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Democrat running for Potsdam county board seat prioritizes health, safety

Posted 10/10/20

POTSDAM -- The Democratic candidate for the St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators District 10 believes that health and safety of the county should be the board’s primary objective. Margaret …

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Democrat running for Potsdam county board seat prioritizes health, safety

Posted

POTSDAM -- The Democratic candidate for the St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators District 10 believes that health and safety of the county should be the board’s primary objective.

Margaret Haggard of Potsdam is running for the seat. She is an incumbent who was appointed earlier this year. She replaced her husband, David Haggard, who stepped down from the board after accepting a position as general counsel for the St. Lawrence County Department of Social Services.

She was born and raised in Potsdam, left for a time, then returned in 2002. She is a retired special education teacher and since then has substitute taught and served as acting village justice, an appointed position, for over 10 years. She has also taught summers at Ogdensburg Correctional Facility.

“Health and safety of our constituents should be our primary objective, not just putting money in the fund balance,” Haggard said in response to being asked what the county should do with its large fund balance, if anything. “I can’t take any credit for that fund balance … I don’t think it should be the main focus. I think providing for the citizens of the county should be the main focus, with financial responsibility attached.”

She thinks one potential use would be to pay more competitive wages to reduce turnover.

“We need to provide all the departments in the county with the necessary staffing … also investing money so we retain people. The turnover, I’ve noticed, seems to be an issue in many departments. I think we need to take a look at being competitive so we can keep people employed. We have excellent, excellent people working fore us… they need to be compensated equitably so they don’t leave to go other places,” the Democratic incumbent said.

She also suggested that investing in community services could also be a good use.

“I believe that it’s good to have financial stability. I also believe that there are things we could be doing to help the constituents in our county. Our citizens are suffering now, particularly because of the pandemic,” Haggard said. “We have a drug problem that needs to be addressed. We need to look at how we can get our businesses back to where they were in the county I think some of that money could go to providing services that may have been cut or support to different entities that will bring in revenue in other ways.”

She said another subject that will play a big role in county government will be navigating through the ongoing pandemic, and recovering once it ends.

“I like this national phrase … ‘build back better’,” Haggard said. “I think coming out of the pandemic, and sadly it’s been a terrible time for us, we have an opportunity to do things better maybe than we did before. Business and universities need support. Maybe we can look for ways and ideas of doing a better job … I think it will be a while to be back to normal. I think if we all pitch in we can build back better.”

With regard to the ongoing negotiations over the county’s sales tax distribution formula, Haggard said she wants to see her district’s share at least stay the same.

“That’s being negotiated and we did have an agreement it would be maintained at the same level for a year. That was my understanding. My constituency is first and foremost, Potsdam and District 10, and I want to see a fair and equitable distribution of the sales tax without them losing anything. That’s going to be determined,” she said. “We have to look to the places that generate revenue in the population. Next year we have the census number in hope and we can make an informed decision based on that.”

Haggard says District 10 has a diverse population, including people coming here to attend college, and the large senior citizen population. She says she’s ready to serve and meet both of their needs.

“It’s very interesting to me that we go from having a huge number of young people to the universities, and we’re also an aging community. We have a real diversity in needs between the universities and our seniors,” she said. “I’m really committed to those people and making sure their needs are met, as well as supporting people who come here for school.”

“I’d be honored to continue the work I’ve started as a legislator. I’m open to new ideas and suggestions. I’ve always encouraged people to contact me. I strongly support local business as well as the university,” she said. “I hope to never forget who I represent and who I work for, and that’s the people of my district.”

Haggard’s opponent for the District 10 seat is Republican Brenda Spurbeck, a political newcomer.

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