Paula Sturge for Legislature

09/18/2026

I would be so pleased to hear that you will vote for me on November 3rd, or at the early voting opportunities. Make a ✔️ mark in the comments here, or PM me at Paula Sturge for Legislature or Paula Sturge to show me your support.

Give me your shout out!!!

Meet Paula Sturge!

My name is Paula Sturge, and I am announcing my candidacy for the St. Lawrence County Legislature representing District 8. I am running to bring truth, transparency, and fairness back to county government and to ensure that decisions made by the Legislature are thoughtful, accountable, and rooted in the real experiences of the people we serve. I have a deep connection to St Lawrence County and specifically the region that District 8 serves.

I came to St. Lawrence County during my college years when I attended SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Canton and finished my Bachelors in Accounting at Clarkson University. During my college years and after graduation, I lived outside the Village of Potsdam and in the Hamlet of Madrid and have made this area my home. I currently live outside the Village of Canton with my husband, Wayne, and our daughter, Amelia, who is a tenth grader at Canton Central School. My step-son, Jeremy, lives in Canada with his wife, Sarah, and their two children.

As an accountant working in a wide range of industries in St. Lawrence County, I bring measured, practical experience to public service. Most recently, I worked at St. Lawrence Health in roles that gave me a clear view of how complex healthcare systems affect people’s lives—from patient billing to insurance reimbursement. I also spent a decade at both Clarkson University and St. Lawrence University where I helped guide large budgets and complex projects. Earlier in my career, I worked at Allied Federated Cooperatives where I saw firsthand the financial pressures of the dairy industry from farm-to-market. While in all of these roles, I focused on managing resources responsibly while keeping the needs of the community that I was serving in mind. My career has been built on fiscal responsibility, clear communication, and accountability—values that I believe are essential for effective local government and ones I will bring not only to District 8, but to all 15 legislative districts in our county.

In addition to working and spending time with family, I proudly serve as Town of Canton Democratic Committee Treasurer and as St. Lawrence County Democratic Committee member, including a period as Treasurer. These roles strengthened my commitment to transparent stewardship of public resources and responsible governance.

I am also a member of the Rotary Club of Canton and the Zonta Club of Canton, as well as a co-leader to my daughter’s Girl Scout Club – Troop 50079. Belonging to these service organizations brings me hope and pride and optimism for our community's future. When we serve together, we thrive together.

I am running for the St. Lawrence County Legislature to put my experience to work for the people—listening carefully, managing responsibly, and governing with integrity. I respectfully ask for your support and the opportunity to serve District 8.

Paula Sturge for Legislature

09/11/2026

This event is going to be fun and informative! Join the party and enjoy great music and refreshments, while hearing from local candidates who are running for office to represent you.

October 2nd, 6:00 - 10:00 pm, Heartwood Hall, 6527 State Route 56, Potsdam, NY 13676.

09/02/2026

An amazing lineup of candidates! Get your vote out!

We have an amazing group of people running locally in the midterm elections this November!

Also on the ballot unopposed are Anthony Levato in District 9 and Margaret Haggard in District 10.

Learn about each candidate at: https://www.stlcdemocrats.com/candidates

This election we have the opportunity to affect national politics by helping flip the House and bringing accountability. But also important are our local elected officials that make decisions that directly affect our everyday lives and how our towns needs are met.

One example, back in February there was a public hearing about the St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Office 287(g) agreement with ICE. About 80 people spoke out over 4 hours, the vast majority against it. The majority of the legislature still voted for it. We can vote them out! We can flip the county legislature as well!

In the coming days and weeks we will be featuring each one of these candidates. Be on the lookout!

Your voice matters. Your vote matters.

Voting starts Oct. 24th. Election day is November 3rd.

