City Council Corner: Thanks for a Great 8 Years

By Councilmember Chris Hamm

Serving the residents of San Clemente over the past eight years has been the greatest honor of my life.

I want to thank each and every one of you who put your trust in me to make difficult decisions on your behalf. During that time, I have had the opportunity to get to know the community better than I could have imagined. 

I ran for city council to give back to the town that gave me so much. Being raised in San Clemente by a single mother, I was afforded opportunities that many others were not because of the charm of the San Clemente village.

My hope is that generations to come will be provided the same opportunities I had growing up here, and that I have inspired others to get involved to ensure San Clemente continues to be the greatest place to live, work and play.

In the coming years, I will continue the fight to preserve our small-town charm, to oppose any toll road through our town, and to fight to get emergency services back. 

 One of the things that makes San Clemente so great is the employees, many of whom are your neighbors. They are the unsung heroes who work every day to make sure our streets are paved, our water flows, and our public programs keep running.

I would ask that the next time you see an employee wearing our city seal, thank them. Every good thing that happens in San Clemente happens because of our great employees. During this pandemic, our employees have stepped up to serve in amazing ways.

I want to thank the following departments for their excellent service to the residents: Public Works; Community Development; Utilities; Beaches, Parks and Recreation; Finance; Administration; the clerk’s office; city management; Marine Safety; and all contract services.

Specifically, I would like to thank our Marine Safety Division for their excellent work on July 4. Our lifeguards made countless rescues during the largest swell of the year while San Clemente was one of the only beaches open.

 This election season, we have many important decisions to make. One of those decisions is something I have been fighting for since I was elected. Term limits are vitally important for us to pass.

The ballot measure known as “Measure BB” would limit councilmembers to eight consecutive years. In recent history, we have had councilmembers serve 12 and even 16 years on council. A community as engaged as ours should present opportunities for new members to step up and bring fresh perspectives.

This November, I will be voting yes on BB, and I ask you to do the same. While you are at the polls, pay attention to the records of previous officials who are running, do your research, and elect people who will move us forward, not draw us back to the past.  

Finally, I would like to thank my family for the support they have given me over the past eight years. I love you and thank you.

Chris Hamm is a San Clemente city councilmember. He was elected to the council in 2012 and reelected in 2016.