Michael D. Huse, Jr. | At Large candidate

Age: 56

Address: 28 South Street

Years lived in Claremont: 17

Community organizations you belong to: I.O.O.F. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Red Cross (Sullivan County Logistics) Faithful Lodge #12

Employment: Part-time

Office Sought: Councilor at Large

Incumbent? If so, how many terms? No.

What are the top 3 issues facing Claremont?

I. Roads and infrastructure need immediate attention.

II. City Manager

III. Claremont Police Department needs uniformed officers.

What do you propose to address them?

I. Allocate money in the city budget for asphalt and other raw materials.

II. Abolish the Police Commission for longer being effective. I feel it is necessary to re-create the Explorer program from the ground up. Use this as a feeder program to promote youth into professional career options.

III. Reach out to M.R.I., (Municipal Resources Inc.) or another contractual company to locate a new city manager.

Is Claremont headed in the right direction or the wrong direction?

Claremont is moving in the right direction but the city is misguided by ineffective leadership. The Pleasant Street project was fine doing the infrastructure upgrades but lacked proper planning on the sidewalks, curbs and motor vehicle traffic. The city deliberately created the new Pleasant Street upgrades to discourage trucks. My other concern is, in an emergency, trying to get multiple fire trucks into a heavily congested area.

How do you plan to engage the public, get its input on city matters and address those issues with the council?

As a city councilor, it is imperative to be a part of your community and meet the Claremont residents. It is a must that the citizens be respected and not treated like second class adults.

How could government be more transparent to the public it serves?

Councilors first need to stop throwing money at problems thinking they are going to get a better result. Let’s look at the $10,000.00 pay raise to the city manager and hiding it from the public. This is not the councilors’ money. People and businesses are struggling.

The City Council needs to better understand the present day issues and represent the voices of the citizens and stay away from party affiliation. It would not hurt for them to take educational classes in Concord, NH about local government.

Do emergency responders need mental health training? If so, how should it be provided?

Absolutely, and, to control costs, there are many non-profit organizations that can be utilized to assist in the different categories for training and certification.

Businesses on Pleasant St. have not only had to contend with the COVID shutdown but also Pleasant Street’s construction shutdown. What, if anything, should Claremont do to assist businesses struggling to recover from these events?

First and foremost, remove the ridiculous curbs on Pleasant Street and return the flow of motor vehicle traffic as it once was. When you change the direction of traffic from 2 directions to 1, you reduce the volume of vehicles 50% and removing potential customers.

What do you like about Claremont?

Everything is within walking distance and we have great reliable community bus services for longer distances.

If you could wave a magic wand, what would you change about it?

I. If I could wave a magic wand, I would have every parent remind their children that while going to school they must work hard to get the most out of their classes. Children need to understand this is the only free education they are going to get.

II. The city needs 9 new councilors and a city manager.

III. City needs a complete overhaul of the current school board with a mission to reduce the $38 million budget.

What would you like voters to know about you?

I have one son and daughter that I raised after a 14 year marriage, resulting in divorce. Both my son and daughter graduated from Stevens High School and are college educated.

I graduated from an administrative college with a law enforcement degree.

Last month I was elected President on the Board of Trustees to Presidential Oaks in Concord, NH.. This is an 11 acre 24 million dollar nursing home.

I believe in our state’s motto, “LIVE FREE OR DIE.” As an example of that, I am not affiliated with any political organization or individuals that have an agenda. I’m not selling myself or the Claremont citizens for the promise of money or campaign support nor would they have my permission to do to so.