Thursday, April 25, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Finely as the Conservative Party-endorsed candidate for the 116th Assembly District seat. The Conservative Party's endorsement has gone to …
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An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Finely as the Conservative Party-endorsed candidate for the 116th Assembly District seat. The Conservative Party's endorsement has gone to businessman John Byrne of Cape Vincent, who also holds endorsements from of the Independence and Reform parties. Byrne nearly defeated Russell in the 2014 election for the 116th. Finley and Byrne are in a three-way primary for the Republican Party endorsement in the race with former Hammond judge Bill Sheridan. NorthCountryNow.com regrets the error.
LISBON – A candidate vying for the 116th Assembly District seat is calling on the other three candidates in the race to denounce the 47 percent pay increase put forth by the legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo last term.
Russ Finley of Lisbon, who is trying to unseat Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, says Gov. Cuomo created an unconstitutional wage board who decided that pay of state legislators should rise from $79,500 to $118,000 per year.
“This allotment doesn’t include their legislative housing during session or mileage that they are reimbursed for to travel back and forth for their jobs,” he said in a prepared statement.
“The law states that legislators have to vote on their own pay raises not a wage board put together by the Governor to save his friends at the polls. How can we afford this?”
“We are in a time where taxes are skyrocketing. Farmers and small businesses are closing due to the tremendous tax hikes,” Finley wrote “When is enough going to be enough? We can’t fight higher taxes while greasing our palms – this job isn’t about getting rich, it’s about doing what’s right for our communities and neighbors.”
Finley also said he wouldn’t accept reimbursement for his mileage if elected Nov. 8, which he says would save his constituents roughly $6,000 per year.
The 116th District, also known as the River District, includes all the towns in St. Lawrence County along the St. Lawrence River, plus Canton, Potsdam, Rossie, Macomb, and DePeyster, and part of Jefferson County.
