| Author |
Message |
    
Lou L
Citizen
Username: Mstrlou
Post Number: 2
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2005 - 7:25 pm: | 
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Does anyone have info on running for SO City Council. My neighbor asked me if I'd be interested and I decided to look into it. I'd like to get more involved in the community and this came up as a way to do that. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 1874
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2005 - 7:47 pm: |
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Lou,
First off, congratulations on your interest to get involved.
Second, South Orange is governed by a "Board of Trustees" (not a city council). The next election is May 10th, but the deadline to "register" to run is March 17th. You need to go down to Village Hall and request a "packet" to run for office. In that packet will be all the information you need to know. Essentially, you need to fill out a number of forms and get a number of signatures on a petition from registered voters in town. Everything must be submitted by March 17th at 4pm.
If you are serious, I suggest you read prior Meeting Minutes from meetings posted online at http://www.southorange.org/minutes.asp.
In May, 3 seats are up for election/re-election - the seats currently held by Steglitz, Theoroux & Trustee Patrick Joyce.
So, what are your positions on the issues:
Redevelopment? Taxes? Conflicts of Interest? SOPAC? Supermarket? Public Safety? etc etc |
Derek Montross
Citizen
Username: Cherrypoint
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2005 - 9:05 pm: |
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the more the merrier. |
Lou L
Citizen
Username: Mstrlou
Post Number: 3
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 3:36 pm: |
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MHD
Thanks for the INFo. I'm off and running to get my packet.
It is a great suggestion to read the prior meeting min. Obviously, I want to be as informed as possible before jumping in the pool!
As for my positions, Redevelopment -I'm for it but I need more info on the offers from developers.... as people have stated in other threads, development that benefits the community and its quality is essential.... not just development for developments sake.
Taxes... whew, they are extremely high... I would need more time to get into that one.
Supermarket, it would be great to have one!
Ill come back with more ... |
singlemalt
Citizen
Username: Singlemalt
Post Number: 807
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 6:22 pm: |
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Lou,
Based on your positions, you would fit in very nicely with most of the current trustees. They have about the same positions and opinions on these complicated matters and they've been in power for quite a long time. |
Lou L
Citizen
Username: Mstrlou
Post Number: 4
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 6:36 pm: |
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I do not know the current Trustees though I have been listening to the current talk about developing Valley Street.
I am not concerned about fitting in per say, I would just like to have a positive effect on the community.
If it would be possible to have the Food store in downtown SO in motion then great. Also I would like to know more about why the Performing Arts Center hasn't made much headway. I am familiar with Construction and Design... there are obviously issues there that I don't understand. Something seems wrong... until I know more I can't venture a guess. Normally projects that are approved don't take so long.
Maybe they need a new point of view in order to get things rolling. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 1875
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 6:44 pm: |
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Lou,
You may also want to contact either of the announced challengers (Eric DeVaris and Howard Levison) via a Privateline here on MOL so they can perhaps share information with you on your own run for the BOT or share ideas on how you can leverage your ideas to help their campaign, instead of running on your own. |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 366
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 8:13 pm: |
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Lou,
I'll second MHD here. I'm always thrilled to have another person full of energy move to town, but I expect my trustee candidates to know the local issues at least as well as I do before they run. |
Lou L
Citizen
Username: Mstrlou
Post Number: 5
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 8:44 pm: |
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Thanks for the great input. I will consider all of this as I move forward.
I'm an open person so I will absorb all the helpful information I can.
MHD - As for running on any campaign, I haven't decided how to approach that yet. Your suggestion is good to look into the other candidates to share ideas.
I like to handle things in workable steps. My first being getting a packet from Village Hall. |
Dave
Moderator
Username: Dave
Post Number: 5269
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 9:08 pm: |
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First thing is never post your real name anywhere. It will hurt you at the polls if people knew your name.  |
Lou
Citizen
Username: Mstrlou
Post Number: 6
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 7:43 pm: |
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Thanks Dave, I've thought of that.
However, people change their mind on a whim. You can never please everybody.
The biggest non-political issue I see for most people is to get to know each other. People can say lots of things but never mean it - you'll never know unless you get to know who they are. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 1914
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 2:48 pm: |
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Lou,
So...did you pick up a packet and decide if you will be throwing your hat into the ring? |
LibraryLady(ncjanow)
Supporter
Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 2205
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 3:51 pm: |
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Does anyone know if you have to reside in the village for a minimum number of years before you can be a trustee? I know that for the BOE, you must be a resident for at least 3 years. |
Dan Shelffo
Citizen
Username: Openspacer
Post Number: 137
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 4:30 pm: |
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The current Village charter says that you have to have been a registered voter residing in the Village for one year prior to the election.
Four years ago there was a candidate that had lived in the Village for over a year but did not register until March, just prior to the election. Who knows what would of happened had he been elected.
Obviously this law discriminates against those turning 18 in an election year. The new proposed Village charter only requires residency for a year. This change will put us more in line with the state law.
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Two Sense
Citizen
Username: Twosense
Post Number: 27
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 5:21 pm: |
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Is there enough time for Hilary to move from NY to SO, and run for Village Trustee? |
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