VOTE Clara Waltemate for Ellis Grove Village President

03/30/2021

Hello Everyone!
This election season is nearing it's end so, if you haven't already voted at The Court House, voted by mail, or made a plan to vote April 6th, make sure you do. Let me know if you need a ride and I'll get you there.
I realize these types of elections are not as exciting at the big Presidential Elections, but they do still matter alot.
If you read the local paper this week, you learned a little bit about myself and, my opponent in the Election. I'd like to take a moment to tell you some more about me and my family.
I was born right here in Randolph County at Sparta Hospital.
I am a Class of 97 Graduate from Chester High School.
I received my CNA from SWIC and studied History and Political Science. I also studied Nursing at Beck School of Practical Nursing. I was Ordained a Non Denominational Minister in 2009.
I started working in Hospice and Home Care at a very young age and spent over 20 years in that line of work while also running my own business for 6 of those years.
I have been an Activist for over 25 years and have worked with, marched, and protested, with several organizations to fight injustice in Labor Laws, Immigration, as well as Civil Rights issues. I won a Federal Court Case with the help of the EEOC in 2008 as well.
I took some time off from school and my regular work to help my husband run his restaurant consulting business just prior to the Covid 19 pandemic.
I have recently returned to the medical field in a different aspect, as a Medical Dispensary Cannabis Advisor. I realize such a career choice can be controversial but, I love my new career path and, again being able to help people improve their quality of life in a more natural way. It's a very rewarding profession.
In my free time I enjoy camping, fishing, and hiking. I am a former MMA Coach, and am also a pretty avid American History buff, with focus on The Civil War period and WWII.
My husband Ryan (Wally) is an Ellis Grove local who also happens to be a pretty talented Chef, Consultant, and Restaurateur. He is a graduate of Chester High School, Class of 98. We have two children. Cierra is 19, She attended St. John's in Chester and, is a class of 2020 graduate of Chester High School. She is currently ending her freshman year of college on The Dean's List at SIU Carbondale and, we are very proud of her.
Our son Brayden is 9 and attends Chester Grade School. He loves camping, fishing, video games and YouTube. He has recently taken an interest in learning to code. We are very proud of him too!
While I realize none of these things qualify me to help lead our beautiful little town of Ellis Grove, I do hope it demonstrates to you my level of caring and dedication. I have spent many years demonstrating an unsurpassed level of care in anything I do or take interest in. Unfortunately, I feel not alot of people can say that anymore. I care about the future of Ellis Grove alot. I want to help the town get a little life breathed back into it. I think the residents of Ellis Grove deserve that. I think our children and grandchildren deserve that as well. I hope to help future generations get to enjoy Ellis Grove just as much as past generations have. If you want the same for Ellis Grove, vote for me, as your next Village President.

03/26/2021

Remember ladies and gentlemen of Ellis Grove, the election is the first week of April. This is an important election for us in our little town. You vote for more of the same ole same ole....or you vote for energy to get EG back on her feet. Either way, vote. Be heard.
If anyone needs a ride to vote, please, don't hesitate to message me. I'll make sure no matter who you are voting for, that you get the opportunity to vote. People tend to sit out the consolidated election, and more so this year due to the exhaustion of the last political season. This is the one that effects us on a local scale, and is so important to our future here in Randolph County.

03/12/2021

The election is just around the corner here in Ellis Grove. Please make arrangements to vote!
Early voting has already started at The Randolph County Courthouse, or you can vote on April 6th at Ellis Grove Village Hall.
If you need to vote by mail, I am attaching a link. If you need a ride to either location to vote, don't hesitate to send me a message and, I'll make sure to get you there.

Randolph County Illinois

02/24/2021

Hi everyone! I am going to avoid inundating everyone with tons of political posts, ads, signs, etc. I'm just going to keep it simple. I want to be Village President of Ellis Grove. Ellis Grove is a gorgeous, sleepy little town, full of amazing people. My husband is originally from Ellis Grove, and I always loved running around here in my youth. We decided to settle in Ellis Grove permanently about 5 years ago, and are now proud to call it home.

I have grown frustrated over the years with politics in town though. Our previous president quit his position. Our clerk was voted out, but held her ground and pushed out the elected clerk, and every month at the council meetings I am frustrated by the lack of decision making as each issue gets tabled again and again because no one wants to be responsible for the decisions made.
Originally I was told I was running unopposed, but found out that the appointed president has decided to run against me. I will not talk bad about my opponent, but I will say I have watched her repeatedly say she does not want to bare the responsibility for major decisions being made. So, needless to say I was surprised to see she decided to run to maintain the position. Many ordinances have been tabled because no one wants to solidify decisions. In the meantime Ellis Grove is slowly deteriorating.
We need new water meters, a police officer, a decent rate of pay to maintain a police officer, park updates, event schedules, an attitude to welcome new faces and business to Ellis Grove again. I want to see EG give back to Randolph County, and not just take from it. I want to see Ellis Grove generate it's own revenue. As it should, and has done in the past.
I want to bring some energy back to EG, and I
hope you see the future of Ellis Grove to be as bright as I do. If so, vote for me as Ellis Grove Village President on April 6th.
Let's make it better together ❤