Competitive Races Abound In Nashua's 2019 Municipal Races

NASHUA, NH — The filing and ballot placement process has been completed and voters in Nashua will have a number of competitive races and candidates to choose from when they go to the polls on Nov. 5. Mayor Jim Donchess, first elected in 2015, is uncontested. But races for alderman, board of education, fire commission, and public works seats are competitive.

In the at-large Alderman race, four candidates have signed up to run for three four-year terms: Incumbents Ben Clemons of Ash Street, Lori Wilshire of Pine Hill Avenue, and Michael O'Brien Sr. of Woodfield Street will be challenged by Melbourne Moran Jr. of Dickerman Street.

Voters will also go to the polls to choose five Board of Education members – after 11 candidates filed to run. Incumbents Howard Coffman of Gettysburg Drive and Doris Hohensee of Swart Terrace have both filed to run. Nine other candidates also signed up to run: Jennifer Bishop of East Dunstable Road, Jessica Brown of Hampton Drive, Sharon Giglio of Taschereau Boulevard, Burton Janzof Syracuse Road, Paula Johnson of Westborn Drive, Renata Olszewski of Beaujolais Drive, Jamila Scales of Marian Lane, Greg Surbey of Dane Street and Sandra Ziehm of Haines Street.

Anthony Sanichara of Green Heron Lane also signed up to run but his signatures failed to be certified, according to the city clerk's website.

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Five people also signed up to run for three four-year fire commission seats including incumbents Kevin Burgess of Wood Street and Paul Garant of Harris Street who will faceoff against Donald Davidson of Henry David Drive, Manuel Pimental of Nova Road, and Thomas Stawasz of Vieckis Drive.

Three candidates have also decided to run for two four-year public works seats. The candidates include newcomer Shannon Schoneman of Webster Street who is challenging incumbents Joel Ackerman of Woodcrest Drive and Kevin Moriarty, who lives on Raymond Street.

There are also competitive ward alderman races, according to the filing with the city clerk.

In Ward 1, Mark Cookson of Inca Drive is challenging incumbent Jan Schmidt, of Pope Circle, who is also a state representative. In Ward 2, Richard Dowd of Ascot Park, the incumbent, is being challenged by former state Sen. Kevin Avard of Sherri Ann Avenue. Thomas Lopez of Palm Street, an incumbent alderman in Ward 4, is facing off against challenger Arthur Craffey Jr. of Chestnut Street, who served in the seat previously. Ward 6 has four candidates vying for a single two-year seat: Incumbent Ken Gidge of Hayden Street is being challenged by Elizabeth Lu of Roby Street, Joseph MacIntyre of Roy Street, and Kevin Scully of Wildwood Lane.

Incumbent June Caron of Montgomery Avenue is being challenged by Drew Sullivan of Howard Street in Ward 7. Ward 8 residents will have a new alderman in 2019 as both Skip Cleaver of Chadwick Circle, who is also a state representative, and Dave MacLaughlin of Heritage Village Drive compete for the open seat.

In Ward 9, Linda Harriott-Gathright, the incumbent, who is also a state representative, of Marian Lane, is being challenged by Bill Ohm of Mount Laurels Drive, who is also a state representative.

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Vote On Nov. 5

Voters in Nashua will go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5. All polling locations in the city will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The following are the polling locations for each ward:

• Ward 1: Broad Street Elementary School, 390 Broad St.
• Ward 2: Charlotte Avenue Elementary School, 48 Charlotte Avenue
• Ward 3: Amherst Street Elementary School, 71 Amherst St.
• Ward 4: Ledge Street Elementary School, 139 Ledge St.
• Ward 5: Main Dunstable Elementary School, 20 Whitford Road
• Ward 6: Fairgrounds Middle School, 27 Cleveland St.
• Ward 7: Dr. Normand Crisp Elementary School, 50 Arlington St.
• Ward 8: Bicentennial Elementary School, 296 East Dunstable Road
• ·Ward 9: New Searles Elementary School, 39 Shady Lane

View this City Ward Map, in .pdf, for more information.

Editor's note: This post has been corrected to reflect the Joel Ackerman is an incumbent member of the public works commission.

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