STAFF REPORTNorth Country This Week

NORWOOD — A long-time school administrator and current Potsdam town councilor hopes to use his experience and professional expertise to help better the quality of life in the county for local residents and solve some of the region’s more complex problems.

Patrick Brady, a lifelong resident of St. Lawrence County, retired school administrator, and current Potsdam Town Councilman, has announced his candidacy for the St. Lawrence County Legislature representing District 12. The seat is currently held by Republican John Burke, who has not announced plans to seek re-election. 

While some candidates have announced their intent to run, petitions to run for the 15 seats up for grabs this year can’t be picked up until Feb. 24. The final day to hand them in is April 6.

If Brady’s elected, the town council would have a vacant seat.

“St. Lawrence County has been my home my entire life,” Brady said. “I understand the opportunities we have and the challenges we face. I believe my experience in education, municipal government, and community leadership gives me the perspective and skills needed to help move our county forward.”

Brady brings more than three decades of public service in education and local government, along with extensive civic involvement and leadership experience, to his campaign.

He has spent 36 years in public education as a teacher, principal, and superintendent, including 18 years as superintendent of schools in the Potsdam and Massena Central School Districts. Recently, Brady also served as interim superintendent at the Colton-Pierrepont Central School District. 

He currently serves on the Potsdam Town Board and previously served as a town councilman and town supervisor for eleven years from 1994 to 2005.

In addition to his municipal service, Brady is an adjunct professor in the Education Leadership program at SUNY Potsdam, helping prepare the next generation of school leaders. He is also deeply engaged in community service through Rotary, currently serving as Vice President of the Massena Rotary Club, where he has been a member since 2015 and served as president during the 2020–21 year.

Brady said that recent surveys conducted by the Center for Community Studies at Jefferson Community College show growing concern among residents that quality of life in the county is declining—particularly due to rising energy costs, real estate taxes, limited job opportunities, housing shortages, and gaps in childcare and elder care services.

“These are the issues we must address if we want to retain residents, attract new families, and grow our economy,” he said.

 “My focus will be on working collaboratively with county government to keep taxes as low as possible while pursuing investments that create sustainable, good-paying jobs.”

Throughout his career, Brady said he has worked closely with county departments including social services, public health, law enforcement, highways, elections, and county administration, giving him firsthand knowledge of county operations and intergovernmental collaboration. He cites his problem-solving approach, ability to build consensus, and commitment to public service as key skills that he would bring to the table if elected.

“I’ve spent my career working across organizations and communities to solve complex problems,” Brady added. “I will bring that same collaborative approach to the County Legislature to ensure St. Lawrence County remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”

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