Democrat Claire Owens runs to be town councilmember

Democrat Claire Owens runs to be town councilmember
Democrat Claire Owens is running for a one-year position on the North East Town Board. Photo submitted

NORTH EAST — Prepared to offer a fresh set of eyes in addressing community issues, Democrat Claire Owens is running against George Kaye for an open seat on the North East Town Board.

This past January, a vacant seat was created on the board when then Councilman Chris Kennan was elected town supervisor. The board appointed Kaye to fill the seat for the remainder of the year; that seat is now up for election.

Although she didn’t grow up in the local region like her opponent, Owens believes she can bring “a renewed sense of how to tackle the challenges the town is facing.” 

Through her previous volunteer work on the North East Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), Owens has had an opportunity to engage with multiple town leaders. Following her return to the area a few years ago to be her mother’s full-time caregiver, she’s familiarized herself with local opportunities and resources after working with community members and organizations to learn about available resources for her mom.

When she heard a position was opening on the Town Board, Owens said she jumped on it, running on the Democratic ticket.

“I decided to run because I’m really excited about the opportunities here,” she said, “and I think it’s time for a generation of new leaders, especially people of a younger generation and even more importantly, women, to get involved with town politics.”

Reflecting on her strengths, Owens shared her past experience in working with local, federal and state government officials. Having worked with communication professionals, she said she knows how to “frame and package” a town to make it more attractive to visitors. In addition, she said she’s currently employed by a “nationally known organization that helps Wounded Warriors and their families.”

When asked what she admires most about North East, Owens remarked, “I think that it’s a great place for everybody… I think it really offers everybody something and that really is what’s special about the town.”

Considering the issues she’s made a cornerstone of her campaign, Owens placed economic development as first and foremost on the list. Given the toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on the entire country, she believes the town needs to look deeply at what it offers to residents and visitors; to offer places where residents can work and earn a living wage so they can continuing living here; and to provide more affordable housing. In addition to working with the Tri-Town Coalition, an organization that focuses on finding local affordable housing solutions, Owens said she thinks working on the ground with grassroots organizations could make a huge difference in people’s quality of life.

“There’s so much the board can do in a day,” Owens said, “but there are people who are dedicating their lives to solving this problem.” 

Addressing climate change, Owens continued, is a must, and she commended the town for its joint Comprehensive Plan with the village of Millerton. She said working to implement the plan is huge, as is addressing local farming issues and making recommendations encouraging more electrical vehicles and planting more trees. Regardless of whether she’s elected, Owens hopes the board will continue to work with its Climate Smart Task Force.

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