Meet the candidates for Claremont City Council

CLAREMONT — A municipal election for seats on the Claremont City Council will take place Tuesday, Nov. 5. This includes seven candidates running for the three councilor, at large positions.

The Eagle Times asked all 13 candidates in total five identical questions. In this piece, the responses of Charlene Lovett (running for mayor), Erica Sweetser (running for councilor, at large) and James Contois (running for councilor, Ward II) are presented below.

The answers of other candidates will be included in future editions of the Eagle Times.

Why are you running for this position on the Claremont City Council?

Charlene: I would like to continue serving my community as mayor and working with all stakeholders to make Claremont a desirable place in which to live, work and play. Since becoming mayor in 2016, my focus has been policy development, resource acquisition and collaboration to better address the needs and build upon the assets of the city. Working with members of the public, community partners and government leaders at all levels, we have collectively achieved a great deal over the last four years. We have improved city property, attracted new development and received substantial funding, promoting vibrancy, opportunity, and economic growth.

Erica: I was born in Claremont, but lived in other areas as a child, eventually returning when I was 13. Much like the city of Claremont, my life has not been perfect. I spent my 20s in a situation that was not the best. When I left that situation, I found that I wanted and needed to be involved with everything I could. That is when I think I really “found” Claremont. I will be the first to say that I am not a career politician. But, I do think that to be able to make decisions that will move Claremont forward one must understand Claremont, understand the people, and listen to the people. I feel the need to give back to the city what has been given to me.

James: Holding a degree in political science, I have been involved in the political process since I voted in the 1972 presidential election. I am concerned with fairness, transparency, inclusion and civility. However, as the councilor of Ward II, I will promote these things. I believe in Claremont, and although sometimes people speak negatively about the city, I do not see anyone moving away. I think that I have balanced judgment and I can help make decisions guiding Claremont into a healthy future.

What experiences do you believe make you the most qualified person for the position?

Charlene: Prior to being on the council, I served as both an SAU 6 and school board member for three years. I also served as a State Representative for two years. Additionally, I was on the Valley Regional Hospital Board of Trustees and the River Valley Community College Advisory Committee. Since becoming a councilor in 2014 and mayor in 2016, I have and continue to serve on numerous boards and committees, including the policy committee, finance committee and planning board. Combined with my 22 years of service in the Army, I have extensive experience in leadership and a unique insight into the challenges and opportunities that we have as a community.

Erica: I have participated in a number of other things around the city, but really I have just been involved with the people of the city. I have served on the board for TLC Family Resource Center, been involved with a committee for the school district and attended countless events regarding early childhood education. I have two jobs right in downtown Claremont that I absolutely love, which allow me to have the time to do other projects and that put me in contact with the citizens of Claremont every day. I am also a single parent and I like to think I am a pro at multitasking. There will be a lot to learn with any new council member, but I don’t think that you will find a better advocate for Claremont and its people than me.

James: I do and will certainly approach the council position with experience. I retired from the Department of Defense after 26 years of service. When I moved to Claremont 15 years ago, I decided that I would enter public service in Claremont. I have run the homeless shelters and extended homeless programs, worked for 5 years as a teaching assistant and served as a family service coordinator for Pathways. I am currently the interim director of the Claremont Senior Center. I know the city and the citizens. I will use all my experience in helping to guide the city in making decisions as this great city moves forward.

If elected, what is your first priority?

Charlene: It is important that the council is well prepared to start operating effectively on Day 1. Therefore, my first priority will be to ensure councilors have the resources needed to fully execute their responsibilities. Once goals are established and councilors are assigned to various committees, the new council can begin to work on policy and budgetary concerns. Giving priority to policies that impact revenue streams, tax base expansion, wellness and workforce housing should be given priority.

Erica: I recently watched a video about a town that combated its substance abuse issues with simple city ordinances. The town was facing problems with litter, drug paraphernalia, crime and vandalism. By setting small ordinances around vagrancy, vandalism and even property conditions, they turned the town around. I would like to see city ordinances in much the same vein and enforce them. I would also prioritize downtown. It should be the heart of our city, the foundation of prosperity. I do not agree that we should pay for an assessing office employee to become a licensed assessor, without at least asking that the employee share the cost.

James: My first priority is the health and safety of the people of Claremont. When a Construction and Demolition Facility was planned to be built on Industrial Boulevard, near the junction, 1,000 yards from an elementary school and 300 homes, I immediately began to notify people and gather them as a working group to oppose this harmful facility. I walked the streets of Maple Avenue notifying people and organizing opposition. I will also advocate within the city and at the state level for more balance with funding. Both the city and the school district do not get their fair share of government resources.

How do you plan to involve residents in the decision making process in our city?

Charlene: I personally write a weekly column and am often on the radio to keep people informed. I am a strong advocate of citizenry participation, encouraging people to get involved on boards, commissions or committees whenever possible. I also frequently refer to the master plan, which is a compilation of citizens’ input on numerous topics. Lastly, citizens are always welcome to attend council meetings and participate during citizens’ forum or during a specific agenda item. I know that the best ideas can come from the places where we least expect, and our success is dependent upon the engagement of our residents.

Erica: First, my jobs put me in front of the public every day. I cannot tell you how many people I have met at my jobs that have led to me reaching out to them. I am very active on social media, often writing about issues that other residents have brought to me. While I have been involved in a number of things, as simple as painting murals at the library or talking about bullying, I try to get others involved also. I would hope that my neighbors consider me to be someone they can talk to, whether the issue be good or bad. That will not change if I am elected.

James: As evidenced by the group I helped start, A Better Claremont, I know how to involve people on various subjects. I will also write about my concerns by participating in “What’s Up Claremont” on Facebook. I have written to the Valley News, the eTicker and the Eagle Times regarding my concerns. People know me and I will advertise a way to notify citizens of how to contact me with concerns. This council seat belongs to the people and not the councilperson.

In looking at the city budget, what components of the budget do you advocate to be increased, and what components do you advocate to be decreased? If necessary, how do you propose that the city raise additional revenue?

Charlene: Because we have a limited tax base and an average household income that is less than the state average, we need to be fiscally conservative in our spending and aggressive in our pursuit for investment and new revenue sources. Decreasing operational expenses can be done by investing in energy-saving measures, eliminating duplicative efforts and leveraging existing resources more efficiently. However, we need to be strong advocates for state and federal funding, and pursue grants and incentives that spur economic growth.

Erica: There should be two considerations to any budget: what can we decrease and what can we increase. The tax rate cannot be lowered by simply cutting something out of the budget. If you look at other cities, like Lebanon — which has just about the same population — we are spending almost half of what they are on salaries. We need to really look at what we can cut. Also, adding commercial properties to the tax base will help balance out the tax burden for residential homeowners. Things like a riverwalk may not give an immediate boost to the tax base, but supporting things that will encourage potential residents and business owners to come and invest here will.

James: If we intend to keep taxes level, then we must constantly monitor the city for wasteful spending, unwise projects or expenditures. We can only spend a dollar if we receive a dollar. We all must advocate with our state and local representatives for fairness in allocation of funding. Our tax rate is $42.08 per thousand, of which $21.87 goes to the school district. The school district is saddled with many unfunded mandates that the government does not take responsibility for. The city tax rate is the third highest in the state and I do not know why, but I will find out.