Politics & Government

Champlin Spends $10K On Concord Mayoral Run; Big Money Spent On Other Races: 2023 Update

Tens of thousands of dollars have been spent on city council races as incumbents fend off challengers and candidates vie for open seats.

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Candidates for mayor and at-large city council, pictured here, as well as ward city council races, are spending a lot of money to get elected in Concord in 2023.
Candidates for mayor and at-large city council, pictured here, as well as ward city council races, are spending a lot of money to get elected in Concord in 2023. (Tony Schinella/Patch)

CONCORD, NH — The latest Concord city council and mayoral race financial filings show a lot of money — tens of thousands of dollars, being thrown around during the 2023 municipal election cycle for what are essentially volunteer, nonpartisan positions.

Voters on Tuesday will consider three candidates for mayor, five candidates for two at-large city council seats, and eight ward council seats that are competitive in the busiest election season in modern memory. Voter turnout for city races has historically been very low — anywhere from 10.9 percent in 2009 to 20.3 percent in 2007, the last time there was an open mayoral seat. In 2021, turnout was 14.3 percent — slightly less than the previous five city elections due to a purge of thousands of voters from the rolls after the 2020 Census.

This year, with so many competitive races, candidates are pulling out all the stops and raising and spending a lot of money to get the vote out.

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Byron Champlin, the at-large councilor seeking the mayoral position in Concord, has raised and spent the most money of all the candidates. The retiree, who was previously a ward councilor, reported raising more than $3,700 in his latest filing. Only one donation came from outside the city ($100 from a resident of Bow). He also spent another $7,736 in the past few weeks, primarily on mailers. Champlin’s total expenditures for the cycle are more than $10,500 while raising slightly more than $8,900.

In his first mailer, outgoing Mayor Jim Bouley officially endorsed Champlin, calling him “by far, the best choice” for mayor in 2023.

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Kate West, another mayoral candidate, reported about $256 in donations (one from outside the city) and a single expenditure — $76.98 for buttons. A few days ago, she unveiled a new campaign slogan on Facebook and her website: “My Mayor Rides The Bus,” with pictures of her posing on the city’s CAT bus.

Thousands of dollars are also being spent in the five-way at-large council race, where candidates are competing for two four-year seats.

Nathan Fennessy, the incumbent, filed $425 in new donations while spending $2,393 for a mailing. So far, he has spent about $3,060 in his race.

Taylor Hall, another at-large candidate, reported no new expenditures or receipts but previously spent $220 on signs and supplies in late September and early October.

Matt Hicks also reported no money spent in the Oct. 31 filing and previously spent about $1,070 on signs.

Judith Kurtz, another candidate, reported spending about $840 on palm cards and postcards and $400 for door-knocking and mailing lists from the New Hampshire Democratic Party. She has collectively spent $3,480 on her race, according to her latest filing.

Kevin Porter, another at-large candidate, reported $1,225 in receipts, including another $1,000 personal donation to the campaign. He also purchased a list from the state Democratic committee for $200. Porter has spent around $2,600 spent on the effort.

A lot of money is also being spent on the ward races.

In Ward 2, which is an open seat in 2023, Michele Horne reported a $500 donation from the Iron Workers Local 7 out of Boston, Massachusetts. She also reported expenditures of around $417 on stamps, signs, and envelopes. She has raised around $1,731 and spent $773 on her campaign.

Rob Kleiner, the other Ward 2 candidate, reported a single $250 donation and another $494 in expenditures for palm cards and stamps. He has spent about $988.

In Ward 5, where Noemi Wierwille is challenging incumbent Stacey Brown, the incumbent posted another $340 in donations and around $93 in expenditures for a notebook and printer ink. She has spent about $1,330 on her race.

Wierwille collected another $715 in donations and more than $900 in expenditures for signs, stamps, and office supplies. So far, the challenger has raised $5,400 and spent more than $2,600.

Jim Schlosser, who is challenging long-time incumbent Keith Nyhan in Ward 7, posted another $244 in donations while only spending $29. The challenger has raised more than $3,500 and spent about $1,950.

Nyhan reported $0 in donations and expenditures.

In Ward 8, Ali Sekou collected $1,245 in donations from 13 people. Only three of the donations were from inside the ward. The candidate reported an $800 loan repayment to himself as well as about $315 for food during meetings and events and hundreds of dollars on stamps and palm cards. He has spent around $2,400 while raising nearly $3,800.

Andrew Georgevits, one of the candidates seeking the open Ward 9 seat, filed $442 in expenditures for printing and mailers.

Kris Schultz, the other Ward 9 candidate, filed the Oct 10 financial form late. In the filing, she reported an $871.69 receipt of money from “Committee to Election Kathy.” When asked if the donation was from the late Katherine Rogers’ estate, she suggested contacting Ray Buckley, the chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, who was the executor of her estate, to explain. Buckley, while questioning the curiosity of asking about the donation, said he believed it would be within her wishes to support her longtime friend seeking her former seat.

In Ward 10, Councilor Zandra Rice Hawkins is fending off a challenge from Jeff Foote. She reported raising $1,620 in the latest filing. Of the 19 donations, ranging in amounts from $15 to $250, 15 were from outside of the city. She spent about $660 on T-shirts, stamps, palm cards, and nearly $39 for snacks and cider for a “Vote Zandra Stay & Play” event at Apple Hill Farm. She has spent about $1,700 on her reelection effort.

Foote filed another $300 in donations, with most of the money spent on signs. He has spent around $575 on his race.

Councilors make $1,000 annually. SAU 8 Board of Education candidates are not required to file financial information.

All other candidates had not filed by the Oct. 31 deadline or reported $0 in expenditures and donations.

Editor’s Note: This information came from filings through Nov. 1.

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