Concord Mayor Gets A Challenger In 2019

CONCORD, NH — On the second to the last day of filing for municipal elections in the city of Concord, voters were given even more reasons to go to the polls in November: a competitive race for mayor as well as a third board of education seat that has at least two candidates and another challenge to a ward incumbent. Linda Banfill of Palm Street, who challenged Concord Mayor Jim Bouley two years ago, has thrown her hat in the ring again. Pam Wicks, the incumbent District C Concord Board of Education member, who lives on Checkerberry Lane, has also filed to run for a second term. And Kevin Miller, a veteran and former candidate for state representative, has filed to run for city council in Ward 1, facing off against incumbent Brent Todd.

Banfill, a previous volunteer for the Marine Corp League, jumped into the 2017 mayoral race at the last minute, but was ultimately unsuccessful, garnering only 400 votes against Bouley who received more than 3,600. Another candidate placed second that year – Roy Schweiker, a staple for commentary at council meetings and on the editorial pages of the Concord Monitor, who came in second that year.

Not unlike prior challengers to Bouley, Banfill has an arrest record – five years ago, she was charged with felony criminal mischief, after allegedly destroying a parking kiosk downtown. That same month, Banfill, who is in her 70s, climbed onto the front lawn of the SEA/SEIU 1984 building on North Main Street and replaced the union's worn American flag – because she was sick of seeing it fly so tattered, calling it disrespectful.

Miller, a former Marine, father, and supporter of the Constitution, lives on Village Street in Penacook and, in the past, ran spirited – but unsuccessful – races against state Rep. Steve Shurtleff in 2016 and 2018.

Wicks' decision to run again, she represents Wards 8. 9, and 10, means there will becompetitive races for all three board of education seats – at a time when parents and students in the city are upset that the board hasn't fired Concord High School Principal Tom Sica and School Superintendent Terri Forsten in the wake of the Primo "Howie" Leung teacher-rape incident.

Wicks, who has children in the school system, said she was running again because she loved the district and enjoyed being on the board.

"We're transplants from another part of NH and from the day we moved here I have felt at home," she said. "That was in large part due to the great school communities I have been privileged to be a member of and so I started by joining the PTA (I'm currently the president of the Broken Ground PTA) and have been invested ever since."

Wicks ran after moving to the city and finding out that there wasn't full-day kindergarten. But now, she added, she had found "new passions, like instruction and curriculum, the middle school and keeping our class sizes down." She loves the diversity in the schools, the district's support for the arts, and opportunities for learning. And, while it has been challenging, at time, especially this year, being on the board was extremely rewarding, Wicks said.

"I'm looking forward to focusing on the future of Rundlett Middle School and would be honored to be able to see that project through," she said. "With two boys that attend now, I see so much potential from a facilities perspective for our middle school."

ALSO READ:

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• Soucy Seeks 3rd Rematch With Matson In Ward 8 City Council Race
• Concord Councilors Vote To Put Keno, Sports Betting On The Ballot
• Bouley Seeks Historic 7th Term As Concord Mayor: Election 2019
• Mayor, City Council, School Board Filings Start Friday In Concord
• Concord School District - filing for election to school board
• Ward 2 Concord City Councilor Herschlag Won't Seek Re-Election In November
• Concord Board Of Education Election Signups Begin Sept. 6
• At-Large Concord City Councilor Coen Won't Run For Re-Election
• Hatfield Wins Sleepy Concord City Council Special Election
• Attorney Wants To Eye Transportation, Other Issues On The Council
• Is Third Time The Charm For Concord City Council Candidate Cook?
• Chiasson Hopes Years Of Experience Will Elect Her To City Council
• Concord Special Election After Shurtleff, St. Hilaire Departures

Filing Deadline: Monday

The filing deadline for both city and school races is Monday, Sept. 16. The city clerk's office will be open until 5 p.m. on Monday. The filing fee to run for mayor and council is $5 or the collection of petition signatures. Ward filing fees are $1. For more information, visit the city clerk's filing for office site.

Candidates for board of education have until 4:30 p.m. on Monday to signup. It costs $5 to file. To file, visit the Phillips Law Office, PLLC, 104 Pleasant St. in Concord.

Running? Tell Concord NH Patch!

When and if you signup to run for any office, reach out to Concord NH Patch. Our site will be featuring candidate profiles as well as other information about the campaigns. Fill out the Patch Candidate Profile Form here, and email a photo of yourself, too.

Vote On Nov. 5

Voters go to the polls from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, to cast ballots for municipal offices. Voters will choose a two-year term for mayor, two-year terms for ward councilors in each of the 10 wards, and two at-large (citywide) council seats for four-year terms. Ward clerks and moderators will also be elected to two-year terms as well as supervisory of the checklist for a six-year term.

Three district seats for the Concord Board of Education will also be chosen. District A covers Wards 1, 2, 3, and 4; District B covers Wards 4, 5, and 6; District C represents Wards 8, 9, and 10.

After the ballot positions are set, voters who won't be home on Election Day can request absentee ballots with the city clerk.

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