CLAREMONT Comments

Claremont government sorely needs additional independent thinking and qualified human resources to fully affect a rich and diverse community. The present significant make-up of willing volunteers for public elective and appointed positions are overworked, often inadequately focused, and prone to avoid doing the added “homework” normally necessary for the best citizen decisions.

The current administration cannot be a “super administration” without inviting and encouraging people to serve who have diverse and qualified backgrounds. All too often, the mayor and other leaders, tend to “run the show” under the delusion that citizens will view their volunteering of time as a great deed for the City. Boards and commission vacancies have been at least two dozen slots vacant for the last several years. Unfortunately, the present group comprising the “in crowd” does too little to share open decision making, suggesting they alone have a monopoly on the municipal wisdom aspects of government.

All of the above, discourages civic participation and apathy of governance, and leads to mistrust and often ridicule by taxpayers.

It must change for Claremont not to be the laughing stock of the State. It must change for Claremont to be proficient to its taxpayers and citizens. It must change for Claremont to be more successful.

We encourage persons with the time, talent, and dedication to serve our City.

This is the requirements summary for running for public office as Councilor. We hope it will encourage more to consider volunteering. Thanks to Bernie Folta for putting it together. http://www.freewebs.com/claremontcomments/Reference/Clmt2007MuniElect.pdf