Spencer Steps Down from Concord School Board

Concord School Board member Oliver Spencer has stepped from the board after nearly two and half years and has been replaced by Nathan Fennessy, who will fill out the remainder of his term. Spencer resigned on June 1, 2015, due to a new job he took earlier this year that had him out of the state and missing a number of meetings, he said.

“It was a great experience and every Concord citizen should do it,” he said. “Don’t complain about a problem if you are not willing to jump in a be a part of the solution; if you’re not willing to step up to do it.”

Spencer was elected in November 2012 as one of three citywide candidates out of four who ran that year. He ran after retiring from the military and deciding to become more involved in local affairs. Spencer said he “learned a lot” and had “much greater confidence from my interaction with the administration” now that he actually served.

“I enjoyed working with a lot of the folks there,” he said.

At the same time it accepted Spencer’s resignation, the board voted to approve Fennessy to serve the remainder of the term.

Fennessy is an attorney with Preti Flaherty Beliveau & Pachios LLP. He is a member of the firm’s litigation, construction law and government affairs groups, according to a press statement from the Concord School District. He received his BA from Georgetown University and his JD from Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. Fennessy resides in Concord with his wife and three young sons and ran unsuccessfully for the District B school board seat last year.

“The District looks forward to working with Mr. Fennessy – he will be a great asset to our School Board,” School Superintendent Chris Rath said in a statement.

Had Spencer not resigned, he would have been up for re-election in November along with two other citywide seat holders: Kass Ardinger and Clint Cogswell. This year, all three seats will be elected by all the voters of Concord. Signups are expected to begin in late August or early September.

While he may have resigned this month, don’t count Spencer out of future involvement in the community. He said he hoped to continue to be involved, on some level, in the future, when time permits.