Democrat Lee Kindlon picked up the public endorsement of Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan on Tuesday in an expected June 25 primary challenge against Albany County District Attorney David Soares.

Sheehan and Kindlon appeared together in downtown Albany, where they said Soares had not filed a financial disclosure statement for his campaign since 2021, and characterized it as part of a pattern.

“We must be able to count on the senior most law enforcement official in the County of Albany to follow the law,” said Kindlon, adding that "the lack of accountability" was one of the primary reasons he joined the race.

Earlier this year, Soares returned more than $22,000 in bonus pay he received late last year, following scrutiny from lawmakers.

Kindlon is a well-known defense attorney in the Capital Region. He recently represented Prestige Limousine operator Nauman Hussain in a trial involving the fatal Schoharie limo crash.

Sheehan said, "I have admired how hard he works, and I have admired the fact that he understands and holds true the rules and the laws of our state and of our country.”

Kindlon also noted criticism the district attorney’s office has received in county audits over the handling of asset forfeiture funds.

Assemblymember Phil Steck, also a Democrat, announced a challenge to Soares this year, but decided against it.

Soares defeated Matt Toporowski in a 2020 primary.

On Tuesday, Soares released a statement in response to Sheehan through the Friends of David Soares, accusing her of trying to deflect from violence happening within the city.

"Less than 24 hours since the latest (but not the last) attempted murder happening within the City of Albany, with the scourge of retail theft closing businesses across the city, and so much more, its feckless leader in that of the Mayor and political cronies decided to 'wag the dog' and endorse a defense attorney who spent last week defending a murderer in Schenectady," the statement says.