Tom Reynolds was an enthusiastic supporter and co-author of Assembly Bill 850authorizing the continued placement of piers that cause damage to fish and wildlife habitat and obstruct navigation.  I’m talking about massive solid-fill structure piers that go above and beyond what is necessary to get into or out of a boat.  This legislation has been strongly opposed by conservationists, lakeshore property owner groups and Wisconsin’s anglers.

That my senator (representing a district largely devoid of piers) would favor the special interests of developers and a small minority of shoreline property owners over the interests of his vastly larger constituency of mainstream outdoor sports enthusiasts contradicts the outdoorsy image he has been struggling to cultivate.  Equally, it is disingenuous to feign sincerity while hiding behind the pretext of protecting “private property rights” when this particular class of private property encroaches upon the state’s public waterways.  Primacy of the public’s right to use and enjoy the state’s waterways is always paramount.

Tom Reynolds is no friend of anyone who fishes and recreates on the public waterways.