PJ Burns Wins a Seat on Salmon School Board

In a midterm election on Tuesday, October 27, St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police officer Peter J. Burns won by a vote of 293 to 175. Burns defeated recently retired Christina Mayville. Mr. Burns thanked community members and surrounding communities of the SRCS school district stating, “To the communities of Akwesasne, Bombay, Westville, and Fort Covington, I am pleased to be your new school board member”.

The Burns campaign emphasized his work in community youth and anti-drug programs in addition to his law enforcement background. Burns was also endorsed by the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council, who stated, “PJ Burns provides our local school with an ‘anti-drug’ program that helps our children realize their full potential.”

Ms. Mayville, a former high school monitor and staff union representative, ran on her experience with the different aspects of working in the education system.

Salmon River Central School Board has seen a significant number of turnovers in recent years. Former board member Peter Ghostlaw had vacated the seat Mr. Burns and Ms. Mayville ran for.

Mr. Burns will join recently elected school board member Jason Brockway, who was elected last month to fill the seat vacated by former board president Matthew Mainville.

The SRCS School Board election held on Tuesday, October 27th, presents a Native American majority. Mr. Burns, while acknowledging the change remarked, “I am honored to serve in the interest of all students in the Salmon River School District.”

Mr. Burns will serve until June 30, 2018, which marks the remainder of Mr. Ghostlaw’s term.