Herschlag: An Election Post Mortem

Let me start with what I think. I think there was more than a bit of a nasty undertone to this election. I don’t like seeing more and more involvement from political parties. And I’m concerned that spending for a council seats is soaring, not all seats but some. While the mayor’s race fund raising showed the candidates spent less than $2.00 per vote, with most of that money raised by our mayor elect, in Ward 5 that number was almost tripled, with the challenger raising the bulk of the campaign funding.

I suppose an argument can be made a city wide seat can be expensive to get your message out to all ten wards. But let’s remember that the mayor elect spent a similar amount when he ran at large. Did he again spend this amount to get his message out or to discourage any potential challengers should he run for a second term.

There were a number of candidates who started their campaigns on second base, giving them an advantage over any challengers who would oppose them. Some were placed on city boards prior to the election or hand picked by a retiring councilor. Was the intent to keep the old boys network intact and to try and scare away challengers? But it didn’t work - for the most part - you were too smart to be duped into accepting that others know what is best for you.

It’s important that candidates - your potential city councilors - check their special interests and political leanings at the door, before they enter city council chambers. After all they are elected to represent you, not to carry water for special interests.

After the dust up in Ward 9, it reminded me of a conversation I had when I was on the council. A constituent called regarding a vote that had been taken at the previous city council meeting. Dan St. Hilaire the Ward 10 councilor at the time and I had voted opposite of each other. He voting yes and I no. It was a fiscal issue, but beyond that my memory is pretty fuzzy on the specifics.

The caller railed about how disappointed he was with St. Hilaire’s vote, attributing his yes vote to St. Hilaire’s left leaning liberal political views. I was than thanked for being the only conservative voice on the council.

After suppressing a chuckle I informed the caller that St. Hilaire, prior to being on the council was on the Executive Council for District 2, which encompassed Concord. In 2011 as an Executive Councilor he voted against a $1.8 million dollar contract for women’s health services, because he was concerned the money could be used for abortions. Even though (as today) there was a federal ban to use funds in that manner. Needless to say St. Hilaire wasn’t reelected for another term from District 2, but that’s another story.

I on the other hand, consider myself fiscally responsible and am somewhat left of center and have supported Bernie Sanders.

The caller assumed because it was a fiscal issue a conservative would vote against the issue, while a liberal would be supportive. St. Hilaire and I disagreed on this issue, like we did on many issues, but serving on the council isn’t about validating a particular political ideology. It is about looking at issues and making a determination based on what we heard from you, the information provided by the administration and leaving our political allegiances at home.

Being allied with a particular political party isn’t what a nonpartisan governing body should look or act like.

We all come to the council with thoughts on how we feel Concord can be an even better place to live, work and raise a family. We all have opinions and political leanings that can influence our decisions. But as a councilor winning shouldn’t be defined as getting a one up over your fellow councilor and losing isn’t because you are working with the person next to you who may have opinions different than yours. When the mayor’s gavel comes down you should be able to say to those that you represent, I heard what you had to say.

Another issue that surfaced late in the campaign was a flier recommending a slate of candidates (see images above). There was no information on the flier stating who sent it or where it originated from. The flier was posted on the Ward 3 councilors LinkedIn page, along with this comment.

“So. I have been asked about this post and where the source comes from

• the "Patio Crew" are a non-specific group of people that typically enjoy the patio at the Beav. It could be for Breakfast or Lunch, before or after a round of golf. In general, they are regulars at the course and/or the restaurant. These candidates were selected based on answers given about the golf course and club house during the Concord Patch debates. It is not my source - only my passing along.”

This is what the Department Justice has to say about state laws on campaign advertising:

https://www.doj.nh.gov/election-law/faq.htm#advertising

What’s Next

As I wrote in a blog prior to the election, it is important to consider where we go from here. Does the city council continue to spend blindly without assurances there will be revenues to balance expenses?

Do we build more housing without regard for the added costs for safety services, infrastructure expansion and upgrades, the expansion of recreational opportunities and the cost of upgrading, expanding and maintain an ever more congested transportation system?

Should new development - both commercial and residential - be required to provide a financial assessment? How much revenue is expected to be generated compared to costs?

Will new residential development bring the types of businesses and jobs to our city that pay a living wage, making it possible for people to both work and live here? Or will new residential development only provide housing for those who work outside our city, at businesses that pay salaries affording them the opportunity to live in Concord?

Do we really need to sit around and talk at each other to develop one more plan for the homeless population and those with substance abuse and mental health issues? Why don't we just stick to a plan and move forward?

How will we (you) be able to afford the doubling of trash collection costs, knowing that recycling costs have gone from zero to $100 a ton? If you live in the city’s downtown or core, what does composting look like? How do we ensure composting doesn’t bring with it unwanted animal infestations? And what would the cost of composting be compared to the costs of trash disposal?

How do we pay for at least four rehabbed or new fire stations and a new police headquarters? How do we continue to pay for all these services without driving retirees and families out of their homes due to the ever increasing cost of property taxes?

These are all issues the new city council will have to deal with. Political ideologies and personal allegiances will have no place at the table. It is imperative that all our elected officials remember who it is they represent. Let’s hope they do.