BY ADAM ATKINSONNorth Country This Week

POTSDAM — Former town councilwoman Christine Paige, who announced her intention to resign from her elected position on the town board in a letter to the editor of North Country This Week, has officially filed her letter of resignation with the town clerk.

Paige, who took a large amount of backlash over comments she made on Facebook following the assassination attempt of then candidate Donald Trump, current sitting president, last summer, submitted her official letter and the resignation was effective June 2, Town Clerk Cindy Goliber told the newspaper.

Goliber said the county’s Board of Elections has been notified that there is now a vacancy on the town board.

She said no further action is required by the town board on accepting the resignation, and verified that additional action would be taken at this time.

Paige, as well as fellow town board members and Supervisor Marty Miller, endured an onslaught of criticism after she likened the assassination attempt on Trump to “putting down a rabid dog” in a Facebook comment exchange.

While the comments were taken down, they were widely shared online after and numerous complaints were leveled at board members, town staffers, the supervisor, and in letters to the editor of NCTW.

The comments resulted in a formal censure from the county and a resolution from the town board criticizing her.

Through it all Paige cited her right to free speech in making the comments and refused to apologize.

Paige wrote in the letter to editor last month:

"No one (especially a woman in these dangerous times in which we live) should willingly surrender their right to free speech. I no longer have the time nor the inclination to continue serving on the Potsdam Town Board. I have a number of legal options regarding this matter and may pursue them in the future. However, at this point I am just too busy doing positive things for my community. NOW, I WILL STEP DOWN.”