Politics & Government

Michelle Harris for Mayor of Clayton

Harris is one of three candidates seeking to become mayor of Clayton.

Patch sent all local candidates for office identical questionnaires in order to compile candidate profiles prior to the April election. Each candidate who returned the survey will be featured on the site.

Michelle Harris, 57

  • Address: 36 Broadview Drive, Clayton
  • Occupation: Alderman, City of Clayton & Principal, StrategyFinder, LLC (a business strategy consulting firm)
  • Family: Spouse; Scott Harris. Children; Carson Harris (CHS graduate & freshman at Fort Lewis College), and Clayton Harris (sophomore at CHS)
  • Years in Clayton: 22

Education/Professional Experience/Community Service

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  • 20 years of bottom line business experience with Fortune 500 companies including DuPont, Nestle-Purina and Solae.
  • Experience starting and running my own consulting business.
  • MBA, BA in Art & Education
  • Many years of community service in Clayton and the region

What prompted your decision to seek elective office?

I care deeply about the future of Clayton and I genuinely believe that my experience and skills are uniquely right for the job now:

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  • 20 years of bottom line business experience at Fortune 500 companies and an MBA
  • Track record for innovation & collaboration
  • 7 years as a Clayton alderman
  • Serving in many City of Clayton capacities; numerous boards/commissions, the Center Of Clayton Board (Treasurer),
  • Worked hard to launch the Clayton Century Foundation—the 1st Public-Private Partner for Clayton—investing $2million to date in Clayton.
  • 15 continuous years volunteering in the Clayton Schools

Biggest issue facing Clayton

Balancing our budget. Clayton’s current financial plan is sound, and is underway—leaving us with a generous 50 percent reserve level and a zero deficit by 2015. I worked hard to help develop this plan, including proposing innovative solutions last spring to aid in this effort, such as cost sharing with the Clayton public schools, and outsourcing appropriate services.

In what area does Clayton need to improve?

We need to maximize community resources. Working together as a community to save tax dollars is critical to keeping Clayton the great place that it is. To achieve this we need to partner with our leading stakeholders: businesses, public schools, and universities, and the Clayton Century Foundation—to eliminate redundant services & pool resources to create even better amenities.

What will I do to help small businesses and retail?

  • Improving vitality in our downtown. The economic downturn has certainly affected our businesses, but as short term solutions, . I would also work to bring performing arts to our city on an ongoing basis-creating more weeknight & weekend activity. The long term solution is encouraging higher residential density in our downtown—built in foot traffic!
  • Bringing more businesses to our City: Continuing our partnerships with organizations that invest in Clayton (like the Clayton Century Foundation) is critical to keeping Clayton on the cutting edge as a destination. Positioning for the future by recruiting on line businesses in preparation for sales tax law changes, and business to business point of sale, is critical. 

What single thing would I want to accomplish in my 1st year:

  • Eliminate our operating deficit & maintain 50 percent reserve levels. We will accomplish this by simply adhering to the plan that is in place-not getting distracted with costly projects that increase ongoing costs.
  • Bring the community together in spirit and behind cost saving objectives. Because of my long term community involvement, and track record for successful collaboration, I have built trust and commitment among many. I am committed to doing this, and I will.


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