BY ADAM ATKINSONNorth Country This Week

POTSDAM — The Potsdam town board is asking a fellow board member to resign following comments she made several weeks ago on social media comparing the assassination attempt on former President Trump to putting down a rabid dog.

Town council members and the supervisor at their regular meeting Tuesday, Sept. 10 voted unanimously in favor of the resolution which asks Town Council Member Christine Paige to resign.

Paige did not attend the meeting.

The resolution passed after earlier public comment regarding Paige’s statements became somewhat heated at one point.

Paige, a Democrat, responded in a Facebook conversation thread that was posted soon after the July 13 assassination attempt on the former president that shooting the former president would be “akin to putting down a rabid dog.”

The comments were soon taken down from the original post but can be read online here.

Blowback

The backlash that followed resulted in numerous letters to the editor critical of Paige, as well as a few in support, and comments from several members of the public at the August town board meeting.

The controversy picked up steam nationally as well. The initial story on the issue which was posted on NorthCountryNow.com drew more than 45,000 views nationally in the first few days it was posted.

Paige’s statements resulted in a formal censure resolution passed by the St. Lawrence County Legislature in August and a letter to the community from Potsdam Town Supervisor Marty Miller condemning her actions. Even Congresswoman Elise Stefanik who represents Potsdam in the 21st District called on Paige to resign over the issue.

Paige told North Country This Week in the publication’s first story regarding the controversy that her statements were free speech and protected by the First Amendment.

Town officials have apparently received some blowback from Paige’s statements on Facebook and continue to catch flack over what some view as a lack of definitive action decrying the council member’s post.

The resolution states that town staff and council members have received “negative and vitriolic correspondence, creating an atmosphere of fear and pain.” It states further that  her comments have caused “damage to the public perception, credibility, and reputation of the town and its council.”

Paige’s “lack of remorse or contrition” over the statements call into question her “commitment to serve the best interests of the town and the public,” the resolution said.

“Now, therefore, be it resolved that we, the Town council of the town of Potsdam, call on Council Member Paige, to resign from her position as a member of the Potsdam Town Council,” it said.

Prior to voting for the resolution, Council Member Lynn Hall spoke.

“Those who seek and those who are elected to office should refrain from uttering sentiments of dehumanizing others which invariably leads to mistreatment and potentially violence,” Hall said. “This vitriolic, hateful, dehumanizing speech needs to stop . . . And I think from all sides.”

Hall said that the town board does not have the power to remove Paige from office since she is an elected official.

“It is my hope that she will choose to resign,” Hall said. “And my deeper hope is that should she choose to remain on the board, that she refrain from this type of dehumanizing speech.”

Heated public comment

Earlier in the meeting several members of the public, including County Legislator Glenn Webster and Colton Town Councilman Kevin Beary, again called on the town to ask for Paige to resign over the comments.

“By not passing a resolution calling for censure (of Paige) you are presenting Potsdam to the world as a murder friendly town,” Beary told the town board.

“Saying someone should be put down like a rabid dog, she should be forced to resign,” said Will Gray. “She should be forced to resign, or just plain put out the door.”

Veronica Tatro was equally critical of Paige’s statement.

“I maintain that this board, and anyone else should, file a resolution compelling Miss Paige to resign her position, and if she doesn’t do so you have the ability to do something about that. Censure her , whatever you need to do, but hate speech is not free speech,” Tatro said.

However the public comment period at the meeting became heated when a supporter of Paige addressed the board.

“Does anyone have the number for the Guinness Book of World Records? Because Christine’s been the most misquoted woman . . . She did not say half of what people are saying she said. Read it, for Christsakes,” said Robin Bovay.

“We used to...,” Tatro began.

“Be quiet. I am talking,” Bovay shouted.

“Please, that’s it,” said Town Supervisor Marty Miller.

“Can he have that, or no?” Tatro asked Miller.

“You can be asked to leave if you interrupt me again,” Bovay said.

“Well I will leave then. Well, thank you everyone,” Tatro said, getting up to go.

“No one should be afraid to be in danger here,” said Legislator Glenn Webster.

“Quiet, I am speaking here. Am I speaking here?” Bovay said, standing and walking to the board table.  

“You should call the police,” Webster said to the board. “Would you please call the police?”

“Mr. Webster, please. Mr. Bovay you have the floor,” Miller said.

Bovay went on to say that censorship was a form of intimidation.

“Did she break the law? No. That’s all there is to it. She broke no laws. Your feelings were hurt. Well pull up your panties and suck it up,” Bovay said.