Hemet City Council Settles On Interview Questions For District 1 Appointment

The Hemet City Council last week settled on the questions it will ask residents seeking appointment to the District 1 seat for the remainder of the term.

“I don’t think there should be any more than two questions from any one of us,” Councilmember Linda Krupa said. “So, I mean, eight questions maximum is still going to take us a long time.”

Ahead of the discussion, city staff presented the council with 10 questions that covered a number of topics to help the council evaluate a candidate’s qualifications, positions and potential approaches to governing.

“There’s a lot of questions on here, and I think we all may have our own questions we want to ask,” Councilmember Jackie Peterson said. “So I would be interested in knowing how many other questions we have before we decide weeding out some of these other ones that are of lesser importance.”

Questions the council intends to ask include:

1. Collaboration and teamwork are essential to effective governance. How would you approach building relationships and working with your fellow council members, city staff and the community to achieve common goals?
2. Are you prepared or to spend the necessary time that it takes to review agendas, not only for the city council, but also to any committees you may be appointed to?
3. What do you believe is the number one priority for bringing quality businesses to Hemet?
4. Hemet has many buildings that are not kept up and way too much trash. What is your solution for making our city presentable once again?
5. The city of Hemet has limited financial resources. As a council member, how would you prioritize budget allocations and ensure fiscal responsibility while meeting the needs of Hemet residents?
6. Hemet is a growing city with a diverse population. How would you ensure equitable access to city services, resources, and opportunities for all Hemet residents, regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds?
7. What are your thoughts on the proposed wellness village being built within the city limits of Hemet and do you support or oppose the project?
8. The City Council often needs to make tough decisions that may have both positive and negative impacts. Can you provide an example of a difficult decision you have made in the past and how you approached it? What did you learn from that experience?

Interviews to fill the seat formerly held by the late Karlee Meyer are scheduled to take place at the June 13 regularly scheduled meeting. 

Those interested in applying for the open seat have until June 2 to file their application with the city clerk’s office. More information can be found here on the city’s website. As of last Tuesday, City Clerk John Paul Maier said there were three applicants moving through the official filing process.

In other council action: Participants in the Spring 2023 Mayor Mentee program gave their final presentation to the council pitching Karlee’s Kountry, an amusement park for the city named in honor of Karlee Meyer. The council also approved the rental of a chiller to restore normal operations to the Hemet Public Library. You can view a recording of the full meeting here.