Personal information:

Name: Joyce Overton

Age: 55

Family: Four children, five grandchildren.

Career/current job: Office manager; Clearlake City Council incumbent.

Education: Two years at Yuba College.

Length of residence in Lake County and your particular city: Lived in Lake County off and on since 1972, moved here permanently in 1995.

Web site or email address where community members can contact you: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Questions:

1. Please outline your experience serving the local community. Include all community or volunteer service.

Committees or boards:

• League of City State Board: Board member

• Redwood Empire Division ( League of Cities): President, first vice president, second vice president

• Storm Water County committee: Vice chair

• PEG committee and board: Chair

• Lake County Community Action Agency: Board member, 2006-10

• Lake Community Pride Foundation: Vice president, youth center director

• Warm for the Winter: Founder, 2008-present

• Lake County Youth Center: President, 2006-07; transferred to LCCAA

• Boys & Girls Club: President, 2006; transferred to Lake County Youth Center; board member, 2000-06; financial advisor, 1999-2000.

2. Why did you decide to run for public office?

Clearlake was in desperate need for new leadership, inspiration and ideas. Eight years ago Clearlake’s financial situation was unclear to the community. I ran to bring clarity, honesty and openness to the community and help move our city into the future. I feel we are now moving into a future with a positive outlook with new infrastructure developing in the city of Clearlake.

3. What are the important qualities you would bring to public service?

I will bring leadership, continuity, and experience to the new council. I have sat on the council for two terms and have spent many hour educate myself with the city functions.

4. What are the primary functions of a city council member? What are the important skill sets a council member should possess?

A city council’s main function is setting policy and procedure. As the council you are to make sure your staff are enforcing these regulations. The council also sets and oversees the budget. It is very important that a council has some accounting skills, communication skills and, most important, patience.

5. What is your city’s single greatest challenge? How would you address it?

Our greatest challenge is the economy. With development, comes the funding in return the City thrive. The City will need to concentrate on a development plan to bring in new businesses. I believe an economic development committee should be reinstated in order for us to move forward with this process, bringing positive change to our city.

6. If you are elected, what will your top issue be? What other issues are of particular interest to you?

My top priority is the drugs and gangs in Clearlake. We as a community need to take our streets back. Community support and the police department working together can make this successful. If we, as a community, stand together and clean up our streets, the city will prosper. If we do not stand together, then these gangs and drug dealers will take over.

I know it is a scary thing to think about standing up to these types of people. You must decide if you want to live in fear, or if you want to live in a clean and safe environment. It’s up to you!

My top issue is to move our city into a successful future by creating a plan for our economic growth. A plan for Lakeshore Drive has already begun, but it will be up to the council to make sure it continues to move forward.

I believe our children are our future. We need to keep them safe, and educate them to be responsible community leaders. I believe the completion of the youth center will help create good leaders that will contribute to our community’s future.

7. Is there a matter that you’ve seen the council handle that you believe should have been approached differently? If so, how would you have handled it?

No comment.

8. What ways, if any, would you encourage public and media interaction with you and the city council should you be elected? How would you approach public interaction, especially on controversial issues?

I would love to meet on a regular basic with the media. I believe working together for a common goal is essential to our community.

When controversial issues come to the council you must make sure that everyone feels that their side has been, not only listen to, but heard. We all have different ideas, but we all have the right to be heard. It just may change your mind when you listen, it has mind, many times.

9. When you think of your city in 20 years, what do you hope it will look like? When considering that future vision of your city, what would you want your legacy to be in improving your community?

Past councils had great ideas, but we are now 32 years down the road and very little has happened.

We are fortunate to be able to keep our bond money and be able to move forward with the dreams our community has. Some of those include Lakeshore Drive with curbs, gutters, sidewalks and lighting. The city parks with green grass, a safe playground, a beach that could really be used to lay out and suntan or swim. I believe these have been the dreams of many, but it is time to make them a reality.

I want my legacy to be about the city of Clearlake having a positive image, about our children years from now still living here because the youth center gave them a positive outlook of how our city could and should be. I want to know the youth of Clearlake have been educated and take pride in our community enough to step up and take charge of their future.

Financial information: See Form 470 below.

Clearlake City Council Candidates - Joyce Overton - Form 470