Noemi Wierwille, Concord City Council Ward 5 Candidate

Noemi Wierwille

Age (as of Election Day)

44

Position sought (including district number if applicable)

Ward 5 City Council

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Michael Wierwille (husband)
Vivian (daughter, almost 13)
Calvin (son, just turned 10)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BA, French and Political Science, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA
MA, School Administration, St. Peter's College, Jersey City, NJ

Occupation

Chief Learning Officer, Teach For America (2 yrs), Non Profit Leadership (16 yrs), former School Leader, former teacher.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I serve on the Ad-Hoc Beaver Meadow Golf Course Building Committee to represent the Nordic ski community.

Campaign website

https://www.votenoemi.com/

Why are you seeking elective office?

When my family moved to Concord, we didn’t know this would become our kids hometown. But we quickly realized what a special place this is.

It’s a community where we care about our young people, and work hard to ensure they can play sports, get books at the library, and trick or treat on Main Street.

It’s a community where we try our best to live healthy lives. We have worked to preserve our green spaces, expand the use of our local parks, and we built a pedestrian first downtown.

Concord is a city where everyone does their part. We volunteer, we serve on committees, we speak at public hearings, we write letters to the editor, we support local businesses, and we celebrate the diversity of our community.

It’s a community where people want to work together. Even when we don’t agree, we listen to each other, and find ways to develop solutions and move forward.

I’m running for city council because it’s critical that we elect leaders who do just that.

As a councilor I will work to stay informed on a broad range of issues, listen - REALLY listen, weigh diverse perspectives, consider divergent views, and build consensus.

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

First and foremost, we must use this election to build a team of leaders that our city can trust and will adhere to the highest ethical standards. I think it's critical that the city council re-establish the board of ethics. Second, we need to ensure Concord is an affordable place to live and work. This means growing the tax base and continuing to make progress on affordable housing.

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

I have no conflict of interest and will be able to participate in voting on all council matters. I believe that it is critical we focus on economic development and reduce the pressure on household property taxes. This means focusing on private public partnerships and revitalizing distressed commercial properties.

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

Due to a conflict of interest, the current officeholder must recuse herself from all matters related to our police force, which is the second largest line item in the city's budget. I am concerned that Ward 5 does not have representation on a significant portion of the city's work.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Safety & Belonging
- Attract, retain, and support a diverse first responder workforce.
- Prevent people in our community from becoming unsheltered. Work to ensure those who are experiencing housing insecurity can access the services they need.

Affordability for ALL
- Continue to grow the amount of affordable housing.
- Grow our tax base through public private partnerships.

Clean & Green
- Champion sustainable initiatives that reduce our carbon footprint, preserve our natural resources and lower our utility expenses.
- Ensure our public parks and green spaces are nurtured and accessible for all to enjoy.

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

I serve as an executive at one of the largest education non-profits in the country and have extensive management experience, including oversight of a large portfolio of fundraising and expenses. I have consistently exceeded goals related to increasing efficiency.

I have extensive training in facilitation, culture building, and diversity, equity and inclusion. I have worked with diverse teams across the country to foster dialogue, explore divergent views, and build consensus.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"Keep going. Don't let anyone discourage you. Just be yourself." — Byron Champlin

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

This is a once-in-a-decade election. The decisions your city council makes have a huge impact on your daily life. Please, please take the time to vote on November 7th.