BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

POTSDAM – Therese “Terri” Miner is seeking a write-in candidacy for St. Lawrence County coroner, saying she wants to improve death investigations and bring greater accountability to the office.

Miner, an archaeologist who works in cultural resource management, studied political science and anthropology at SUNY Potsdam in the 1980s. She returned to Potsdam in 2010 and has raised her two children in the area.

Miner said concerns about how deaths are investigated in the county prompted her to run. She also ran a write-in campaign last year to raise concerns about what she believes were incorrectly determined causes and manners of death.

“I am very concerned about the ineptitude of government authorities in St. Lawrence County to conduct objective death investigations that adhere to professional guidelines and forensic science standards,” Miner said.

She said inaccurate death records can affect families, public health efforts and criminal investigations. In some cases, she said, a homicide could be wrongly classified as a noncriminal death, while an accidental death could be incorrectly treated as a homicide.

Miner said her background in anthropology, political science and archaeology would bring a different perspective to the coroner’s office. She has also completed online training in death investigation, including procedures for examining potentially staged or intentional homicides.

She said coroners should independently review findings from law enforcement and medical professionals and ensure investigations follow accepted standards.

“A coroner ought to be able to critically question and verify the findings of our very human law enforcement and medical investigators,” Miner said.

Miner said she wants to bring greater attention to forensic science, documentation and public transparency while providing families with answers after an unexpected death.

She also believes death investigations can help identify preventable causes of death and inform public health efforts.

“At the very least, I want to provide real answers to surviving families,” she said.

Miner has criticized the county’s current political landscape, arguing that coroners should be independent of political influence. She has also raised concerns about past death investigations, including the work of former District Attorney Mary Rain and Republican Coroner June Wood. Those criticisms reflect Miner’s views.

Miner is seeking a write-in vote for a coroner position currently held by a Republican. The race also includes Republican incumbent Steven M. Cary, Democratic incumbent James “Jamie” Sienkiewycz and challenger James Amo.

Miner has urged voters to support Sienkiewycz for his seat while writing in her name for the other position.