“Our navigable lakes have always been and should always remain ‘lakes’ and not regulated wetlands,” asserted Republican-Conservative Assembly candidate Andrew Molitor. “It is completely unnecessary and inappropriate to reclassify lakes as wetlands.”

Molitor, the First Assistant District Attorney for Chautauqua County spoke with many affected residents, reviewed the applicable laws and proposed regulations, and listened carefully to the recent Chautauqua Lake Symposium, hosted by County Executive PJ Wendel in June.

“Our local lakes have never been shown as wetlands on the official DEC wetland maps. Although the amendments to the Environmental Conservation Law, passed by the Democratic majority as part of the 2022-2023 budget bill, eliminated those maps, the fundamental definition of a wetland remained unchanged.

“The DEC should not redefine lands and waters that homeowners, businesses, and municipalities have never considered freshwater wetlands before,” noted Molitor. “We should be concerned that Albany Democrats have again passed a law which creates considerable uncertainty and anxiety to residents across New York State.

“This is why I fully support proposed legislation from Sen. George Borrello and Assemblyman Andy Goodell to make it absolutely clear that navigable lakes are exempt from wetland regulations; this legislation protects all of the lakes in Chautauqua County and across New York State.”

“Further, I support their proposed legislation which ends the disastrous practice of passing non-budgetary legislation in the annual budget bill,” stated Molitor. “Ever increasing state regulations, like the expansive freshwater wetland regulations, have become a bureaucratic nightmare causing the decline of our businesses, jobs, housing market, criminal justice system, and our population — all while increasing costs! We need to fight back before property values and our robust tourist industry suffer the same fate.

“I will be your steady support in Albany to push back on policies that are misaligned with our values, to protect us from government overreach, and to cut back on harmful regulations. I would be proud to vote to keep our lake a lake.”