Few people are bold enough to embark on a career in politics, but there does remain one brave man in Portage, Indiana who isn’t afraid to back his community: Patrick Clem, a city councilman over Second District.
Throughout the last five years, Clem has been a great asset to the people he represents, always wanting to help in any appropriate way that he can. And being supportive isn’t always easy when Clem has many urgent matters atop his plate – but his willingness to persist showcases his skill as an adept politician.
“We make sure all finances are appropriately handled; we budget and we align items to make sure money is spent correctly and appropriated correctly. Also, we pass different ordinances for the community and other things related to that,” Clem said.
Clem began his descent into this field after his exposure to the assistance and inspiration supplied by both his grandfather and his uncle, really going to show how one’s family can have a profound impact on later-made job decisions and opportunities.
“My grandfather helped me get here today, as he was part of making Portage a city back in 1968 – him and five of his buddies,” Clem said. “My grandfather was very, very involved in getting the petitions downstate, helping Portage become a city instead of a township. And then, my uncle was Jack Clem. He was very involved with politics, and he was a councilman as well. And I just wanted to get involved to make sure all of our tax money and revenues were being spent wisely.”
The life of anyone involved with politics and the management of an entire city moves quickly, thus upping the demand for wise choices to be made when federal funding comes across the table, like with the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Crucial decision-making requires cunning, considerate councilmen like Clem. So, luckily for the city of Portage, external resources are surely going to be allocated where needs are significant, and the wealth shall be shared wherever it’s absolutely necessary.
“We have the federal ARPA act coming into place, which will give us around $8 million. And I am determined to make sure that that is spent on the infrastructure of our community, whether it be infrastructure for the roadways, one of the many drainage issues, or our sewer treatment plant that’s about ready to bust at the seams. I would like to see a bunch of those funds go to those things so that our taxpayers’ interest is protected, instead of all of it going to silly items that have been proposed already,” Clem said.
A scary reality in regard to policy-making is the probability of not having a voice that accurately represents the cries of the community, the essential demands that can truly create all sorts of new possibilities.
When it comes down to the big moves, the community needs a backbone that can maintain them and aid them in their yearning of wishes that need to be fulfilled. In that case, situations wherein Clem is present should bring solace to those who share worries that are usually ubiquitous within a community.
“I'm there behind them, 110% trying to spend their money wisely. I want them to rest assured that there's no foolishness going on and that I'd put a stop to any of that foolishness going around,” Clem said. “I'm a straight-up guy, a community member myself, and I'll go to bat for all of our departments and our taxpayers. That's why I got involved, and that's my job; that's all I'm elected to do, and that's what I will do.”
Clem himself loves to see ideas and actions come together to conclude various different puzzling problems, showing the progressive nature of the community in which he works. He’s vigilant of other good work and it shows.
“The bonding of departments within itself is very fascinating. They're very close to one another, and they stay strong. They are a strong-knit group, and they really go to bat for the community; they really, really, really do,” Clem said. “And I really have to say, with what they are dealt with, they really pull off some unbelievable tasks that a lot of other departments in other areas wouldn't be able to do, and that shows their strength.”
Progression is a slippery entity to nail down, but when a community has a presence like Clem, the fruition of the concept as a whole doesn’t seem so difficult to hang onto. Behind him, the future is bright, fraught with promising prospects.
“All we can do is just keep moving forward, making the right choices and doing the best we can do,” he said.