646 JOURNAL OF LAW AND POLICY
environment, there is disagreement over the best way to do that,
such as a statewide ban or stringent hydrofracking regulations.^111
Hydrofracking has also become an important political issue.
Elected officials from both parties and different levels of
government have taken a position on hydrofracking.^112 In recent
New York State elections, both local and federal candidates have
focused on the role of hydrofracking.^113 These have been hard
fought campaigns with resources and volunteers on both sides.^114
Although in the last few years antifracking activists have become
more pronounced in New York State,^115 recent election results
included notable victories for pro-fracking candidates.^116 One
such victory was Debbie Preston’s successful campaign for
Broome County executive against an outspoken antifracking
activist.^117
In the meantime, towns have been taking their own steps,
with some passing resolutions in favor of hydrofracking^118 and
others amending their laws to ban hydrofracking within their
borders.^119 Currently, over fifty towns have passed resolutions in
favor of hydrofracking.^120 Those towns in favor are mostly
(^111) See Applebome, supra note 110.
(^112) See Steve Reilly, Hydrofracking: It Has Polarized Voters and May
Decide the Election, PRESSCONNECTS.COM (Sept. 29, 2012, 9:06 PM),
http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20120929/NEWS11/309290033/Hydrof
racking-has-polarized-voters-may-decide-election.
(^113) See id.
(^114) Id.
(^115) Ellen Cantarow, The Secret War of Anti-Fracking Activists,
MOTHERJONES (Nov. 19, 2012), http://www.motherjones.com/environment/
2012/11/fracking-new-york-cuomo.
(^116) Mary Esch, NY Anti-Fracking Candidates Fared Poorly at Polls, BUS.
WK. (Nov. 8, 2012), http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-11-08/ny-anti-
fracking-candidates-fared-poorly-at-polls.
(^117) Id.
(^118) See Memorandum from the Joint Landowners Coal. of N.Y., Inc. to
N.Y. Local Officials (June 28, 2012) available at http://www.jlcny.org/
site/attachments/article/1348/JLC%20-20Resolution%20Cover%20Memo.pdf.
(^119) See David Slottje & Helen Holden Slottje, A Legal Plan to Control
Drilling, SIERRA ATLANTIC (Sierra Club Atl. Chapter, Albany, N.Y.), Spring
2011, available at http://newyork.sierraclub.org/SA/Vol41/Legal_plan.htm.
(^120) Map of Town Resolutions in Support of Hydrofracking, JOINT