Candidate Statement, By Claire Toth

Passionate about Summit and committed to progress through responsible leadership. Read on to learn why I’m running for Council and how I plan to continue serving our community.

I love Summit. I’ve loved raising my family here. I’ve loved working downtown.  I’ve loved volunteering for various committees and organizations to help make it even better. That’s why I’m running for Council: to protect the progress we’ve made and to help chart a path forward. 

Summit consistently faces new challenges. To meet them, we need new ideas and responsible leadership to see them through.  I can be one of those leaders. 

We need to reduce tax increases and cut unnecessary spending.  First responders need new technology to keep us safe.  We need—quickly—to meet our affordable housing obligation and to be welcoming to seniors and young families.  We need to address ever-increasing environmental challenges and keep our downtown competitive with other local communities.  

I’m qualified to run for Council because community service is in my DNA.  Growing up, I saw my father serve on our school board and my mother volunteer as an election judge.  As a teenager, I volunteered for literacy and food insecurity organizations and canvassed for education issues.  I also chaired the platform committee for the state Young Democrats.  My commitment to volunteering and political work continues to be my passion and my highest priority.

At Summit Education Foundation, Family Promise and SAGE Eldercare, I worked to serve our most vulnerable.  On Summit Downtown, the Historic Preservation Commission, and the Zoning Board, I focused on the built community and how it can enhance our lives here.  

Covid threatened the organizations and people I care about.  My history of service compelled me to respond.  I was part of the team that raised $750,000 to keep Summit’s local merchants afloat and help them reopen safely.  I facilitated $1 million of PPP loans to SAGE Eldercare to keep it alive.  I’m proud I could enable the community I love to survive the pandemic—ensuring we continue to have a thriving downtown and a vibrant resource for our vulnerable seniors.

You might ask, what have I done for you lately?  After last year’s election, it could have been tempting to hide under the covers with a pillow over my head.  But that’s not who I am—here’s what I did instead.  I stepped up my volunteering, with GRACE and Christ Child Society.  I initiated Summit’s inaugural International Women’s Day celebration and am helping to plan SAGE’s 70th birthday festivities.  I’ve consistently supported the need for a regular seasonal closure of Maple Street, and I’m a strong advocate for affordable housing.  As a community volunteer, I can do a lot.  As a Council member, I could do so much more.

I’m running for Council as a Democrat because I believe in building community.  That takes all of us—individuals, schools and houses of worship, nonprofits and businesses, and yes—city government.  As a lifelong Democrat, I believe local government’s job is to facilitate community building and provide the resources private actors cannot.  Here’s a concrete example of that philosophy in action: last year, we experienced a surge in our unhoused population.  Groups like Warm Hearts and Bridges did their best to help but didn’t make a real dent in the numbers.  It wasn’t until Council, under Democratic leadership, joined the Union County Continuum of Care, that we saw the numbers drop—and they dropped dramatically.  That’s the sort of work I want to do on Council.

I have the knowledge, the experience and the skill set to deal with issues like this one and more.  Please join me as I work for all of Summit and please honor me with your vote.  I’d love to hear from you!  Email me at claire@tothforsummit.com.

Best regards,

Claire Toth

Candidate for Summit Council

Michelle Kalmanson to Replace Councilmember Andy Minegar as Democratic Candidate for Common Council Ward 1

The Summit Democrats will be supporting Michelle Kalmanson as the Democratic candidate for Common Council Ward 1, replacing Councilmember Andy Minegar on the November ballot.

The Summit Democrats announced that the organization will be supporting Michelle Kalmanson as the Democratic candidate for Common Council Ward 1, replacing Councilmember Andy Minegar on the November ballot.

“I have had the privilege of getting to know Michelle Kalmanson over the years because of her willingness to continually step up and help her fellow neighbors,” said Summit Democrats Chair Greg Vartan. “From fighting for transparency and fairness, to her inspiring volunteer efforts, Michelle is always raising her hand to give back to the community she loves. I am so proud that she is stepping up once again to run for Common Council, and I can’t wait for Ward 1 voters to meet her and hear more about her vision to move Summit forward.” 

Since moving to Summit, Kalmanson has been an active member of the community. She will serve as Co-President of the Washington Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) in the 2024-2025 school year. She previously served as Vice President of the Washington Elementary School PTO in 2023-2024, was a member of the Wilson Primary Center PTO, and served as Chair of the Santa Claus Shop in 2023, an organization that provides complimentary holiday shopping to area families. 

“As a parent, volunteer, and neighbor, it is incredibly important to me that we all work together to make Summit an even better community for us to live and raise our families in,” said Michelle Kalmanson. “Over the last few months, I have gotten to know so many Summit residents who are looking for local leaders who will listen to and address their concerns–from strengthening our schools, to enhancing public safety and ensuring the rules are applied evenly across all neighborhoods. If I am elected to represent Ward 1 on the Summit Common Council, I promise to always listen to my neighbors and deliver meaningful results.”

“During my time on Council, I have gotten to know Michelle Kalmanson as a hardworking, thoughtful and honest advocate for our community,” said Councilmember Minegar. “She is always looking to make Summit an even better place to live, and I have no doubt she would be a refreshing voice on the Summit Common Council.” 

On Common Council, Councilmember Minegar has always prioritized fiscal responsibility, advanced pedestrian and traffic safety initiatives, supported law enforcement, advocated for transparency in government, championed sustainability initiatives, advocated for more accessibility and inclusivity across all of Summit’s playgrounds, and so much more. Under Councilmember Minegar’s leadership, the City of Summit modernized its event registration software; expanded and made summer camp sign-up more equitable; cleaned up its post-pandemic parklet rules; expanded short-term parking along the length of Union Place; saved taxpayer dollars through an overhaul of its rideshare program; and listened to the needs of Summit families by incorporating sensory play elements such as musical instruments into the Mabie Playground renovation design. 

“Serving my community as a member of the Summit Common Council has been an honor, and I look forward to continuing to represent all residents for the remainder of my term through the end of this year,” added Minegar. 

“I would like to thank Councilmember Minegar for his years of outstanding service to Summit,” said Chair Vartan. “It has been an honor to work alongside Andy, and his wisdom, insight, humor and tireless dedication to the people of Summit will be missed.”

There are two Summit Common Council seats on the November ballot. In addition to Kalmanson, Claire Toth is running for Ward 2 Summit Common Council. 

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