The Republican Assembly “River District” candidate says his first move if he’s elected will be to put forward an anti-corruption bill.

John Byrne of Cape Vincent, who hopes to unseat Democratic incumbent Addie Russell of Theresa in the 116th District race, says his “Cleaning Up Corruption” bill will include proposals on limits to the time members can serve in leadership positions, plans to prevent bid rigging, and to change political contribution rules.

Byrne says he wants an eight-year limit on how long legislators can serve in leadership positions, such as speaker or majority or minority leader, and as committee chairs, but says nothing about limiting the time someone may serve as a senator or an Assembly member.

His plan to end corruption in awarding contracts for business with the state would ban a contractor “from donating to a state official, political committee or independent expenditure group” for one year after a contract is awarded. Also, in a “lookback provision,” when potential contractors submit bids for state work, they must notify pertinent people to whom they have contributed in the previous 365 days that they have to refund the entire contribution.

He would also lower the amount of money that individuals, corporations, unions, lobby groups, and businesses can give to a state, county, local political committee or individual, reducing it from $100,000 to $10,000.

“North Country residents deserve someone who’s going to be proactive and a leader on ethics reform in the state Assembly,” said Byrne, who also will be on the Conservative, Independence and Reform party ballot lines on Nov. 8.

In St. Lawrence County, the 116th District includes all county’s towns along the St. Lawrence River (Massena, Louisville, Waddington, Lisbon, Oswegatchie, Morristown, and Hammond) plus the City of Ogdensburg and the towns of Canton, Potsdam, Rossie, Macomb, and DePeyster, and part of Jefferson County.