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Calumet candidate running for two positions

Anderson

CALUMET — Village resident Nathan Anderson is a candidate for two positions on the council. He is seeking the position of village president, and if that does not work out, he is seeking a seat as a trustee.

Anderson has been a village resident since November, 2008, and has been a homeowner for ten years. He is a native of Texas, and attended the University of Alabama, working toward an associate’s degree in computer science.

“My father was a nuclear health physicist in the army and after,” said Anderson. “We constantly were moving around the country back and forth between the Fort Hood area, and wherever he was needed throughout the country.”

Anderson said there are several issues he sees regarding the village, many of which compelled him to file a petition to disincorporate the municipal government.

If that fails, he said, the village has some hard decisions to make.

“Our present levels of spending are unsustainable,” he said. “The village is missing many opportunities for funding from federal, state, and private sources. On day one I will begin working with all trustees encouraging their participation seeking funding and opportunities to rebuild our infrastructure while working together to take on the challenges faced by the street, fire, administration and police departments.

If elected, Anderson said there are several things he will address.

“The culture of the village government has to change,” he said.

The various boards and committees have been more of an obstacle to economic development, which is not what they were organized for.

“This has resulted in loss or disparity in services and costs the village thousands of dollars each year which could be better spent on providing the basic services that residents deserve and expect,” said Anderson. “I am encouraged by the number of people stepping up to offer their time and resources. Before I leave office, every resident in Calumet will know their participation and interaction is welcomed and respected in an open, fair, transparent, and inclusive environment.”

Anderson said he believes is qualified to serve either seat, having educated himself as to the duties and responsibilities of every village office for the past three years.

“I have regularly attended meetings of every village committee, board, or commission,” he said, “video recording most of those meetings, posting them for the public online and compiling over two terabits of data on every aspect of the village government.”

Awareness, decisiveness, empathy, accountability, confidence, optimism, honesty and focus, are essential to being a good leader, he said.

“I learned this early in life, and it is the foundation of my ability to use the tools and personnel on hand to accomplish difficult goals,” said Anderson. “By communicating clearly, concisely, and often while committing to give all officers and employees the support, tools, training, discipline, and latitude to succeed, I will inspire council, board, commission members and employees to give their best to make good decisions and provide the services we all deserve.”

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