Meeting with Michèle Chay, first deputy in charge of citizen participation, communication and social cohesion.
What motivated you to get involved in local politics and to run for these municipal elections?
My commitment to local politics is long-term and continues today in Gratentour. Committed to activism for many years, I notably held the position of deputy mayor in Fonbeauzard. My national responsibilities within the CGT in Paris led me to end this mandate in 2008. I also served for 18 years on the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE). Now retired, I wish to fully invest myself in local life and bring my left-wing convictions there. My objective is to contribute to the implementation of a useful and supportive policy, based on effective local public services, capable of meeting the needs of as many people as possible and of families. It is, for me, about promoting the well-being of all Gratentourois together.
What are your priorities for the municipality during your mandate?
Our program “A citizen and participatory ambition” proposed to implement a real active and accessible local democracy. As first deputy, my mission is to lead and make this approach a reality throughout the mandate. Indeed, we believe that local democracy must be exercised well beyond voting by listening active and co-construction of public policies in the constant search for the general interest. I am convinced that local citizen participation is a powerful tool for restoring meaning to politics and strengthening the link between elected officials and residents. Involving Gratentourois in decisions that concern them means building a living democracy, capable of restoring confidence. and to meet everyone’s expectations.
How do you plan to listen to residents and involve them in decisions?
We will strengthen local democracy with commissions open to all and regular public meetings to discuss and decide together. A citizen petition system will allow proposals to be included on the municipal council’s agenda. A participatory budget will support neighborhood projects. Finally, a representative citizens’ council (young people, seniors, associations, neighborhoods) will sustainably involve residents in decisions.
What message do you want to send to the citizens who elected you, but also to those who did not vote for you?
I want to bring together all Gratentourois, including those who did not vote for us and the abstainers.
My commitment: to build together citizen action based on transparency, dialogue and inclusiveness.
Everyone, including minority elected officials, must be able to contribute to a community life that meets the needs of all.
