The seat currently is held by Senate President Kevin Raye of Perry, who is term-limited and has announced plans to run against Mike Michaud for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
For more than two decades, Burns was a Maine State Police detective based in Washington County. He now works as a private investigator.
Additionally, he’s been involved in numerous local agencies including as a trustee for Washington Academy, his alma mater, and as a board member of Eastern Area Agency on Aging, Regional Medical Center Lubec-Healthways, the Recovery Support Network, the Sunrise County Economic Council and the Whiting Planning Board.
Burns said he’s running for the Senate seat to continue advocating for the people of Washington County.
“I believe we have finally turned the corner here in Maine by creating a better environment to start and run businesses while responsibly protecting our natural resources and way of life,” he said. “Washington County has made great strides in recent years by keeping our pulp and paper industry operating, developing the necessary infrastructure in our port in Eastport to compete in the 21st century and keeping the correctional facility in Bucks Harbor, which employees 68 people here in this county.”