NORFOLK -- A career of service and education has led Pat Brady to seek a seat on the St. Lawrence County Legislature.
Brady, who has called the North Country home his entire life, said it was his goal to continue to serve his community after 36 years in public education as a teacher, principal and superintendent.
In total, Brady spent 18 years at the helm of both the Potsdam and Massena Central School Districts. In recent years, Brady returned to public office, serving as a Potsdam Town Councilman. He also previously served as Town Supervisor and has worked as an adjunct professor at SUNY Potsdam.
“Those experiences have given me practical experience with budgets, personnel, labor relations, public policy, community partnerships and managing complex organizations. More importantly, I have had the opportunity to lead during difficult times,” Brady told North Country This Week.

Brady said he is no stranger to handling difficult situations, having served at Town Supervisor during the Ice Storm of 1998, superintendent of Potsdam during the Great Recession, as well as superintendent of the Massean Central School District during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Each required working with employees, elected officials, families, emergency responders, public health officials and other community partners,” he said.
Brady said he believes effective leadership “starts with listening, respecting different perspectives and bringing people together to solve problems.”
“That is the approach I would bring to the County Legislature,” he said.
Brady said those strengths would lend themselves well as he works with legislators, state and federal officials to address the rising cost of living, housing, access to healthcare, as well as childcare, eldercare and the “need for more good-paying jobs.”
“These challenges are especially concerning in a county where many families are already living at or near the poverty line. Changes to federal programs are likely to make things more difficult. Federal SNAP changes will shift additional administrative costs to states and counties, while changes to Medicaid and other federal assistance could increase pressure on healthcare providers, county services and local budgets,” Brady said.
He continued, saying limited incomes could be particularly worrisome for families as food and healthcare assistance becomes harder to access.
“Childcare and eldercare are also both family and workforce issues. When parents cannot find affordable childcare, or someone has to leave work to care for an aging family member, it affects the entire local economy,” he said.
Brady said bringing sustainable economic development to create good jobs is also essential to ensure young people have opportunities to remain in the county.
“These challenges are interconnected. Addressing them will require county government to work with municipalities, schools, healthcare providers, businesses, nonprofits, and state and federal partners to protect essential services, pursue available resources and develop practical solutions,” he said.
Brady said his top priority, if elected, would be to improve access to childcare and eldercare to ensure families can remain in the workforce.
“I see this as an economic-development issue as much as a social service issue. Employers need people who can work, and families need reliable care for children and aging relatives,” he said.
Brady said the county cannot solve the problem alone, however, saying there are a few “practical things it can do.”
“We can help train and retain childcare and eldercare workers, reduce unnecessary barriers for qualified small and in-home providers, work with SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Canton and other educational institutions on career pathways, and strengthen transportation and community based services,” he said.
Brady commented that partnerships with schools and community programs such as latchkey care and youth programming could also be a major benefit for the county.
“My experience in education and local government gives me an understanding of how to bring different organizations to the table. I also believe my experience managing budgets and working through difficult circumstances would be useful in identifying what the County can realistically do and where state, federal or private resources can help,” he said.
Brady said the county has done a good job at maintaining a broad array of services that many residents may not even realize are available, though he hopes to help spread the word further.
“The Office for the Aging, Public Health, County Planning, Emergency Services and Community Services provide important support across a very large rural county. The Office for the Aging, for example, provides nutrition, transportation, caregiver support and health insurance counseling,” Brady said.
He said he believes the county has the opportunity to build stronger relationships with school districts, municipalities, business, colleges, healthcare systems and nonprofit agencies to benefit residents.
“We cannot afford to operate in silos,” he said.
Brady said he has seen room for improvement in communication, coordination, long-term planning and listening at the county level.
Throughout the last year, Brady has attended numerous county board meetings, leading him to feel that “the priorities being advanced do not always reflect the concerns or perspectives of all segments of our population.”
“People with different political or philosophical views deserve to have their voices heard and respected, even when we disagree,” he said.
Brady also called for consistency in evaluation government policies.
“If we are willing to recognize how decisions in Albany affect our County, we should apply that same standard when Washington’s policies increase costs or affect local services,” he said.
Brady said he hoped the county could become “an even stronger convener to listen to all voices, bring people together around common problems, and make the best use of state and federal resources.”
For Brady, running for office is not about politics but rather the people of St. Lawrence County.
“St. Lawrence County has given me the opportunity to build a career, raise a family and serve communities I care deeply about. I want to continue that service at the County level,” he said.
While acknowledging that the county could not “solve every problem,” Brady said he felt his experience in local government and education have shown him progress is possible through communication and working with contemporaries.
He said he will bring that approach to the county, working across “organizational and political boundaries and stay focused on practical solutions.”
“I want to bring that approach to the Legislature working with people who may have different perspectives while keeping our focus on the needs we share,” he said.
Brady said he wants the county to remain a place that can be affordable, where families can find meaningful work, raise families, have access to quality healthcare and service and grow older with dignity.
He also said he wanted to hear from residents as the campaign season enters the final stretch, saying residents can reach out to him via his campaign page on Facebook.
I would be grateful for the opportunity to hear from you and work together for the future of St. Lawrence County.
To reach out, visit facebook.com/Patrickbradycampaign