Keith Nyhan, Ward 7 Concord City Council Candidate

Keith E. Nyhan

Age (as of Election Day)

56

Position sought (including district number if applicable)

Ward 7 Councilor

Party Affiliation

Family

I have been married to my wonderful wife, Sarah, for 31 years. We have three beautiful and talented children - Joe (23), Meaghan (21) and Beth (15), who is a sophomore at Concord High School.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My brother in-law, Paul Halvorsen (former Ward 7 City Councilor) is County Attorney for Merrimack.

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Russian; College of the Holy Cross, May 1990
Associate of Arts, Accounting; McIntosh College, April 1997
Certified Arabic Linguist; U.S. Army Defense Language Institute, 1992

Occupation

Joining the State of NH Insurance Department in 2007, I have had the honor of serving NH's residents for more than sixteen (16) years. Initially hired as the Department's Examiner-in-charge for life insurance and annuity examinations, I have held the position of Director of Consumer Services since 2011. During my tenure as Director, I have overseen the recovery of more than 33 million dollars for NH's insurance consumers. Additionally, I am actively involved in the Department's consumer outreach and assistance programs and support the Department's legislative efforts, frequently providing product expertise and industry perspectives to the Department's executive and legal staffs.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Incumbent Ward 7 Councilor, serving since 2006 (18 years)

Campaign website

None

Why are you seeking elective office?

I have served Concord's residents for eighteen years. I am committed to serving a tenth term. In 2024, the City Council will see its largest turn-over since 2006. A minimum of five - and potentially eleven - new councilors will be seated in January. While the influx of new representation and viewpoints on governance will certainly be exciting, the next biennium will be a period of adjustment. To bring stability to the Council and foster policy continuity, I believe its is critical to re-elect leaders who are familiar with city operations and who are also committed to keeping taxes low.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Maintaining a fiscally responsible budget, while bolstering public safety (retaining and recruiting law enforcement officers) - In short, to achieve success, every elected official will need to hold him/herself accountable and refrain from unnecessary spending. In this regard, as I have for the last eighteen years, I will scrutinize the city's operations budget and capital projects to ensure the city does not outspend its revenues and experiences positive returns on its investments. Additionally, I will explore and advocate for additional public-private partnerships which will expand the city's tax base.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am a fourth-generation resident of Concord’s South End. I attended Conant (Abott-Downing), Rundlett and Concord High schools, as did my three children (my youngest is a sophomore at CHS this year). As a child, I spent endless hours at the West Street Playground and, as an older child, swam and played football at Rollins Park. My father and younger brother still live in Ward 7, as do childhood friends and their parents. I am a U.S. Army veteran and a state employee. Like you, I work hard to provide for my family and understand the necessity of family budgets and the impact of municipal tax increases on those budgets. I have eighteen years experience serving Concord's residents and a proven track record of making fiscally responsible decisions.

My challenger is not from Concord and lacks experience.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Homelessness in Concord: I believe every elected councilor has an obligation to work with city staff (including the Police and Human Service Departments) and local agencies (e.g., Concord's Coalition to End Homelessness) to identify and deliver services to those individuals who are in need and who want help. However, I will do everything within the limits of my elected position to identify, prevent and eliminate homeless encampments from our neighborhoods.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Experience

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"It is one thing to be right and outspoken; it is another to be effective."

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

The inflationary pressures to increase spending in the next two years will be significant. Employee salaries will increase; utility costs are skyrocketing; and the expense of resource procurement will continue to escalate. In short, balancing the city’s budget over the next biennium will require experienced, fiscally conservative leaders who are familiar with the nuances of the city’s operations and capital spending programs. As stated previously, if re-elected, I will - as I have for the last eighteen years - fight unnecessary operational spending and will scrutinize capital projects to ensure the city does not outspend its revenues and experiences positive returns on its investments.

However, I cannot win this fight alone. In this regard, I encourage you to also elect Byron Champlin Mayor and Nathan Fennessy Councilor At-Large. I have worked well with Byron and Nathan over the years. Both are experienced, fiscally responsible, public servants who are committed to Concord’s long-term vitality and prosperity. They are true friends of Ward 7 and without their representation in the coming years, it will be difficult to sustain balanced financial operations.

In closing, I would consider it an honor to be re-elected to a 10th term and humbly ask for your vote on November 7th