County exec candidates address environment
Smyth touts green ideas, McLaughlin points to PFOA response
With the general election only a couple weeks away, the major-party candidates for Rensselaer County executive have put forth some of their ideas for improving the environment.
Andrea Smyth, the Democratic, Working Families and Women’s Equality parties’ candidate for county executive released a statement last week outlining plans for green infrastructure, water quality and rural economic development.
“I will recycle the words of a first lady of the United States who embraced environmentalism long before it was in vogue,” Smyth said in her statement. “Lady Bird Johnson said, ‘The environment, after all, is where we all meet, where we all have a mutual interest. It is one thing that all of us share. It is not only a mirror of ourselves, but a focusing lens on what we can become.’”
Smyth’s Republican challenger, Assemblyman Steven McLaughlin, meanwhile, pointed out through campaign spokesman Rich Crist what they say is seven years of work in the state Assembly to protect Rensselaer County’s natural resources. Specifically, Crist pointed to McLaughlin’s swift response to contamination crises involving municipal water systems in the eastern part of the county over the past two years
“Steve is proud to have led the way in securing clean water and needed attention for residents affected by the PFOA issue in Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh,” Crist wrote in a statement Friday afternoon. “His efforts to deal with the PFOA issue attracted attention across the state, and he remains a vocal and energetic advocate for residents affected by the issue to this day.”
Among Smyth’s ideas are creation of a citizen liaison group to work with the state Drinking Water Quality Advisory Council, a commitment to com-
plete use of renewable energy in county buildings by 2021, expanded use of green building materials and processes for water infrastructure and road projects, support for farmland preservation and introduction of a “green fleet policy” into shared services agreements with other governmental groups.
Smyth said she would like to include input from residents of affected communities on the Drinking Water Quality Advisory Council, with those residenmts then able to share the council’s with neighbors in those communities.
Smyth said the use of renewable energy in county buildings could take many forms, beginning with an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions and determination of fleet conversion capabilities and possibly including energy retrofits, building modifications to improve energy efficiency or decrease energy demand, use of natural ventilation and fresh air intake, where possible, installation of LED lighting and solar energy equipment and purchasing electricity from sustainable sources.
Smyth said farmland preservation could be done in conjunction with the state Department of Agriculture and the Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce, each of which can assist county and municipal governments in protection plans and small agribusiness development.
Crist said McLaughlin would also continue to advocate for farmland protection and would also be looking to upgrade the county’s aging infrastructure.
“[Steve] has been an advocate for protection of farms and open space and has been recognized by the New York State Farm Bureau for his support for agriculture,” Crist wrote. “Steve will also work to expand infrastructure throughout the county to ensure quality water and sanitary sewer services to protect quality of life, health and safety and support job creation efforts.”