WADDINGTON – Retired Jefferson County Sheriff John Burns has announced he is endorsing Republican-Conservative Assembly candidate Susan Duffy in her primary battle for the GOP nomination. 

Duffy is facing off against Scott Gray of Watertown, who has worked as a small business owner for 40 years and has stepped up to serve Jefferson County for 20 years as a legislator.

"After careful consideration, I have decided to endorse Susan Duffy for the New York State Assembly seat that represents Jefferson and St. Lawrence County," said Burns. "We need a strong voice in Albany, someone who will fight to help make our streets safe, repeal the pro-criminal agenda passed by the New York City dominated legislature and stop those who want to 'defund the police."'

"For too long, too many have sat on the sidelines doing nothing while those who have no regard for public safety have put dangerous criminals back on our streets and made it tougher for dedicated law enforcement officers to do their jobs," said Burns. "As a career law enforcement professional, I worked across party lines to protect the people of Jefferson County.'

"That's why I am proud to stand with Susan Duffy who has shown that she understands what we need to do to make New York State a place where our young families will want to make their homes," he said. "Please vote for her in the June 28th Republican primary."    

"I am very proud that a respected Jefferson County lawman like Sheriff Burns has chosen to endorse me," said Duffy. "It means a great deal to me that Sheriff's Deputies, New York State Correctional Officers and other law enforcement  professionals are coming together behind my candidacy. When I am elected, they know I will always have their back."

"When I launched this campaign., a lot of people doubted that I could win against a career politician," she said. "But over the past several months, people from all walks of life are coming together to stand beside me as we take back New York for the people of the great Empire State."