POTSDAM — Town Board Member Christine Paige and fellow board members got an earful from the public who were critical of her online statements last month where she compared the Trump assassination attempt to “putting down a rabid dog.”

The public comment portion of the Aug. 13 town board meeting was dominated by criticism of her statements and calls for her to step down.

However one member of the gallery spoke out in support of Paige, although not before that supporter dropped a racial slur during her two minutes.

Paige has been under fire following her social media comments, with a swirl of criticism being voiced on Facebook and in the letters section of North Country This Week. Her actions have resulted in a formal censure resolution passed by the St. Lawrence County Legislature and a letter to the community from Potsdam Town Supervisor Marty Miller condemning her actions.

County Legislator Rita Curran took the first two minutes, stating that she found herself in a similar situation as Paige in 2019 when she re-shared a Facebook post that some found offensive. Many asked her to resign, she said, including Potsdam town board members.

“I learned that you’re responsible to everybody in the county, everybody that you serve and you really have to think about what it is that you say,” Curran said. “I don’t know that we ever want to be in a position where we call for the execution or assassination of elected officials at any place. I don’t know if we want to demean people and make them inhuman or say that they’re rabid or say that they should be put down.”

Curran said it’s an elected official’s job to help people not cause “commotion.” She said her own Facebook re-share debacle caused a great deal of backlash, including threats to her children and herself which resulted in an emergency carry permit for a firearm and a sheriff’s escort.

Bill Frank, who volunteers for the Patriot Party News, warned of the repercussions of statements like those made by Paige on a public forum.

“One thing in particular, with, with a Facebook quote from elected officials where we have seen problems with (is) that folks, that are maybe your constituents, who may very well not be of sound psychological mind, do make hasty decisions,” Frank said.

“It is a freedom of speech movement in essence. But with certain responsibilities come certain disadvantages on that.”

Frank urged that the reasoning behind statements like those made by Paige is what needs to change.

“What was the catalyst behind it is what needs to be addressed. Not whether they’re right or wrong, but talked about, and have a dialogue,” he said.

Kevin Beary, a town board member in Colton, said he had read Supervisor Marty Miller’s letter condemning Paige’s statements. However, he called for more from the board.

“I think the board could take further action immediately. I understand that you’re setting up a committee. You’re working on a code, etc. But I think something could be done right now this evening,” Beary said.

“(And) I noticed that the supervisor was the only person who signed the letter. I was a little surprised at that,” Beary said, calling out the board members who did not sign the condemnation letter.

“I think that those statements (Paige’s) call for a more aggressive response by the board,” he said.

“I think, having someone on a town board who has expressed these feelings of contempt for human life… I would suggest that she do an examination of conscience and ask God to enlighten her darkness,” Beary said.

County Legislator Margaret Haggard pointed out that she did not vote for the county resolution calling for censure of Paige earlier this week. Haggard’s vote was one of only 5 no votes. The resolution was passed.

At the town board meeting Haggard said she did not believe that the county legislature has any authority over the town board.

“I’m very patriotic, and one of those things involves the 1st amendment,” Haggard said. “We have a lot of protection in the 1st Amendment. That being said, and I’ll tell you from experience, it’s very difficult to be a newly elected public servant. There’s no handbook.”

“I think forgiveness is something we probably all believe in and I just hope that there’ll be some grace considered,” Haggard said.

Lynn Clark, a neighbor of Christine Paige for 31 years, was highly critical of Paige and asked her to resign.

“It is mentally ill people with guns that shoot people, not every mentally person, but some. Someone that shoots another human being other than being in service is not mentally there,” Clark said.

“My concern is that statements such as this would provide an impetus for some other mentally ill person to go for the kudos of ‘Let’s see if we can shoot the rabid dog.’”

“I think that it’s very evident that you don’t understand the responsibilities that come with power of any kind, even if it’s power of being in a small town on a board,” Clark said to Paige. “I suggest, and I ask you out of community, and, just to please step down.”

Clark asked the board to censure Paige if she did not resign.

County Legislator Glen Webster called for Paige’s resignation as well.

“Christine Paige has shown the people, the Potsdam board and the people here, that she hasn’t even apologized. She has no remorse for this,” County Legislator Glenn Webster said. “If anybody thinks that political assassination… that you can go on saying stuff like this is right. Nope, you shouldn’t be in public office. It is political terrorism.”

“The citizens of Potsdam deserve better. They really do,” Webster said.

“I plead with you, resign, and get somebody else in here. So this doesn’t go on and on for another 3 and a half years. This is going to hang over the town of Potsdam for the rest of your term,” he said to Paige. “I mean at least apologize for what you said.”

While Paige did garner some backing during the comment period, Shelley A. Warner-Levison’s comments in support of Paige did raise a few eyebrows in the gallery when she dropped the N-word during her two minutes.

“Daily, daily, daily we listen to Trump, and his shit. Every freaking day,” Warner-Levison said.

“And Glenn, you know what, you’re not perfect. If I could bring every one of your ex employees in here…,” Warner-Levison said.

“She should be addressing the board not the person,” interjected Town Clerk Cindy Goliber, citing the rules the town has in place for public comment which were announced at the start of the session.

“Excuse me ma’am you need to address the board,” Supervisor Miller cautioned.

“If I could bring all of his ex employees in here, so you could hear the names. The foul names that he has called them all, including n- – – – – multiple (times),” Warner-Levison said. “Yeah, don’t look so excited, Glenn.”

“I just want you to know there’s 2 sides to every coin,” she said. “He’s not perfect. Never will be, and he’s right he never will be a politician.

“And Christine do not resign,” Warner-Levison said.

The town board took no action on the issue during the meeting. ##