CANTON -- Cape Vincent businessman John Byrne is announcing Thursday night that he will try again to unseat Addie Russell, D-Theresa, as Assembly representative from the 116th district.

Byrne, in his run against Russell two years ago, held a lead on election night but lost after absentee ballots were counted.

“I lost by about 100 votes,” said Byrne, an owner of a campground and a plastics plant.

He says he has the endorsement of the state Independence Party and that “I feel I have strong support with the St. Lawrence County Conservative Party.” He is working toward garnering Republican support as well.

“I want to try to get down to Albany and bring some representation from the North Country down there rather than bring Albany up here,” he said, announcing his theme for the campaign.

He also said his emphasis would be on bringing more jobs to the area, “and we need to get some young people moving in. We’ve got so much potential with the five colleges, and probably the cheapest power in New York State.”

In December, he finished a four-year term as a Cape Vincent town councilor.

The 116th Assembly District includes the St. Lawrence County towns of Massena, Louisville, Waddington, Lisbon, Oswegatchie, Morristown, Hammond, and the City of Ogdensburg along the St. Lawrence River, plus the towns of Canton, Potsdam, Rossie, Macomb, and DePeyster, plus part of Jefferson County including Watertown.