The St. Lawrence County Conservative party endorsed Matt Doheny for Congress and Karen Bisso for the 115th state Assembly district.

“We appreciate the fact that the voters of this district have a diverse group of candidates from which to choose,” St. Lawrence County executive committee chairman Henry Ford said in a new release. “But our Committee was looking for someone who has solid conservative credentials, a track record of success in the private sector and a clear understanding of what it takes to wage a campaign in as large a district as ours.”

Doheny lost to Rep. Bill Owens in 2011. In the release, Ford says Owens’ decision not to seek re-election gives conservatives a chance to reclaim the 21st District, and Doheny’s energy, experience and understanding of the concerns of North Country citizens makes him a natural.

The release says Bisso is a long-time teacher from Plattsburgh who has been outspoken in her support for second-amendment rights and for the need to roll back Common Core initiatives.

“Karen is a real dynamo and brings a grass roots approach to her campaign,” Ford said in the statement. “We need candidates who are closer to the constituents than they are to the political bureaucracy in Albany.”