Candidate Spotlight: State Assembly Candidate Julie Lewis

10/29/2012 (Updated 10/30/2012 4:30:38 PM)

Jason Weinstein: We continue our series of candidate spotlights as we bring in Julie Lewis, Republican running for State Assembly against incumbent Democrat Donna Lupardo. Thank you for your time. Let's begin with fracking. The emotions as well as potential economic and environmental impacts of fracking have made the issue a political hot potato.
Right now the issue is in the hands of the DEC.
Would you support the regulations imposed by the DEC when it comes to fracking no matter what they are? 

Julie Lewis: It's hard to answer if I would support them no matter what they are not knowing what they are going to be. I think they're going to be very good, they're going to be very strong.

JW: What are your concerns with how fracking is handled by the state?

JL: The continual delays. This issue has already been proven safe. We have 32 states who allow drilling already. New York has 14,000 active gas wells. We don't have any cases of aquifer contamination in the state. I believe for that reason alone we're missing out on an economic opportunity that will benefit the whole community. We've already seen lower utility rates over the last four years as a result of the glut of natural gas in the market. It's benefiting local residents. Windsor recently had a 5.8% drop in their school taxes as a result of the gas pipeline.

JW: With drilling can there be problems?

JL: Yeah, there can be problems with any industry but the overall safety record of this industry is very good. The number one issue they have is surface spills. It's not contamination from frack fluid as some people would lead you to believe. I think surface spills can be mitigated.

JW: Aside from the fracking issue, what specifically can you do in Albany to bring jobs and improve the economy of the area? 

JL: I would like to create a voluntary advisory panel that is made up of business leaders or business owners who will look at regulations that are hurting New York business creation. It's not going to be a paid group, another government agency. I don't believe we need to increase the size of government and government groups. I think we can repeal regulations that are hurting business. One of those is workers' compensation. It can't be repealed but it can be reduced. We have the highest worker's compensation tax and rate in the country.

JW: New York was recently named as having the worst business tax climate in the country.What will you do to change that?

JL: That sends a very negative message to residents of the state. It sends a negative message to businesses and people who might consider coming here. I recently met somebody while I was campaigning in Endwell who moved here from Indiana. She told me when they rented a U-Haul vehicle they were anxious for her and her husband to drive the vehicle to New York because they don't have anyone driving U-Hauls to New York. They have everyone driving them out of state to other areas. So that's another indication that we aren't getting things right. And I think New York needs to have a spending cap. We have a Governor who just said, "It's too bad for these municipalities who have to stick with a two-percent tax cap. I think the tax cap is a good idea for school sand municipalities. However if the mandate relief doesn't come with it it's just going to continue to hurt localities.

VIEW VIDEO