Michael Demars, 50, currently serves on the Claremont City Council, filling the seat of former councilor Erica Sweetser. A graduate of Stevens High School, Demars is owner and operator of CCI Managed Services, a computer and integrated services provider with 20 employees.
In addition to the council, Demars has served on the Claremont Planning Board and the Claremont Conservation Commission.
The following questions aim to gain a better understanding of why each candidate wishes to be an at-large councilor at this particular time.
Why do you want to be a councilor? What attribute would you bring to city government?
I have been filling the vacant seat of Erica Sweetser since around May and I would like the opportunity to take what I have been learning in that capacity and put it to use over the next two years. I believe I have a proven record in business with fighting status quo thinking. I seek continuous improvement from myself and the people in my organization. Communication, respect and collaboration are all areas I have a strong record using in my past that I believe are needed in a city leadership role.
What are the top three most pressing concerns you would like to target?
The three pressing concerns I have are as follows. Building a cohesive team with our council, city manager, and department heads and staff. Nothing will get done until we start working together. Through a series of strategic planning sessions beginning this January, find and fix efficiency problems in many departments to create cost savings needed for No. 3. Budget at least $1 million for roads. Face all other capital improvement projects and look at how we plan to pay for them without a never-ending series of bond issuances. Tax rate increases are not a part of this conversation either.
How will you involve residents in your decision-making process?
Citizen involvement for me is not on Facebook. I don’t use it. I’m very willing to respond to any email I get from a constituent and have regular face to face conversations with people around town. I’m happy to meet with anyone that has ideas or concerns but I’m not interested in playing the social media popularity game. My interactions with people tend to be healthy and traditional and not virtual or confrontational.
The following questions aim to gain a better understanding of where each candidate stands on a range of issues that have either been previously discussed by the council or may potentially be discussed in the future.
What are some ways the city can attract visitors and keep young residents here?
My view is that the solution to our socioeconomic woes will be found in doing two things better in the years ahead. First, we need to do less to push the young, active working people away from Claremont. Second, we need to attract more young, active working people to want to live here. Recreational opportunities, especially at the Arrowhead site are a key to this. Imagine what Arrowhead would look like in a prosperous city and then we need to work toward that. A three season approach. Obviously good jobs are a key to this equation too. Small companies thriving are the solution. Gone are the days of expecting or wanting one large employer to save us. A diverse economy is more resilient and offers more to our citizens.
How do you feel about the ongoing Pleasant Street revitalization project overall, how it is going, and how it plays into your vision for the city?
I was not part of the planning process for Pleasant Street but I believe it was overdue. I empathize with the businesses that are being impacted and have tried personally to go out of my way to patronize them over the past few months. The project is moving toward a winter pause before we finish it in the spring. The infrastructure upgrades were overdue, and the surface changes should help revitalize the downtown in the years ahead. I commend my predecessor, Ms. Sweetser for her role in this project.
What is your view on censuring an official and, if elected to the council, how would you go about holding a fellow city official accountable?
Misconduct by councilors can be an issue. This is one of the reasons I refrain from using social media. I feel the professionalism needed for a successful public process is routinely undermined by what goes on between meetings on these various platforms and I’ll have none of it. With that said, people have a right to their views and to share their opinions under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. I am not interested in wasting time trying to police that. I’m not afraid to confront a councilor over inappropriate behavior in a meeting or for any direct violation of the city charter.
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.