By JIMMY LAWTON

St. Lawrence County Legislator Sallie Brothers says she hopes the board will fill her position in time to work on the county budget.

"I wanted to be sure that the people in my district would not be unrepresented during the budget process," she said.

Brothers is a retired Lisbon Central School teacher, who represents the Town of Norfolk. She has served on the St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators for a decade with two years as board chair.

She recently announced she would step down Sept. 25, due to health issues and had already said she did not plan to seek reelection.

"I have had some health issues over the years and it has gotten increasingly more difficult for me," she said. "It really comes down to mobility."

Brothers said she truly enjoyed her time as a legislator and will miss the job, but said she could not currently work to her full potential.

"My sense of responsibility is such that I feel very strongly that if you are going to take a position you should do the best job you can," she said. "When I got to a point that I realized I could not do that I decided it was time to step down and make room for someone younger."

Brothers said she expects the county Democrats to name a candidate soon, and assumes that person will be appointed without trouble.

She said she has always voted with a clear conscious and hopes her replacement will do the same.

"You have to have integrity and honesty within yourself, then you can do the position and do it well," she said.

Brothers said she was always focused on policy-making, not elections.

"I always believed that if the people in my community were satisfied with what I was doing then I would win elections,” she said. "If you do what you think I important and what you think is the best for the community that you accept a win or a loss with a sense of accomplishment."

Brothers offered thanks to those she worked with over the years.

"I would like to thank all of the county employees, directors, department heads and deputies," she said. "I would also like to thank county administrators Karen St. Hilaire and Don Brining."

Brothers offered her best wishes to her fellow board members and to the people she represents.

"Most of all. I want to thank my constituents for allowing me the opportunity to represents them over the years," she said.

Brothers said she was not sure who the Democrats would select as her replacement. Calls to St. Lawrence County Democratic Party Chairman Mark Bellardini were not returned.