The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Questions and answers
Two candidates square off for Oneida city chamberlain seat
ONEIDA, N.Y. » Two candidates will serve off for the city chamberlain’s seat in the City of Oneida this year.
The Oneida Dispatch sent questionnaires to the candidates in this race. Below are the responses from Anna Hood and Lilian White.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hood: I am a proud lifetime resident of Oneida. I graduated from Oneida High School and went on to study Business Economics at Suny Oneonta. I was a proud NCAA college athlete playing tennis at SUNY Oneonta. I started in high school working on various political campaigns including County Supervisors, Sheriff, and 3 Supreme Court Judges in New York State. My goal was always to see good upstanding people in our government. In all of the campaigns I worked on, the candidates succeeded and are still serving the people. I also serve on the Oneida City Republican Committee.
White: I have had a 26year career in financial services culminating as an Executive Director for JP Morgan Chase. My husband, Jeffrey and son, Philip, settled in Oneida in 2009 to return to the community Jeffrey grew up in to join the family business, White’s Farm Supply in Canastota. The opportunity to be close to family and part of a small community were and remain important to us.
Over the past decade, I have been an active member of our community through several volunteer organizations and boards including; Oneida Rotary Club, Oneida Public Library, Boy Scouts of America and various school activities.
Why did you want to run for this position?
Hood: I am running for Citychamberlain because I believe we as young adults can stay in our city and work. We don’t need to leave New York! Oneida is a great city!
White: I believe in civic duty and my professional experience are the credentials needed for the role of City Chamberlain.
Why do you believe you’re the best candidate for this position?
Hood: I am the best candidate for this position because I am already doing the job. I am the only candidate who has experience working at the Oneida Citychamberlain’s office. I am hardworking, dependable and trustworthy. I will continue to bring a new young perspective into the city.
White: Given the recent investigation into the handling of city funds, the City needs to take significant steps to ensure checks and balances in the Chamberlain’s office. I started my career working in accounting, which led to banking. I am running and believe I am the best candidate for this role based on that professional experience and my years of community service.
What do you think the biggest issues facing the community are right now?
Hood: You mean as the Citychamberlain? My responsibility as the City Chamberlain is to collect all public funds belonging to or handled by the city. In that I will serve the community with the utmost respect and honesty as I am doing now.
For the community, because you asked — Public Safety! We need to repeal Bail Reform!
White: I will speak directly to the role of the City Chamberlain. The city is facing challenging times and potential mismanagement of funds. This mismanagement has gone on for a significant period of time — under the watch of current incumbents. We need NEW leadership to usher in a NEW phase of transparency and accountability.
What would you hope to achieve during your first 100 days in office?
Hood: I will continue modernizing the Chamberlain’s office by updating processes that have been in place for the past 30 years which will correct past issues and provide full accountability. I will work with the County Treasurer to share services to keep local government operating efficiently and effectively.
Coming into this office with a fresh set of eyes coupled with my experience in the banking field, I will look to make needed changes. I would evaluate procedures for handling receipts and payments. I would look to reconciliation and reporting processes and ensure that our receipt of processing payment systems is current. I would then present findings and opportunities for savings and safeguards with a preliminary plan to implement those changes to the Mayor and the City Council.
Thank you for your time and questions. I ask your readers to consider and vote for Lillian White as they visit the polls on November 2nd.