Owens said he would also have supported that bill because of the acid rain provisions and also because it "made significant investments in the green energy industry — and we need to continue to encourage these types of initiatives so that we can create jobs here in our region."
Ms. Scozzafava was opposed to the bill, but she would also prioritize combating acid rain.
"I will encourage the use of every tool, whether administrative, judicial or legislative to combat acid rain caused principally by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide and mercury precipitation from coal fired power plants," she wrote. "The time is now to enact strict reduction requirements, as true opportunities to amend the Clean Air Act are few and far between."
Mr. Hoffman was not asked Thursday about acid rain regulations.
