More Incumbents File To Run For Concord City Council

CONCORD, NH — Incumbents from seven of the 12 Concord city council seats to be decided in the Nov. 2 general election have signed up to run again.

On Friday, Ward 3 City Councilor Jennifer Kretovic, Keith Nyhan in Ward 7, Ward 8 Councilor Gail Matson, Candace Bouchard of Ward 9, Ward 10 Councilor Zandra Rice Hawkins, and at-large Councilors Amanda Grady Sexton and Fred Keach all signed up to run again.

Concord Mayor Jim Bouley also signed up to run again.

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Taylor Hall of Parmenter Road signed up to run for mayor while Mark Coen, a former at-large city councilor, signed up to run in Ward 5. Paula McLaughlin of South Spring Street has signed up to run in Ward 6.

Erle Pierce of Ward 2 is expected to sign up to run for re-election this week.

Kretovic was first elected to the council in 2011 from Ward 2 but was redistricted into Ward 3 but was unsuccessful in winning the seat in 2013 but elected to Ward 3 two years later and has run unopposed since. She said the past 18 months or so have been “extraordinarily challenging for everyone” with “a number of shifts and changing priorities for people.” Kretovic said the questions and concerns of residents have shifted and “tend to be more personal, in need of a compassionate ear,” but also in need of assistance navigating issues in the city.

“Rarely does anyone see this side of service, but I believe this is where I do my best representation of our residents,” she said. “So, I am hoping to remain at the council table so I can continue to serve.”

Rice Hawkins said it was an honor to serve Ward 10 on the council and "be a part of supporting and strengthening our wonderful community" and was also looking forward to work with everyone to "make sure Concord is a strong, inclusive, and welcoming community, now and in the future."

Rice Hawkins said she was particularly excited working on neighborhood issues in the ward including attending Transportation Policy Advisory Committee. She said she requested a seat on the committee and that request was granted.

"It has allowed me to be able to better advocate for Ward 10 constituents and to consider new ideas for how to tackle chronic neighborhood issues." Rice Hawkins said. "There are many important issues facing our community — economic development, ensuring our public services remain strong, helping families and small businesses recover from COVID-19, doing our part to advance racial and economic justice — and these neighborhood issues are also important. I really appreciate when constituents reach out about concerns and we can work together to address them. Concord residents really care about their community and it’s the best part about serving on city council.”

Councilor Zandra Rice Hawkins filing for re-election outside Concord City Hall on Friday. Courtesy

Rob Werner, the current Ward 5 city councilor who was first elected in 2007, did not return an email seeking comment about whether or not he would be running again.

In the SAU 8 charter commission race, two former members are running again.

Both Clint Cogswell and William Ardinger will be candidates hoping to win two of the three at-large positions.

“I am running for the Charter Commission because I am a proponent of public schooling and I want to support the Concord School District by making sure its Charter is a strong and clear document,” Ardinger, an attorney with Rath Young Pignatelli said. “I was elected to serve on the 2010 Charter Commission which established local control over the Charter. That experience, plus my commitment to strengthen and protect public schools, will guide me in this work if I am elected.”

Cogswell did not return an email seeking comment before post time.

Kretovic has also filed to run for one of two seats representing Wards 1, 2, 3, and 4 on the charter commission. She called it “an oddball thing” for her to run for the school district charter commission. However, community discussion about the city taking over management of SAU 8 as well as the Primo “Howie” Leung teacher-student rape investigation were big factors in her decision to run.

“I feel the same fury as others, that our school district coddled an alleged pedophile,” she said. “In the same breath, I tell you that undoing the charter would be monumentous.”

Kretovic added charter commission “must include a voice for the parents of Merrimack Valley School District students” and as a past representative of Ward 2, a close neighbor and friend to Penacook, and the current councilor of Ward 3, she would like to represent the residents in that corner of the city.

“We are uniquely positioned on the CSD charter,” she said. “We need an advocate and also an open mind. No one should come to the table with an agenda, but must be willing to dig into the review. As much as I do now in my ‘spare’ time, I am willing to take this on because of the deep significance changes might have here in Wards 1, 2 and 3.”

Signs up for Concord mayor, city council, board of education, charter commission, and other positions restart on Tuesday and run through Sept. 13.

Filing Information

Signups for city of Concord positions will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with extended hours on Thursday until 6 p.m. at the Concord City Clerk’s Office at 45 Green St. On Sept. 13, the last day of filing, the clerk’s office will accept filings until 5 p.m.

Open seats include: the mayoral position, which is a two-year position, two four-year at-large city council slots, and a single ward city council seats in each of the city’s 10 wards which are two-year positions. There are also 10 ward moderator, ward clerk, as well as a supervisor of the checklist positions.

Call the Concord city clerk at 603-225-8500 with any questions.

Signups for Concord board of education and charter commission seats run during the same time period.

There are three at-large school board seats being decided in November along with the district clerk and treasurer positions. The filing fee for the board, clerk, and treasurer positions is $5.

Nine members will be on the ballot for the commission including three citywide positions and two positions from three districts broken down by city wards (District A members will come from Wards 1, 2, 3, and 4; District B members will live in Wards 5, 6, and 7; and District C members will represent Wards 8, 9, and 10).

The filing period for all seats runs run through Monday, Sept. 13, at Phillips Law Office, 104 Pleasant St. (enter on Pine Street) in Concord. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information, call Roger Phillips at 603-225-2767.

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