BY ANDY GARDNER
North Country This Week

CANTON -- The St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators chairman says he isn't able to give many details on his request for an ethics investigation into a legislator, but he supports the Board of Ethics making their opinions public.

County board chair Joe Lightfoot, R-Ogdensburg, says his ethical concerns about Legislator Margaret Haggard, D-Potsdam, originated during executive session matters, which can't be publicly disclosed.

"I am ethically bound to refrain from any further comments regarding this matter, at this time. I will say that if the Board of Ethics were to consider releasing their opinions and my request to the public, I would be one hundred present in favor of their doing so," according to a prepared statement from Lightfoot. "I can’t comment with further specifics but I can say that other matters surfaced which prompted me to request the Board of ethics to consider whether or not Mrs. Haggard should not only recuse herself from discussions involving the Department of Social Services and its employees, but to take it a step further and physically remove herself from whatever venue the discussion, in person or by way of video conferencing, is conducted."

Prior to taking office, Haggard had sought a Board of Ethics ruling because her husband, David Haggard, is general counsel for St. Lawrence County's Department of Social Services. Haggard resigned from the legislature to take that job, and Margaret Haggard was appointed to replace him.

Lightfoot's request for the ethics board ruling sparked a heated discussion at the Aug. 3 Board of Legislators monthly meeting. More about that can be read at https://bit.ly/39YZaNI .

Lightfoot's complete statement:

"If I gave you everything you want, I would be in violation of executive session rules of conduct. I can tell you that in public session Mrs. Haggard made it known that she had asked the St. Lawrence County Board of Ethics for an opinion regarding her participation in debate and discussion that involved her husband, Attorney David Haggard who had vacated the position on the St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators that she now occupies, and who is now the general counsel to the St. Lawrence County Department of Social Services. According to Mrs. Haggard, the Board of Ethics responded to her request and directed that she must recuse herself from any matter including discussion and voting regarding the Department of Social Services or its employees either directly or indirectly, that came before the Board of Legislators and at the first meeting she attended, she must set forth the recusal on the public record, which she did at the May 4th full Board meeting.

I can’t comment with further specifics but I can say that other matters surfaced which prompted me to request the Board of ethics to consider whether or not Mrs. Haggard should not only recuse herself from discussions involving the Department of Social Services and its employees, but to take it a step further and physically remove herself from whatever venue the discussion, in person or by way of video conferencing, is conducted.

I am ethically bound to refrain from any further comments regarding this matter, at this time. I will say that if the Board of Ethics were to consider releasing their opinions and my request to the public, I would be one hundred present in favor of their doing so."