CANTON – Assemblywoman Addie Russell, D-Theresa, says SUNY Canton Pres. Joesph Kennedy should have a three-year contract.

Otherwise, she says, she will support legislation proposed by Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, to require a separate president for each SUNY campus.

The announcement follows recent plans by the SUNY system to force Kennedy out and have the president of SUNY Potsdam oversee both campuses.

Russell’s announcement comes at the same time the Watertown Daily Times is reporting the SUNY Provost wants to rescind an agreement that allows Kennedy to remain as SUNY Canton’s president through this year.

Russell’s complete statement follows:

“As a result of my ongoing dialog with SUNY, last week I was able to persuade them to go one step further than offering Dr. Kennedy one more year as President of SUNY Canton. My understanding is that Dr. Kennedy was offered to be returned to his previous status as President for an unspecified period of time.

“This would come with less job security for the President but would be a signal that SUNY would move forward with one president at each campus, a goal clearly desired by everyone directly affected by this situation.

“Given that this arrangement would mean that Dr. Kennedy would return to serving in an at-will capacity, like every other president in the SUNY system, I have asked SUNY to provide a little more job security for him. In light of the tumultuous circumstances I have asked that they provide him with a contract to serve as president of SUNY Canton for three years. This type of contract is unprecedented, but warranted given the events of the past few weeks.

“However, if this effort is not successful, I would not fault President Kennedy if he were to decide to continue with his contract to serve out the year as president and then serve as an advisor to the Chancellor for two more years.

“If President Kennedy opts to keep his current agreement with SUNY, I will absolutely become a co-sponsor of Senator Ritchie’s legislation to ensure that each campus has its own president and work closely with her to find a way to make the bill become law. We need to ensure that if President Kennedy leaves the campus at the end of the school year, that he is replaced to preserve the integrity of the campus.

“In the meantime, I will continue to advocate on behalf of the campus’ needs, specifically for Dr. Kennedy to remain president for at least the next three years. He has been placed in a very difficult position and it is unfortunate that this personal matter is being played out in the press.