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The following letter was posted on Focus on Fromberg’s Facebook page 7.30.2018 and is authored by Audrey L. Wallesar.
“To Whom It May Concern;
When proposed with the question of why I desire to be next Fromberg Town Council member; my response is this, I want to be a council member who does an outstanding job by being a true public servant. To serve as leader in our community by providing proactive leadership with knowledge, understanding, respect and integrity.
The bottom line is that the best public servant is grounded in the “promotion of integrity and providing proactive leadership while acknowledging and respecting Montana’s diversity”.
I have a vision for the community’s future by providing for the health, safety, and welfare of its constituents. I know the constituents and who I would be working for. I have an open mind and can separate emotion from responsibility. I would maintain high ethical standards, honesty and transparency, with the press, constituents and other officials as allowed for and practice understanding and acknowledgement of their perspective. All while Focusing on what is the best solutions for the community.
I am confident in my qualifications, and knowledge of the issues facing the community. As a council member, I would expect some of the key responsibilities too include, mission, policy, administration, and management. Council members need familiarity with state and local government, budgeting, personnel management, communications, public affairs, media and law. The most effective council members are knowledgeable of their community, county and state, posses’ ethical behavior, and have strong work ethic and integrity. All skills which I possess, and people in the community and state could and will vouch for.
Today’s citizens depend on local government more now than ever, given that local government directly touches their lives. Council members are involved in far more than such traditionally mandated services as public records, law enforcement, and tax collection. Today, concerns such as criminal activity, housing, environmental protection, transportation, growth, and economic development. I am ready to face those challenges with ethical, sound decisions.
Council members are tasked with navigation of many obstacles, including the borrowing money, and unfunded mandates. Montana law limits the avenues that communities and counties can utilize to raise their own revenue; meanwhile while trying to conduct, run and maintain community business, while maintaining transparency and more efficiently and ethically. These are not uncommon tasks for me.
The maintenance and construction of roads is an aspect of county living is a significant issue in Fromberg and Carbon county, which must be consistently addressed. Liability, Growth management, and personnel administration are also issues facing council members today, I think that I could assist with my skill and knowledge base to help navigate effectively those issues.
As a council member I would plan on spending my time talking with employees, constituents, about their concerns. I feel that it would be my duty to be out and interacting with the communities and people of Carbon County. Three items which I would like to spearhead specifically are:
1. I would like to hold a community listening session. I believe that the community itself hold the best ideas and knows the issues that sometimes local government does not. I feel given the recent tension in the community. The community is ripe to bridge gaps and work to build a better community.
2. Self-sufficiency as a community: All resources for philanthropy comes from Bridger and Joliet. It would be nice to establish a community pantry and assistance program neighbors helping neighbors. Community education on items such as budgeting, home purchases, and community awareness. Also have an avenue for assistance if a community member needs assistance with food, clothing, holidays etc.
3. Bring town code into state and federal compliance; much of our town code and ordinances need to be brought up to date. Some are redundant, some contradict each other, and other impede the ability for growth and expansion in the community. There are multiple resources available to the community to make this a possibility. I would help foster those relationships for the betterment of the community.
A council member must be versatile spending days, between convening, brokering, making tough decisions, and developing consensus. I would expect to have impeccable attendance of meetings; including regular council meetings, work sessions, executive sessions, special meetings, and public hearings. In addition to the duty of attendance of other non-formal unofficial gatherings and events in the community.
Additionally, working in conjunction with the other community leaders, commissioners, community leaders, local and state government work to collect true, accurate, non-bias information; to make informed ethical decisions. In addition to working on building consensus and making the effort to know and have knowledge of the functions and responsibilities of the other elected officials’ positions.
It is my opinion that a council member can accomplish nothing without the support of colleagues, community and county.
I believe these qualifications will fit your requirements, and the needs of Fromberg exceptionally well. I am confident that I have the education, skills, experience, and references needed to not only fill this position but to be a great asset to the county.
Respectfully,
Unfortunately, I have recently received word that Ms. Wallesar will not be seeking the council chair left vacant by Mr. Perkins.
As with several others , she has been harassed , threatened and maligned. Her property has been damaged and this is not the first time.
In a community where we should all be pulling together, we are being torn apart by some who refuse to move forward towards the betterment and
cohesiveness of the town.
The repulsive words and actions are made by those who will do and say anything to garner notoriety . How sad.