Bill Nojay, the conservative radio talk show host and former board chairman of the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority, won the Republican primary in the 133rd Assembly District, defeating former Avon mayor Richard Burke by more than 1,000 votes.

Nojay was the party endorsed candidate in Monroe and Steuben counties. Nojay entered the race in May; about a month after Burke announced his candidacy.

Until recently, the 55-year-old Nojay was CEO of the Detroit Transit System. Nojay, who is also an attorney and resides in Pittsford, says New York’s economy has been gutted by high taxes, job-killing regulations, and a bloated bureaucracy filled with anti-business and anti-agriculture bureaucrats.

“This election wasn’t about Bill Nojay and Richard Burke, or anyone else for that matter. It was about the future of Upstate New York,” Nojay said. “I think everybody looks around. They see our jobs going, our freedoms under attack. The New York City politicians have a certain political culture they’re pushing, and that’s fine for them, but it’s not so good for us. It hasn’t worked out so well. We’ve got to start pushing back, and that’s what this campaign was really all about.”

The 48-year-old Burke was born and raised in Avon. He is chairman of the Avon Republican Committee and vice-chair of the Livingston County Republican Committee, which endorsed his candidacy. He also had the backing of the Monroe County Conservative Party.

Burke served as Avon mayor from 1995 to 2004, and believed his rural roots would give him the advantage in the primary election. Burke will still be on the ballot in November, under the Conservative Party line.

“My name will continue to appear on the ballot, but I certainly won’t appear on the Republican line, which is what I was hoping for,” Burke said.

Monroe County Conservative Party chairman Tom Cook tells YNN he’s not sure if Burke will campaign for the seat, but Burke will be on Line C on the ballot in November.

Nojay and Burke will face Randolph Weaver, a Democratic county legislator in Steuben County, in the general election. Weaver is from Hornell.

That winner will fill the seat currently held by Republican Sean Hanna, who is running for the 55th Senate District, against Ted O’Brien, the Democratic Minority Leader in the Monroe County Legislature.