By CRAIG FREILICH Russ Finley, who is running on the Conservative Party Line against Democrat incumbent Assemblywoman Addie Russell of Theresa and Republican nominee John Byrne of Cape Vincent for …
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By CRAIG FREILICH
Russ Finley, who is running on the Conservative Party Line against Democrat incumbent Assemblywoman Addie Russell of Theresa and Republican nominee John Byrne of Cape Vincent for the 116th District Assembly seat, says he is frustrated, being a third party candidate, with the domination of the two major parties.
The 116th, called the “River District,” includes all St. Lawrence County towns along the St. Lawrence River (Massena, Ogdensburg, Louisville, Waddington, Lisbon, Oswegatchie, Morristown, and Hammond) plus the towns of Canton, Potsdam, Rossie, Macomb, and DePeyster, and northern Jefferson County not including Watertown.
Finley, who raises beef cattle in Lisbon, is the one candidate from St. Lawrence County.
Finley says he is especially frustrated with John Byrne and some of the claims he’s made in the campaign, which culminates Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4.
For instance, Finley says, there’s Byrne’s claim to be a sportsman, which has bearing on what many see as the key issue on the election, the NY SAFE gun control bill.
“Nobody has checked his credentials. He says he’s a sportsman but we checked the records and he’s never had a hunting license. John Byrne has been to zero (anti-SAFE Act) rallies. I’ve been to 30 rallies.
“What I want to say is if people want to talk about a candidate who’s going to fight for repeal of the SAFE Act, that’s me.”
Finley says he’s afraid people are paying more attention to party affiliation than they are to what the candidates are saying.
“Listen to the issues. I’m a Conservative because I’m what a Republican was 20 years ago, and Byrne’s like what a Democrat was 30 years ago.
“People have the option to vote for somebody instead of picking someone from the two major parties to vote against somebody,” he said.