Patch Candidate Profile: Claudia Weber, New Canaan Town Clerk

NEW CANAAN, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in New Canaan and there are plenty of local races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

New Canaan Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Republican Claudia Weber is a New Canaan resident running for Town Clerk.

Education

George Washington University, BA, Political Science. Certified Municipal Clerk - Advanced certification recognized in all 50 U.S. States and more than a dozen international countries. Certified Elections Moderator.

Previously appointed by the CT Secretary of State to be one of the first 14 Election Moderator Trainers in CT. Former elected Registrar of Voters. Justice of the Peace. Notary Public. Former Asst. Clerk to Judge Burke, Probate Court, District of New Canaan. Former Staff Asst. to a U.S. Congressman, a U.S. Senator, and was appointed by the Regan/Bush Administration as one of two Confidential Assistants to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

Lifelong New Canaan resident. My avocation has been as an Animal Advocate and dedicated volunteer to animal rescue and welfare for several decades.

What is your occupation?

Town Clerk - 26 years.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

I am from a family that was very active in politics and public office, and one that instilled in me the value of public service and volunteerism.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Registrar of Voters - 3 years, Town Clerk - 26 years, Justice of the Peace 20+ years.

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

Public service is important to me. It’s a call to duty. I want to continue to serve the public impartially and faithfully upholding the oath of office that I take every two years. Much of my life has been dedicated to this vocation. The Town Clerk provides a critical role in the system of checks and balances of town government and manages one of the most multi-functional offices within. The learning curve is steep, and I have both the knowledge and the experience.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

First, I think people are really concerned about free and fair elections, especially the upcoming 2024 Presidential Election. As Town Clerk, not only do I register people to vote, I administer the absentee ballot process in New Canaan, and I intend to uphold my reputation for doing so with accuracy and impartiality.

Second, I think people are very concerned about privacy issues and how information about them is collected. I have to walk the fine line between the right of the public to have transparency (Freedom of Information), and the individual's concern about their expectation of a certain level of privacy where they live.

While offering only the index to our land records online, I have protected specific identifying information about our residents from actually being placed online. I have also introduced a program called Property Check to help prevent title fraud and to immediately notify home owners if any documents are recorded on the New Canaan land records with their name.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am honored to be running unopposed.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I would invite you to visit www.claudiawebertownclerk.com for more information about me and about this topic.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Follow the law and regulations, and everyone will always know where you're coming from. Separation of power in government is crucial for a democracy - even in local government. Sometimes you will have to say "no," and not everyone will like it - keep your integrity in tact and stay the course.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

The office of Town Clerk deals with more than just managing, protecting and administering town records and processes - it deals with people, conflicting constituencies, different political parties, and personal interests. I believe in serving with kindness and that listening matters.

The people who visit the Town Clerk's office all have their own stories, their own concerns, and their own needs. My goal is to provide them with the information and contacts that they need to resolve their inquiries, problems or concerns - and to do so in an impartial, caring, professional and confidential manner.

Trust in government may be diminishing, but I will do my best to make certain that, in my office, that trust is always honored - certainly by me.