Dianne O’Neal, Charles Larsen, and Phyllis Heiko stand for:
Financial Responsibility
The primary responsibility of the Town Council is to manage the finances of the Town, and Clermont’s Democratic board members have worked very hard to control expenditures and balance the budget in this very difficult economy. Even though county revenue-sharing and other income has declined sharply and taxes everywhere are skyrocketing, Clermont’s property taxes are significantly lower than most neighboring towns, and in 2009, our town tax rates remain the lowest in Columbia County.
Open Government
Clermont Democrats are committed to doing the Town’s business out in the open. Since becoming the majority on the Board in 2008 we have taken many steps to provide more access to town residents. Attendance at Board meetings has increased significantly, minutes and announcements are posted on the Town web site, and meetings are now videotaped for broadcast on public-access television. Residents are invited to speak at meetings on areas of concern, and the Democratic Town Council members promise not to withhold critical information from other Council members or from the public when it is needed.
Civility and Respect
We believe that a feeling of community and working together is more important than partisan bickering and one-upmanship, especially in a small town like ours. It doesn’t matter whether you are a Democrat or Republican, you have a right to have your concerns listened to courteously, and to be treated respectfully. Also, while it is important that Town contractors do their jobs correctly and honestly, and should be accountable to the Board, we also believe that it is important to treat them courteously, especially in public meetings, and that it is inappropriate to question their competence or ethics in the press for political gains. If elected, we pledge to improve bipartisan civility in Town affairs.
Significant experience in:
- Finance
- Budgets
- County Government
- Land Use, Planning, and Zoning
- Repair and Maintenance of Buildings
- Agriculture
- Small Business
- and Local Family Values