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State Sen. George Borrello and Assemblyman Andrew Molitor face similar challenges in their re-election campaigns for state office.
Borrello is challenged for the 57th state Senate District, which includes all of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties and more, by Victoria Guite-Williams while Molitor is challenged in the 150th Assembly District, which includes all of Chautauqua County and the Cattaraugus Reservation in Erie County, by Thomas Carle of Fredonia.
The argument for both Democratic Party candidates is that a Democrat would find themselves working with the majority party in the Senate and Assembly, something that hasn't happened since the Independent Democratic Caucus dissolved and rejoined the rest of the state Senate Democrats in April 2018. That, Democrats argue, will bring more state help to Chautauqua County.
We disagree with that argument as much today as we have every election year it has been raised. Policies pursued by Democrats in the state's bigger cities are driving up costs on businesses and homeowners around the state. We also have a feeling that turning the 57th Senate and the 150th Assembly districts blue only adds to the faceless, ultimately impotent districts across the state who are run over by the very Democrats who are pursuing policies that are driving up inflation, electricity and heating costs and costs to businesses every year. Broadening the Democratic Party's majority in the Senate and Assembly is far from the answer to what ails rural New York. Borrello is loud in his opposition of those policies, though we wonder sometimes if his rhetoric assailing one party rule in Albany limits his effectiveness at times.
And, in our view, the fact that Borrello and Molitor are in the minority party in Albany discounts what actually makes a politician effective in the first place. Borrello has made a habit during his more than seven years in the state Senate of crossing party lines to co-sponsor legislation sponsored by Democrats -- particularly Sen. Michelle Hinchey, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee -- that can benefit his district. Borrello has also been able to advance legislative priorities like Kendra's Law or bail reform rollbacks while still opposing policies that many in the 57th Senate District also oppose. Molitor, whose first term is coming to an end this year, is following the same model even as Molitor works through a party structure in Albany that rewards longevity. His ability to influence policy can only increase with another term.
Just as noteworthy as their work in their respective chambers is the work Borrello and Molitor do addressing issues in the community. Borrello has been heavily involved in trying to rectify Dunkirk's financial mess and in trying to help grape farmers this year find a market for their grapes.
Carle and Giute-Williams deserve credit for stepping up to run for office. Voters deserve to have a choice when they go to the polls.
But in these races, the right choice for Chautauqua County is to re-elect Borrello to the state Senate and Molitor to the state Assembly.