Protect the Adirondacks Released Candidate Questionnaires
The group published unedited responses from candidates on issues impacting the Adirondack Park.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Elections
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Protect the Adirondacks has released questionnaire responses from federal and state candidates running in districts that include the Adirondack Park. The organization posted these unedited and unranked responses to inform voters about candidate positions.
Why it matters
The questionnaire aims to help voters understand where candidates for federal and state offices stand on specific policy issues affecting the Adirondack Park region. By providing unedited answers, the group intends to ensure transparency for the public.
Federal candidates were asked 7 questions while state candidates faced 12 questions regarding the Adirondack Park. The resulting responses from six candidates across various districts were published unedited and unranked.
The players
Protect the Adirondacks
This is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of the Adirondack Park through advocacy, education, and legal action.
Paul D. Tonko
He is a U.S. Representative currently serving New York's 20th Congressional District.
Blake Gendebien
He is a candidate seeking election to the U.S. House of Representatives for District 21.
Melissa Seale
She is a candidate running for the New York State Senate in District 45.
John Gunther
He is a candidate running for the New York State Assembly in District 114.
The details
The organization distributed these questionnaires to candidates in early August 2026 to gauge their stances on regional environmental and land-use policies. Several contenders for U.S. House and New York State legislative seats participated in the survey.
Timeline
Questionnaires were sent to candidates in early August 2026.
The article detailing candidate responses was published on September 29, 2026.
Political Context
This effort follows a pattern established by the Adirondack Park Agency Act by vetting candidates on their commitment to the region's specific conservation mandates. Opposing views often center on balancing these strict land-use regulations with local economic development and property rights.
Voters in these districts can use these unedited responses to compare candidate platforms before heading to the polls. This allows residents to directly evaluate how a candidate's legislative priorities might influence local conservation and development policies.
The takeaway
Voters are encouraged to review the full, unedited responses to identify specific differences between candidates regarding Adirondack land management. Analyzing these documents can help constituents make informed decisions on how their local representatives will balance regional policy needs.
Further reading
For more information on upcoming races, visit our New York Elections section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Adirondack Explorer.
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