Laughtons to Put Politics on Back Burner

It's been a year of ups and down for Stacie Laughton, the country's first openly transgender state representative, who resigned that post a short time after winning the seat in November of 2012, amid a legal controversy over her eligibility to hold public office.

On Monday, Laughton announced she's officially putting her political aspirations on the back burner, after briefly exploring the legal possibility of getting on the November ballot to run for Ward 4 Selectmen. Her ex-wife, Lisa Laughton is also not going to run.

The lingering question was their eligibility, given they both had served time in 2008 for felony credit card fraud, and still owe about $1,600 in restitution. 

"We've been looking at our options, but Lisa talked to her probation officer who confirmed that we still have five years to go to fulfill the '10 years of good behavior' part of our probation," said Stacie Laughton on Monday.

"We also found out the cost to litigate would be about $205, not including other legal fees, and we just feel like it makes more sense to focus on paying back the restitution," Stacie Laughton said.

"It's money that can be better spent on taking care of that debt – a lot of people felt we weren't taking our responsibility seriously, but we do. I think it's just that I have such a strong ambition to serve, it might appear I don't care, but I want to put the past behind me, and this is the right way."

The Laughtons, who were at one time married when Stacie Laughton was still living as Barry Laughton Jr., have remained best friends and room-mates. They have since divorced, and Stacie Laughton now lives and identifies herself as a woman, which she believes has always been her true gender.

In June, Stacie Laughton announced she and Lisa were looking into the possibility of getting on the November ballot for Selectmen in Ward 4, a post with they had both held until January of 2013, when Secretary of State Bill Gardner determined their sentences hadn't been "fully discharged," due to the remaining restitution, which was being paid in monthly installments.

The state Attorney General's office concurred with that opinion, and the Laughton's decided at the time not to test that decision in court.

On Monday, Laughton said she looks forward to the day she can return to public office. Until then, she wants to contribute to the community in other ways.

"I'm going to continue my work volunteering with the Salvation Army and the Soup Kitchen, and I'll still be at City Hall to speak on the issues," Stacie Laughton said.