BY ANDY GARDNER
North Country This Week

CANTON – The chairman of the St. Lawrence County legislature walked back an earlier statement that he will ask for a Board of Ethics ruling on a complaint against the county’s Democratic elections commissioner.

Jennie Bacon, the Democratic elections commissioner, was at the center of a controversy after allegedly using her county email during work to send a Democratic party press release.

Jennie Bacon, the SLC Democratic elections commissioner, sent out the release calling on Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, to resign in the wake of the Jan. 6 Capitol Building riot. Stefanik has been a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump, who critics say incited the riot with his rhetoric, but has condemned the violence.

Shortly after, Stefanik spokesperson Alex DeGrasse sent out a news release calling on Bacon to resign.

Legislature Chairman Bill Sheridan, R-Hammond, said at the Monday, Jan. 25 Finance Committee meeting that after talking to the county attorney, there doesn’t appear to be any evidence of malfeasance.

“I talked to the county attorney. He has reviewed the materials,” Sheridan said. “There does not appear to be sufficient evidence to sustain the belief that Ms. Bacon violated the St. Lawrence County ethics clause.”

He said he believes the evidence shows that Bacon sending out the email from a county account was “entirely accidental.” And they’re required to show that her actions “must be formulated and perpetrated intentionally.”

“I look forward to executive session and maybe we can hear some facts of the case. Those were the issues I was comfortable talking about outside of executive session,” Sheridan said.

There was no action taken after the Jan. 25 Finance Committee executive session.

County Attorney Stephen Button said anyone can request an advisory opinion from the county Board of Ethics, but only “to analyze their (own) behavior.” However, “anyone has the ability to file a complaint, under our local ethics law,” he said.

Legislator Margaret Haggard, D-Potsdam, said she was “delighted” that Sheridan changed his stance, but she doesn’t believe he should have made earlier comments to local press.

“I’m concerned about the use of our press when talking about personnel matters. It’s humiliating,” she said. “I hope Ms. Bacon would be afforded an apology for this issue that’s been going on.”