Chiasson Says Council Run Is About Preserving Concord's Identity

CONCORD, NH — Edith Chiasson agreed, when it was suggested, that she must be a glutton for punishment deciding to run for the Concord City Council a second time about four months after attempting to win the Ward 4 special election where she placed third. Running for public office, attending forums, speaking to voters, she said, was "out of my comfort zone," adding, with a laugh, "Why am I doing this to myself?" But, Chiasson believes the reward will be worth it – trying to preserve what is special about New Hampshire's capital city while finding solutions to many nagging problems, including a drug and housing crisis, and the expansion of I-93, which could have a positive and negative impact on the city for generations to come.

"The work doesn't scare me," she said. "It's the trying to get there … and why. I've thought about it, long and hard."

So far, Chiasson, who is running against two others for two at large city council seats, is being recognized by voters as offering a stark contrast to her opponents.

As a person who has lived paycheck-to-paycheck, been a domestic violence and sexual harassment survivor, a single parent, working more than one job, while trying to find housing, it hasn't been an easy time. She said, while talking to voters, they, too, realized that ordinary folks, "who have truly struggled in life experience, as a part of the city," need a bigger role in guiding its future.

And after more than three decades residing in Concord, raising children and grandchildren, and also working as a state employment, she now had the time to volunteer and "think about what the future of the culture and of our city looks like."

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Chiasson had the experience to focus on today's issues while understanding what tomorrow's issues should be.

High property taxes are an issue she will focus on while also working to maintain some of the community opportunities she had used in the past – something as simple as taking her children to a park or playground, for something to do, that didn't cost more than a bag lunch.

"I want to preserve the safety of that; we need to preserve that part of our community," she said.

Concord is also facing a number of challenges and could lose its identity, she said, if its residents didn't work together to preserve all of the good things about the city while also fixing the bad things. The Merrimack River Greenway was a project she was supporting but she also wanted to ensure that it was constructed in a way that wouldn't be a burden on property taxpayers. It should be a part of the I-93 expansion and city officials should also work with the state officials to find compromise.

"Let's not threaten each other," Chaisson said. "Let's find something that works for everybody."

Chaisson has first-hand experience with housing insecurity but to her, it seems that all the players, "the usual suspects," are not focusing on the issue together, offering "creative solutions." There were multifaceted alternatives to the housing crisis that can expand options for current residents and it should be a priority of everyone to make sure the city's residents had safe housing options for their families, she said. Instead, there are other things pushing it off to the side, Chaisson added. The housing issue is a stark reality not just for the homeless in Concord but professionals, too, some who are working multiple jobs to pay the very high rents in the city.

"There's a fear of really talking to and about the opposition," she said. "There is stereotyping; there are very real people out there I know who are afraid of losing their housing … now, the conversation is, 'We can't build anymore because we can't afford it.' Well, I'm sorry, somewhere in between that is you have to have some good planning. I think that planning has lacked the understanding of the full picture. We need more people who see a broader picture … there needs to be a strategy, a true strategic plan."

Parking has also been an issue Chaisson has been working on. Living on Essex Street, near the UNH School of Law, parking has always been an issue. But it's not just an issue in the West End, although residents on her street have the option to buy two tags for the street, at a minimal cost to residents. In tight neighborhoods, it can be difficult, she said, and enforcement can be an issue, since the city has job vacancies, the flip side of a hot economy and low unemployment.

Chiasson has been curious about city government since attending a "behind the scenes of Concord" event while working on her Master's degree. Learning all that was going on in the city, from general services, to parks and recreation, inspired her to attend public meetings and, ultimately, the council races.

"Groupthink" of the the council, she noticed, was a concern, while the body, generalizing, was missing opportunities to better serve others. In some cases, councilors were also attempting to limit the choices of the general public, based on their own personal moralities. At the same time, while city government can be messy, and if elected, Chiasson would essentially be a volunteer – but being a part of the conversation, she said, was very important.

"I started to pay attention and I realized that my voice is not always represented," Chiasson said. "And I discovered that with the parking issue (on Essex Street). Here we are, a neighborhood, and our voice was not truly represented. Was it because we didn't have one? Certainly, we had one; but we weren't organized enough to make it heard and didn't realize what was going on. Somebody needs to be alert and paying attention and representing that section of people. And that's who I am … I have a sincere heart … and that's why I'm running."

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