08/18/2026

As a member of the Rotary Club of Canton NY, fellow Rotarians and I offered assistance to the Campus Kitchens Project at St. Lawrence University. CK is a student-led volunteer group which serves free, healthy, three-course meals for the Canton community. Today we served 80 meals - some were picked up at the UU Church in Canton, others were delivered to the Highrise in Canton, and others were home delivered. Today's meal was BBQ chicken, roasted spring veggies, potato salad, lettuce salad, and cookies. One dinner was served vegetarian style with a substitute for the chicken.

The group reduces local food waste and fights hunger by turning surplus campus dining and farm food into portable delicious dinners. Unused food is further donated to other charitable community organizations. Nothing goes to waste.

If you are interested in volunteering, contact Riley Sullivan.
Operations & Schedule
Location: Eben Holden Kitchen (on-campus, under the main staircase)
Sunday Prep: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (menu planning and ingredient prep)
Monday Cooking: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (cooking the main meal)
Monday Serving: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM (serving and sharing the meal with community members)
Bearpacks Program: Student volunteers also prepare take-home student meals for local schools.

08/10/2026

Paula Sturge and David Forsythe join forces today to serve up a cold treat for the 32nd Annual Seniorama Community Connections & Resource Fair! More than 50% of St. Lawrence County's population are senior citizens. Let us all make sure that our Legislature supports the federal, state, and county programs that support senior citizens (and our future senior citizens)!!!

08/08/2026

Come on down to the Waddington Homecoming! SLC Democratic tent will be up until 3:00.

08/06/2026

The opening dedication to the June O'Neill building at the St Lawrence County Fair was a success. Many supporters and candidates gathered to honor June and her years of steadfast dedication to the democratic values that we all strive to uphold. Thank you to June and the O'Neill family for their generosity to provide the "shed" where, as the plaque says, "This shed stands as a place to gather, organize, and celebrate the spirit of public service she embodies".

The building was placed right up along the main fairway for this year, but will be repositioned back onto the grassy area as its permanent home.

07/30/2026

Public hearing required by the Department of Health was attended by (my estimate) well over 100 people. The primary concern voiced during public comment was the proposed closure of the Labor & Delivery department, but the additional proposed closures of the Nuclear Medicine department and four Primary Care clinics in Madrid, Waddington, Heuvelton, and Hammond would also have a devastating impact on healthcare access in our region.

The North Country is already underserved. Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center cannot simply shift 150 births a year to CPH, Samaritan, or Carthage. Can you imagine driving more than an hour while you're in labor? My 20-minute drive to CPH felt far too long. Thankfully, I didn't have to drive myself—but not everyone has that support.

My own Labor & Delivery story had a good outcome because I was close to my hospital and received outstanding care. I ended up needing an emergency C-section that literally saved both my life and my daughter's. Once my doctor determined surgery was necessary, I was in the operating room within minutes.

Fifteen years ago, when I had my daughter, I know CHMC would have provided that same level of excellent care. My concern is that if a woman in a similar emergency arrives at CHMC after Labor & Delivery is closed, she may not have those precious minutes. The outcome for her and her baby could be tragically different.

Whether your story involves Labor & Delivery, Nuclear Medicine, or one of our Primary Care clinics, please share it. Your voice matters. We need Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center to continue caring for families, mothers, babies, seniors, and everyone who depends on these essential services.

Public comments are open until August 5.

Please submit your comments by:
📧 [email protected]

or mail to:

North Star Health Alliance
Attn: Administration
214 King Street, Suite C
Ogdensburg, NY 13669

Include:
• Your full name
• Organization represented (if applicable)
• Which proposed service cuts your comments address
• Your written comments

Please take a few minutes to speak up for our friends, neighbors, and future generations. Once these services are gone, it will be incredibly difficult—if not impossible—to bring them back.

07/25/2026

A spectacular Seaway Festival parade!!! I have to shyly admit, this is the first time in all my years that I've lived in the North Country that I've been to the Seaway Festival. The streets were lined with happy parade goers watching the bands, and floats, and showing support for our democracy by shouting out that they will support their favorite candidate with a solid vote on November 3rd. Yay! That's what it's all about!!

07/23/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BwB8TNy7U/