Concord Mayor Nixes ‘Ceasefire’ Resolution Requests By Former Opponent

CONCORD, NH — The Concord City Council will not be entertaining a resolution calling for a “ceasefire” in Gaza despite one city activist not taking No for an answer.

Kate West, a former SAU 8 school board member who ran for mayor in November 2023, garnering around 19 percent of the vote, requested in an email last month to Mayor Byron Champlin and 14 city councilors that the body consider a resolution on the Israeli-Palestine conflict.

“By passing such a resolution,” West wrote, “our city would send a clear message advocating for peace, dialogue, and the protection of human rights. It would also demonstrate our commitment to promoting stability and security not only within our own community but also on a global scale. Taking a stand on this critical issue aligns with our values as a compassionate and responsible city.”

The conflict, which is primarily about land in the Middle East and whether a Jewish state has a right to exist in the region, dates back hundreds of years, according to foreign policy experts (or thousands of years if one traces the conflict to when Hebrews were slaves of the Egyptians). It has come to the forefront of politics in the United States after Hamas, a terrorist organization, led an attack on Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, raping Israeli girls and women, kidnapping at least 200 people, and killing hundreds more at a music festival and in nearly two dozen communities.

Israelis and American Jews have likened the attack to Israel’s 9/11.

Israel, one of America’s strongest democratic allies, countered by bombing Gaza, killing thousands of terrorists and civilians, in an effort to rescue hostages and destroy Hamas.

The conflict has spilled into the local political landscape with civil disobedience and protests, including damage at Elbit America in Merrimack, leading to the arrest of four women from Connecticut and Massachusetts as well as demands for ceasefire resolutions in cities and towns in New Hampshire. Chants of, “From the river to the sea,” essentially advocating the elimination of the state of Israel, have followed. Political bodies in Durham and Lebanon have endorsed resolutions, while Manchester and Portsmouth have rejected them.

Back to Concord.

Four days after receiving West’s request, Champlin, who, as mayor, sets meeting agendas, denied the request, saying, while he appreciated her “deep concern,” the council needed to focus on municipal issues, not international foreign policy, according to an email obtained by Patch.

“Calls for action are most effectively addressed by citizens to policy makers at the federal level, and channels are available for individuals to communicate directly to members of our congressional delegation as well as the president himself,” Champlin said. “In other words, those who are in a position to actually affect change.”

West countered about four and half hours later that while she understood the perspective, she disagreed.

She said the conflict did affect “the citizens of Concord deeply,” adding, “I look forward to continuing this dialogue.”

Neither Champlin nor councilors chose to engage in more dialogue about the issue — prompting West to email everyone again on Tuesday night.

“Despite my request for continued dialogue, I have not yet received further response from you or an acknowledgement or response from 11 Concord councilors, including my own Ward 9 councilor,” she wrote. “As a concerned citizen and constituent, I believe it is crucial for elected representatives to maintain open lines of communication with those they serve.”

West cited taxpayer money funding Israel’s military as proof the resolution was a municipal issue. She also pointed to Aaron Bushnell, a member of the U.S. Air Force, lighting himself on fire to “protest the genocide” as a “desperate plea for attention that demands immediate action and dialogue.”

Ward 9 City Councilor Kris Schultz, a state representative for the ward and an active Democrat, who was called out in West’s email, agreed with Champlin’s decision.

“With all respect,” she said, “it is not the city council’s job to get involved in foreign policy, and we have enough on our plate right now which I am eager to talk about, like the developments on Loudon Road or for lowering the tax burden for all but the wealthy.”

Instead of accepting No for an answer, West hoped to foster more constructive communication about “concerns that I believe are critical for our community,” she said in an email Wednesday before Champlin’s second response.

While other ceasefire resolution petitions before cities and towns in New Hampshire have been disruptive, she supported “peaceful engagement” in raising awareness of the issue.

When asked about the fact there was a ceasefire in Gaza until Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023, West said, “It’s essential to acknowledge the complexities of the conflict and prioritize diplomacy and humanitarian efforts to promote lasting peace.”

On the council currently, there are some members of the Jewish faith, as well as a Muslim member. None of them communicated with West about the issue. But she said she trusted councilors, “regardless of religious affiliation,” would act “in the best interests of our community,” adding, “I respect their perspectives and decisions on this matter.”

West also denied being compensated by continuing to raise the issue even though her request was denied.

“I can confirm that my involvement in this matter is driven solely by my dedication to serving the community by embracing the concept of global citizenship and recognizing Concord's responsibility in promoting human rights and justice beyond our immediate borders,” she said.

On Wednesday morning, Champlin sent another email to West, reaffirming there would not be a resolution discussion before the council.

Champlin said while the conflict in the Middle East was “without a doubt, heartrending and deeply troubling,” the same could be said for many other conflicts, including Ukraine, the plight of the Rohingya, Uyghur, and other ethnic peoples — other important issues the council was not going to discuss.

“While well-intentioned, to debate them, in a purely symbolic act, would divert us from the governance of the city for which we were elected,” the mayor stated, declining the request again. “The most effective avenue for public action on this issue is through individual communication with our congressional delegation and President Biden.”

Even without the “ceasefire” resolution, the Concord City Council has a full agenda on Monday night — including 10 public hearings.

Board members will consider a request to spend $880K on traffic signal upgrades for North State and Centre streets as well as North Main, Washington, and Ferry streets intersections; $1 million in block subgrants for the Boys & Girls Club of Central New Hampshire and the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness; and more than $561K in funds to redesign the Concord Airport terminal; $305K for PFAS-free firefighting equipment.

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